Deity (Covenant #3)(107)

“And I cannot allow you to hurt her. It is not up for discussion.”

“So you would risk more destruction? Did you see what Poseidon did today? Or were you too busy hunting and playing with your consorts?”

Artemis smirked. “You really do not want to piss me off right now, Hades. Not when I have an arrow pointed between your eyes.”

He shook his head. “You know what Zeus will do if the First becomes the God Killer. You risk it all—the lives of our offspring and the mortals—and for what? Watered-down familial bonds?”

“We will risk it all for everything,” she responded quietly. “You know what the funny thing is about prophecies, uncle?”

“That they are always changing?” Hades sneered. “Or that they are nothing more than a load of rubbish?”

Any other time I would’ve clapped, but seeing that Hades wanted to kill me, I wasn’t about to celebrate our shared opinions when it came to the oracle.

Artemis cocked back her arm. “So be it.”

Fury rolled off Hades in swamping waves. Swallowing down rightful fear, I took a step back. I expected an all-out royal rumble between the two.

“I should never have allowed her soul to be released,” Hades spat. “Apollo promised me that it would never come to this.”

“There is still hope,” Artemis said.

Those words sparked something in me. There is still hope. Was there? I’d seen the look in Seth’s eyes, how far gone he’d been when he’d pulled the akasha from me and taken aim at the Council. Poseidon had leveled the Covenant, and there would be more that would go down. More innocent people would die. People that I loved would surely die—all to protect me.

I glanced back at the doors, seeing Aiden’s pale face beside Marcus’. I’d been created, like a pawn, to give Seth complete power. There was nothing that could be done about it. None of us could spend our lives hiding. It wouldn’t work. I would Awaken in little over a day. Seth would find me. And everything would be over.

Numbness crept through me as I turned back to the two gods and lowered the sickle. “Wait.” My voice came out barely a whisper, but everyone froze.

“No!” Deacon yelled, trying to get past Solos. “I know what she’s going to do! Alex, no!”

Tears sprang to my eyes as I took in his horrified expression. “I can’t… I can’t let what happened back there happen again.”

Deacon struggled against Solos, his eyes burning a fierce silver, like his brother, so much like him. “I don’t care. It’ll kill…” He swallowed, shaking his head. “You can’t do this, Alex.”

It would kill Aiden.

Hades clapped his hands together. “See. Even she understands.”

My heart cracked.

Artemis’ eyes widened. “Alexandria, please, I understand that the mortal part of you demands that you become a martyr, but you really need to shut up.”

“People are going to continue to die. And Seth will find me.” I pressed the button on the handle, and the blades collapsed. “I saw him. He’s…” I couldn’t finish. Saying that Seth was lost was too final and, in a way, it broke my heart.

Hades turned those eyes to me. They snapped with electricity. For a moment, I missed Apollo. At least he toned down those eyes around me, making them seem normal. Hades would do no such thing. “You are doing the right thing,” he cooed softly. “And I promise you, you will not feel a thing.” He held out his hand to me. “It will be easy, luv.”

The crack in my chest spread, and I blinked back tears. This wasn’t fair, but it was right. It would hurt Aiden—and Marcus and my friends—but it would also protect them. One day I hoped they’d understand. Over the pounding of my blood, I heard Solos yell for me. Slowly, I raised my hand.

“That is it,” Hades whispered. “Take my hand.”

Our fingers were only inches apart. I could feel their strange mix of heat and bone-chilling cold. I forced my mind empty. I couldn’t afford to think about what I was doing because I’d chicken out.

“Hades,” Artemis called out.

He turned slightly. “Stay—”

Artemis released the arrow and it struck where she’d intended—smack dab between Hades’ eyes. Then he just poofed—like Grandma Piperi had poofed in the garden the day she’d given me her last prophecy. The overwhelming scent of damp walls and caverns vanished, and the arrow clattered onto the linoleum.

I clamped my hand over my mouth to stop my scream. “Is… did you kill him?”

“No.” Artemis scoffed. “I just put him out of commission for a while.” She lowered the bow and flicked her wrist. The front doors swung open. Marcus and Aiden rushed in, coming to a halt when they spied Artemis. Neither of the pures seemed to know what to do.

Artemis replaced the arrow back in her quiver and gave Aiden a sexy little grin. “They just keep getting yummier,” she purred.

Too stunned to get jealous, I stared at her. “Why? He was right. I’m too much of a risk. I understand that.”

Artemis focused on me with all-white eyes. “My brother has not risked the wrath of Zeus to protect you, for you to just throw your life away.”

I tried to ignore the cyclone of fury building behind me. Dealing with Aiden was not something I was looking forward to. “I don’t get it. No one can hide me forever. Seth will find me, and then what? He’ll become the God Killer and another god is going to freak out and wipe out an entire city.”