Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1)(90)

She finally looks back at me. “It will create enemies.”

“It will bring enemies you already have out into the open,” I correct.

Mother gives a strange little smile. “You’ve been paying closer attention that I thought.”

“As you said, I learned from the best.” I don’t agree with the choices she’s made, but I can’t lie and pretend that the persona I’ve worn for so long is one I came up with on my own. I watched her move among the power players in this city and molded myself accordingly to travel those eddies and flows without making waves. “You have to do this.”

She takes a slow breath, and it’s as if all her hesitation leaves her on the exhale. “Six events.”

“Excuse me?”

“You will ensure that Hades will attend at least six events throughout the calendar year, preferably of my choosing.” She holds my gaze. “In addition to that, he will allow himself to be seen with me enough to suggest that we’re allied.”

I narrow my eyes. “You don’t get to control him.”

“Of course not. But perception is everything. If the rest of Olympus thinks that Hades is in my back pocket, it will boost my power exponentially.”

It’s a huge risk. The Thirteen might know Hades exists, but until recently, the rest of the upper city didn’t. If they think he and my mother are allies, it will influence any number of deals she makes. No one wants to open their door and find Olympus’s boogeyman waiting because they pissed off Demeter.

But that’s the deciding factor. She’s asking for the perception of an alliance. Hades will not be trapped into supporting her unless he actually wants to. He just has to be seen with her. “Okay.”

“Then we have a deal.” She holds out her hand.

I stare at it for a long moment. Once I agree, there’s no going back. No escaping Olympus. No avoiding the power plays and politics and backstabbing that come with living here. If I do this, I’m immersing myself right up to my neck and doing it willingly. I can’t pretend that I had no choice. I can’t change my mind later and cry foul. I’m walking in with eyes wide open, and I have to be okay with that.

If I don’t seal this bargain, there will be war in Olympus. Hundreds of people could die—likely more. Hades could die. And even if he makes it through to the other side, what will the cost be? He’s already survived so much, fought his way back from so much loss. If I can save him from more, I want to.

If I don’t seal this bargain, I’ll never see him again.

I take my mother’s hand and we exchange a firm shake. “Deal.”





Chapter 29


Hades

She’s gone.

I sit in my bedroom as dawn first begins to steal across the sky and stare at the empty bed. The room never felt this large before, this deserted. I feel her absence in my home like a missing limb. It hurts, but there’s no source. There’s no fix.

I lean forward and press the heels of my hands to my eyes. I watched the security feeds. I saw her leave with Hermes. If it was only that, I might chalk it up to Persephone changing her mind, to her wanting nothing to do with this war and me after what happened tonight.

But she left her sister here.

And she was wearing a black dress.

I’m not a man to look for signs when there are none, but she wore a black dress earlier, too. Tonight represented a turning point for us, one of the latest in a long line of many. She stood at my side in black and we all but admitted our feelings for each other. If Persephone didn’t care about me, she wouldn’t be dressed as my dark queen when she left. She wouldn’t have left Eurydice here, sending a silent message that she trusts me to ensure her sister’s safety.

She’s making a statement.

I push to my feet and cross to the bed. There will be no time for sleeping, but I need to take a shower and try to clear my head. Things are moving too quickly. I can’t afford to let something slip.

I see the paper the moment I walk into the bathroom. It’s torn on one side and as I pick it up, I recognize the title of the book Persephone was reading when I saw her last. Her scrawl is almost illegible, which makes me smile despite everything. It’s one part of her that isn’t perfectly poised. The note is short, but it steals my breath all the same.

Hades,

I’m sorry. This will look bad, but I promise that I’m doing it for you. It’s unforgivable to say it this way, but I don’t know if I’ll get another chance. I love you. I made this mess, and now I’ll fix it.

Yours,

P

I read it again. And then a third time. “Godsdamn it.” If she’d left me to save herself or her sisters, that would be easier to swallow. I’d suspected, but suspecting and knowing the truth are two very different things.

Something inside me goes cold and barbed as I pull out my phone and check the gossip sites. Persephone’s only been gone a few hours, but her photos are already all over them. Her in that black dress at Zeus’s party. Zeus with his arm possessively around her waist. Her giving him that sunny smile that is fake and sweet enough to make my teeth ache.

She walked back into his waiting arms to save me. I can’t wrap my mind around it. She’s seen my preparations. She knows what I’m capable of. My people and I can weather anything Zeus throws at us. It won’t be pretty, but we can do it.