A Game of Retribution (Hades Saga #2)(76)

“Lord Hades,” she said. “You are here to see me?”

“I am,” he said. “I’ve come to ask for your belt.”

He saw no need to be anything other than direct. He did not have time, and neither did Hippolyta.

There was a pause. “I appreciate that you do not dally, though your request seems out of character.”

“It is.”

He said nothing more, not wishing to offer an explanation, and Hippolyta did not ask for one, likely because she did not care. The Amazon queen

studied him for a moment, then said, “I am not opposed, though it would need to be a fair exchange.”

“I have a trade in mind,” he said. “Though it is not conventional.”

He was not certain Hera would like it, though she had not said when he had to obtain Hippolyta’s belt, and her final message had given him more room for interpretation than she had probably intended— do what you must to trade.

“Go on,” she said.

“I am in need of an aegis,” he said, indicating behind him with a nod.

“And one of your own is in need of honor.”

“Zofie is young,” Hippolyta said and, like the other Amazon, did not spare her a glance. “She has a wandering eye that causes her to lose sight of what is truly important.”

She was speaking of discipline.

“Perhaps a charge will give her focus,” Hades said. “If she brings honor, then I will return her to you in exchange for the belt. If she does not—”

“You will kill her,” Hippolyta said.

Hades was not surprised by the queen’s quick command. It was likely their plan for her to begin with, so he nodded.

Not one to delay, Hippolyta nodded.

“We have an agreement, Lord Hades,” she said and glanced at the Amazon who stood a few paces behind Hades. “Bring her.”

The guard left to retrieve Zofie, and with her departure, Hippolyta turned her attention to Hades.

“There is unrest out there,” she said. “I feel it in my blood.”

That premonition was something she had inherited from Ares. It was a type of magic that stirred their lust for battle, and it only confirmed what Helios had said about war.

“You are not wrong,” Hades replied, grimacing.

Hippolyta inclined her head. “You do not like war despite its benefit to your kingdom.”

“There is no benefit for traumatized souls,” Hades said, and as much as the Underworld could offer healing in peace, receiving souls who had died in battle was not an easy thing to witness.

The queen said nothing, and the guard returned with Zofie. Hades turned to observe the woman. He had been right about the blisters. Her skin was bubbled, not only from where the metal pole had touched her but from where the sun had beat down on her shoulders and arms. It was likely her scalp looked the same, though it was hard to tell given her dark hair, which was long and braided. Her hands were still bound, but she no longer looked down. She met his gaze with piercing green eyes.

“Lord Hades has offered you a chance at honor,” said Hippolyta, and when the Amazon heard her speak, her eyes lowered to the ground once more. “If you are found to be inadequate at any point, he has been ordered to kill you.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Look upon me once more, Amazon,” said Hippolyta, and Zofie obeyed.

The address communicated the hope Hippolyta had that she would succeed.

“Thank you, my queen,” Zofie said.

Zofie said nothing more, and Hades could not tell what she thought. There were some who might see being in his care as a worse sentence than dying by exposure.

“Goodbye, Hades. Perhaps I will see you again,” Hippolyta said, though there was an element of dread that came with her words, given that she had spoken of war.

He nodded, and the armored Amazon returned them to the gate in silence.

Once outside it, he faced Zofie and tapped her shoulders, healing the blisters while releasing her from her bonds. Her eyes widened as her arms

fell to her sides, and as she lifted them to rub each wrist, she whispered,

“Thank you.”

“It is not for me to judge what has been viewed as an indiscretion by your people,” Hades said. “All I care about is that you protect my future queen.

Do you understand?”

Her expression shifted from surprise and gratitude to one of serious acceptance. She nodded. “Of course, my lord.”

He had to admit, he felt a little less fretful, knowing that Persephone would be actively protected, but his peace was soon disrupted by a call, which he took outside the gates of Terme.

“Yes?”

“They’re dead,” Ilias said, and Hades felt his stomach clench. “All three.

Recent too.”



*

Hades found Ilias in a cave off the side of a rocky cliff that faced Lake Tritonis. The satyr stood over three dead bodies. Each appeared to have attempted to crawl away from their attacker, with a hand outstretched and a foot curled into the dirt. It had been a long time since he had seen the three sisters, but even in death, they looked no different. Aged faces, hooked noses, and deep frowns. Their bodies were cloaked in black, their snow-white hair peeking from beneath a hood.

“They were stabbed,” said Ilias.