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“But it’s not predictable what she steals, am I right?” I asked, and he tilted his head to the side slightly before asking,

“How do you know this?”

“Because she is only going for the items that she knows she has a buyer for. Otherwise, it’s too risky as the danger of getting caught doesn’t end until the item is no longer in her possession. She won’t be sitting on a mountain of treasure, but in the mortal realm, she will be sitting on a fortune in a bank somewhere,” I told him, making him rub the short beard covering the lower half his face.

“You might be on to something,” he admitted.

“Put the word out that there is something you want, something only she knows you have, offer a price that will be too good for her to turn down. Then instead of trying to catch her in the act, you catch her when she willing hands it over to you seeing as you are the buyer.”

At this he grinned before he clapped his hands once.

“Perfect! She will unknowingly hand herself over to me,” he said, his grin showing excitement.

“Exactly, along with getting back what she stole from you, so you can’t lose,” Ryker agreed, looking at me in relief, as clearly, this meant he was out of the shit with daddy.

“Then may I suggest making it seem more real, and make it something harder for her to steal, as if it is too easy, she may be smart enough to realize it’s a trap,” I added, making him smirk.

“Oh, she is certainly smart enough, but you are right.”

I shrugged my shoulders before saying,

“I am glad I can help.”

“Your brother is right. You are cunning and therefore worthy of the information you seek. Come, for Hades is waiting.”

At this I bolted up right in my seat, asking in bewilderment,

“Wait?! How did you know?”

To which Mammon told me,

“Because Fate is never wrong.”

28

MASTER OF YOUR OWN FATE

The King of Greed led us from his office back into the throne room but not beyond, making me frown at Ryker in question. Although from the looks of things, he too had no idea what was about to happen. Even less so when Mammon’s booming voice rang out, echoing all around us when he suddenly ordered,

“EVERYONE OUT!” To which all his servants and guards left the throne room at once.

Only once the last one had closed the doors behind them, did Mammon walk over to one of the display cases. There was nothing special about what was inside, and he waved his hand making the glass reveal glowing symbols in gold. This was before the glass disappeared completely, making me realize that everything in this room had a spell cast on it preventing anyone from stealing.

Everyone but his fated thief.

Inside the case was a simple gold tear-shaped vase with a lid but once the top was removed, it revealed a glowing blue orb.

“Is that… a portal key?” Ryker asked in awe, telling me of how rare they must be. The nature of Greed within him lit up his eyes to an unnatural glow, and his fathers did the same.

“One gifted to me by Hades, with instructions to give it to the one who seeks him with only a noble cause… I have been told of why you seek the King of the Underworld, Cerberus,” he said, giving me cause to jerk in disbelief.

“What do you mean?”

“Like most Kings of Hell, my spies work not only within my own Kingdom but the other realms also.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“So, you know why I am here,” I assumed in a dark tone, knowing of the time wasted.