Sin & Surrender (Demigod of San Francisco #6)(82)

I looked around until I found Bria, leaning against the stage next to a kneeling Jerry. “You knew?”

She shrugged. “I suspected based on legends I’d heard, so I did some research. He appeared to me when I was about to take the info to you.”

My body had gone numb with shock. “And you never said anything?”

“You needed training, and he’s the only one that understands the full gamut of your magic. He said he’d stay if I kept silent. I figured it was a good trade, though it made it tough to convey the seriousness of the Damion issue.”

“Yes. I’m rather amazed you didn’t spill the beans on that one.” He winked at her. “That’s why I like you best.”

I could not believe her ability to keep a secret. She’d gotten drunk since then—several times, in fact—and still she hadn’t uttered a word. The woman was a vault.

“But…why me?” I asked, not knowing what else to say, half wondering if I’d gotten knocked out and was dreaming.

“Yours is my favorite kind of magic.” He snapped, and a recliner appeared behind him. He lowered to sitting and then gestured for me to do the same. A wooden chair had poofed into being beside him.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Really? A wooden chair and you get that? If you’re holding a grudge because of the cat thing, I’ll remind you that you chose to be a cat. That wasn’t my fault.”

He laughed. The wooden chair turned into another recliner. “I do so love working with you. You’re so accommodating…until you’re not. It tickles me to find out what annoys you. I chose the cat because I thought you liked cats. How was I supposed to know you hadn’t decorated that office? Speaking of, have my gifts grown on you?” He gestured at the cats. Chaos still lay curled up, not moving. Havoc sat by his side, licking his head. “Oops.” He waved his hand, and Chaos roused, mewing. “Don’t worry about them; they’re undead. I can teach you how to rouse them when they suffer a mortal wound. They’re hellcats. Cool, right? I know I usually do hellhounds, but…well, it’s our little inside joke. It suits you and your pajamas.”

My frown deepened. No one around the room even swayed or shifted their weight, still on their knees with their heads bowed. It was like he’d frozen time for a moment. Or maybe he’d just frozen them.

“As I was saying,” he went on, “yours is my favorite kind of magic. It is light and dark, death and rebirth, healing and killing. It has so many facets, but it has been misused for so long, those wielding it being mistreated.”

“But why me? Why not Harding—Damion?” I gestured to his spirit, frozen like everyone else.

“I haven’t shown much of an interest in the human lands of late. I didn’t know about him until they caged him in my domain. His mind had been altered at that point. They’d tortured him, turned him into the worst embodiment of your magic. It was a shame, really. But then I learned of you. You can thank dear old Dad for that. He kept making treks through spirit to peek at you, and finally my curiosity won out and I followed. There you were, a little budding Spirit Walker. He didn’t know that at first, of course, and when he did…” Hades gave Magnus a sly look, my father still frozen in place. Could he see or hear what was going on? “He tried to grab your spirit at one point so he could hold it hostage until he could grab your body, but oops, you were protected. I’ve always been good at cock-blocking.” He bit his lip, tamping a delighted smile. “He’s been wondering why he could get so close in spirit but not close enough. Now he’ll know. Riddle solved.”

So he could hear, then.

My heart sank. Riddle solved indeed. The inaccessibility of my spirit was the only thing that had kept Magnus from grabbing me physically. He’d hesitated because of Valens. But once Valens was out of the picture…

I blew out a breath and leaned back, tears crowding my vision. “Thank you,” I said, “for protecting me. He didn’t kill me before he knew my magic, and he has saved me a couple times… Right? That was him and not you?”

“He helped and saved you of his own free will, yes. There are layers to that onion.”

I nodded, not sure how to feel, but this behavior was in character for my father. I understood it. In some ways, I felt more comfortable than I had after that confusing dinner.

Hades’s expression grew serious and he leaned forward. “There is goodness and badness in us all. You are mostly good, however. You are a shining light in this muddy magical world. I know how close you came to joining my kingdom just now, but I couldn’t interfere until I knew, without a doubt, that you were the defender I had hoped you would be. I allowed Damion the added power. I made him more powerful than you because I wanted to put you to the test. I wanted to see what you would do when faced with the absolute worst situation. And you didn’t give up. You turned to your guiding light. You turned to goodness.

“You relish the magic that can heal people, and you use it when most magical people wouldn’t bother. You stop from killing whenever possible, and you defend the wholeness of the magic I love so dearly. You defend those in spirit who cannot defend themselves. It is your goodness, with a splash of sin, that does your magic justice. You are the first true Spirit Walker in many a long age. For that, I will reward you—”

“Wait.”