Sin & Surrender (Demigod of San Francisco #6)(84)

“My line is good. Much more fun.” Hades crossed his arms over his chest. “If you insist on stalking me and lurking like a creep, Zeus, you’ll have your secrets exposed. You saved one, cheapskate over there elevated one, and I’ll have my turn. I choose her.” Hades pointed at me.

“Yes, but I didn’t meddle, I just saved one of my own. Someone else poisoned them,” Zeus said.

“That’s what meddling—” Hades threw up his hands. “Whatever, I don’t care. This is happening. I’m taking my turn.”

“There are a lot of sassy women in this age. I wouldn’t mind…meddling a little,” Poseidon murmured, looking me over. “I bet they’re good in bed. My line is weakening in the human world. It’s time for some new blood.”

“Hands off, fancy dresser,” Hades said, shooing Poseidon away from me. “This is your grandson’s betrothed. They frown upon grandpa fucking in this age. Find someone else.”

“You should talk,” I said, wanting for all the world to leave this room before it got any more awkward.

My face heated further when Hades winked at me and said, “I know, right? I won’t tell if you don’t…”

“Fine, yes.” Zeus nodded slowly, looking over the room. “Yes, okay, maybe a little…meddling is warranted, but in the future we mustn’t do it as gods. We must assume human appearances and hide our true nature, as much as it grieves me to say. I hate going incognito. There is no glory in it.”

Poseidon gave Zeus a dead stare, and I knew that was his version of rolling his eyes. He nodded at Hades before turning and strutting for the door. As he passed Kieran, though, he paused.

“Human, what is the name she finally settled on for you?” he asked, his voice gruff, as though he hated that he cared.

“Kieran. Against my father’s wishes, she named me Kieran.”

Poseidon nodded. “Good. Make sure you are worthy of her. Songs are sung about her still. She is sorely missed.”

“Yes, sir,” Kieran said, and then bowed low, like Dylan had done.

Zeus looked at Hades. “Just the one. Do not get carried away or I’ll be back.”

A wide smile crossed Hades’s face. “You need to catch up on modern media, brother. You have no idea how ridiculous you sounded just then. Though it matches your ridiculous look, so…”

Distant thunder rolled through the sky. Lightning flashed within Zeus’s turbulent stare, and then he was gone, electricity and light pulling him from the room.

A breath rushed out of me and my whole body shook. My expression must’ve matched Kieran’s and Dylan’s wide-eyed stares. Even Bria seemed to have gone more rigid, as if in utter disbelief that we had been allowed to witness all of that. None of that seemed like it was for human ears.

“Well. That was annoying.” Hades dusted himself off like he’d just wrestled in the yard with his brothers. He turned back to me, his eyes sparkling with glee. “I’ve always hated rules. So. Let’s see how much I can meddle before Zeus sticks his big nose in again, shall we? You need training, and I am the only one who can do it. So that’s still on the list. And then there is this…”

He shoved his hand toward me, and a rush of power infused my every muscle. It pushed at my skin and sparkled through my muscle and bone. My heart leapt and I felt like laughing. Or like exploding my magic out in all directions.

Our chairs disappeared and I fell on my butt, not having expected it.

After I stood, the rest of the room roused.

“Listen to me,” he said to everyone, his voice filling all the available space, full of power and authority, nothing like how he’d been with his brothers. “You will squabble over Alexis Price no longer. From now on, with my power and my blessing, she is Demigod Alexis. Have a care with her—she does not like being bullied.”

He waved his hand over me, and something heavy touched down on my head. It felt like a crown.

For a great many reasons, I was too stunned to speak.

He looked into my eyes and grasped my upper arms. “I will supply you with gold and jewels and whatever you need to get started. You will truly be your own woman. Your little gremlin should be pleased. Maybe now she’ll accept a blood offering and get a little protection. She’s fun to watch—I’d hate for her to join my kingdom too early.” My heart glowed. “Your fortune will be up to you to maintain, however. You will be on your own after this.” He cocked his head. “With money, I mean. I’ll be hanging around. If you need help with money, ask your Demigod. People of Poseidon are very good with conserving money. But by the dark places of the world, buy a piece of property worthy of Hades, would you? It pains me to see you in that tiny hovel. Now, to honor the facet of your magic that you, and only you, have embraced…” He paused for a moment. “I have a gift for you.”

Jack was yanked across the room until he was standing beside us. Hades snapped, and what was once spirit became flesh and bone. His bronze skin was dull in the harsh light, not shimmering or translucent like it would be in the ultraviolet light of the Line. Real skin, existing in the world of the living. He lifted his hands, eyes wide with awe, and wiggled his fingers.

My breath caught in my throat and my eyes teared up.

“I’d ask if this was a dream, but…I don’t have those anymore,” Jack said. “I don’t sleep.” He looked around the room. “But seriously, is this really happening?”