Page 256 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

The Second of My Boons

Zeus waited until the last mortal’s hand

had left the edge of the mountain.

Then he looked at me and said,

‘What do you want for yourself?’

I knew what I wanted,

but I did not know if it was possible.

I stared down at the obscene gold floors

and then met his stare steadily.

‘I want you to free my father

and his brothers from their punishment.’

A loud, dark silence fell

across this devastated realm.

‘That,’ Zeus responded, his voice

laced with danger, ‘is not possible.’

But another voice interrupted him.

‘It is possible if you so desire, God-King.’

Hera stepped between me and her husband.

‘We have lived with the guilt of this

under our feet for long enough.

Besides that, this mountain shining gold

is what made it such an easy mark.’

Zeus looked like he might argue this.

But instead, he sighed and nodded.

‘I will release them from the blood-let.

But not ,’ he added firmly, ‘from Tartarus.’