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He studies me for a long moment, something like surprise written over his face. “You don’t have a subtle bone in your body, do you?”

If I did, I wouldn’t be in Carver City in the first place. I would have found a better way to fight my father, to help Leda, to make a difference. “I’d rather see the playing field clearly.”

He sits back, still seeming to consider my question. Or, more likely, considering whether or not to answer honestly—or at all. “He took everything from me.”

I was right. I don’t know if that’s good or bad at this point. I try to relax into the chair, but it’s hard when I have Hades’s full attention on me. “I’m not him.” I don’t hurt people the way he does. I don’t hurt people at all. At least, not on purpose.

“Trust me, I’m well aware of that. You are, however, a possession that matters to him.”

I was right. This is about revenge. I should have known I couldn’t escape Olympus’s politics even if I escaped the city itself. Carver City seemed like a safe bet for a place to settle down, but obviously Zeus’s influence has spread to even here. “It must have been bad for you to go through this much shit to get back at him.”

“A son for a son, little Hercules.”

The implications hit me hard enough that if I weren’t sitting, I’d be on my knees. A son… My father took his from him? But that doesn’t make sense. I would have heard about it. I’m sure I would have heard about something like that. “When?”

“Before you were born.” He waves it away with a flick of his wrist. “I have no intention of discussing it further. You wanted to know why; there’s your why. Does it make you feel better?”

Since he sounds genuinely curious, I answer honestly. “No.”

“There you have it.” He shrugs. “I didn’t call you here for that, however. I have a task for you.”

My mind whirls with the implications of what he’s told me. Within all the confusion and anger, there’s hurt. No reason for his motive to sting. Did I really want to hear that he saw me across the room and couldn’t rest until he had me as his own? That kind of shit only happens in movies and fairy tales. This is real life. Real life is ugly and brutal and filled to the brim with pain. I know this too well already. Of course he didn’t want me. He has Meg.

Meg.

“Does she know about this?” There were a thousand ways Hades could have accomplished this goal without involving her. I don’t understand that. He wields cruelty with the precision of a surgeon with a scalpel. “It’s really shitty that you’d hurt her just because you want revenge on my father.”

“Hercules.” The censor in his tone makes me flush. “The conversation is closed. I trust it will stay between us.”

I open my mouth to argue, but his sharp look stops me. Instead, I swallow hard. “A task?”

“Normally Tink acts as Meg’s assistant, but her contract is coming to an end. Regardless of whether or not she chooses to stay on at the Underworld, you’ll be trained to take her place.”

I swallow. “You want me to train to be Meg’s assistant.”

“Yes.” His gaze doesn’t leave my face. “Do not fuck her. Regardless of what else happens, that is a line you will not cross. If you do, I’ll punish you both publicly.” He leans forward. “And trust me when I say that you won’t enjoy it in the least.”

A thrill courses through me despite common sense whispering that crossing this man is a mistake, even in a game. I’m still furious at Meg. Last night changes nothing. But, like with Hades, I want her enough to cloud my judgment, and the protective urges that drove me to make this bargain in the first place haven’t disappeared. Hades obviously knows that and plans to use it against me. Is Meg in on this particular game? I don’t know. Our short history more than proves that I can’t trust her. “Okay,” I say slowly.

“‘Yes, Sir’ is the proper response.”

“Yes, Sir,” I immediately repeat. I have a lot to think about, but in the end it changes nothing. I gave my word. If I didn’t know the reason Hades wanted me, that’s on me. I charged in here, thinking I knew everything I needed to know, and ended up in over my head as a result.

Embarrassment heats my face. All I want is to do good, but every time I turn around, I’m fucking things up worse than they were before I arrived. I can’t keep up with the major power players no matter how hard I try. I don’t even know if I’m capable of thinking about the long game the same way Zeus and Hades do. Every time I try to slow down, my instincts get the best of me and I jump without checking for water.