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The two months over the summer when I lived with Hades in the tower essentially belonged to Olympus. To Demeter as per the ancient deal that somehow stands even though I am no longer Goddess, but human. Even though my ancient memories had to be fed to me via the mercy of the Moirai. For some reason, they kept this deadly deal intact when they took so much else away.

Another glance at Ares, and I can’t help but think they did it for him.To save him.

“I’m ready.” I break the heavy silence, feeling Hades stiffen beside me as Ares’ eyes come to mine again. The spears of red are gone in his golden eyes, but the tension lingers as he sweeps his hand in a gesture to come to him.

With my heart in my throat, I cross the short distance between the Gods, settling myself beside the God of War even as I long to run to the God of the Underworld. There is pain in his expression that he doesn’t bother to hide, even from the God who stands at my side. Once a friend and now an enemy, or perhaps a tether of friendship remains between the two? Perhaps I can stitch knots into the frayed strings that surround the last tether between the two, and that is why the Moirai have sent me on this dangerous mission to Olympus.

I feel Ares’ hand high on my back, the pressure gentle as he urges me toward the door. When Leuce and Hydra follow, Ares pauses.

He looks at them and says simply, “No.”

“They go with her, or she doesn’t go at all.” Hades’ hands are in his pockets, surely curled into fists.

“You would suffer the toxin?” Ares asks.

“For her, I would suffer anything.”

“Then why are you letting her go at all?”

Hades’ eyes shift to me, and I feel Ares’ do the same. “This is her choice.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Persephone

“A cathedral? Really?”

Ares shifts in the back seat of the car beside me. “It is where the portal to Olympus is.”

“I thought it was on Mount Olympus.”

He sits back in the seat to study me with cool, curious eyes. “There is one there as well. Unless you feel like hiking, we’ll use this one.”

I peer out the window to see Hydra soaring in the sky over the ancient cathedral. The history this building must have born witness to. Like the temples that stand in ruins today. I can only imagine.

“Why a church?”

“Zeus has always been an arrogant God.” Ares opens the door to shove his big body from the car. Somehow, even though the man is beastly in size, he moves with a fluidity that should not be possible.

Leuce exits from the front seat and my door opens as I reach for the handle, finding Ares standing there. He offers me ahand I consider ignoring, but that’s not the point of this trip to Olympus, I remind myself.

The point is an alliance with Ares. Why, I can’t be sure.

The Moirai, frustrating as they are wrapped up in their secrets, had kept their reasons to themselves.

When I slide my hand into Ares’ surprise he can’t hide ignites his eyes. He closes his fingers gently around my palm, staring down at the connection in marvel.

There is nothing sexual about this connection, but itisintimate.

I exit the car with his help, and it’s my turn to watch in curiosity as Ares keeps hold of my hand for a long moment. He stares down at where we connect with an expression of hope and sadness that falls against my raw heart like the talon of a whip.

I can’t begin to decipher the meaning of his expression. To decode the collage of feelings that flash in his wounded eyes. But each emotion falls against my heart like the pins in an abused cushion.

There is more to Ares than what appears to the naked eye.

I fear none of it is good.