Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I’ve read the reports. Hades is a good leader. He takes care of his people, even when he’s at a disadvantage against the rest of the city. By all accounts, his people love him.
How long will that love hold once they start feeling the burden of tariffs and the like?
Something uncomfortable twinges in my chest, but I shove it down. We didn’t come here to integrate with Olympian society. We came here to bring it down. I might not know the overarching plan Minos is putting in place—he’s not one to share more than he has to—but we aren’t the good guys.
I’ve never been one to concern myself with innocents, but I’ve also never been in a position where innocents might be affected by my actions. I don’t…
I try to put it out of my head like I have every other time I’ve bumped against shit Minos says or does that I don’t like. It’s not my place to question the plan. Minos is the one who put me on this path and helped me survive and protect Pandora in the bargain. I owe him too much to question him now. But…I want to question him. I want to ask him what the fuck he’s doing. Except I already know; exactly what he promised.
Destabilizing and bringing down Olympus.
It just never bothered me before. I clear my throat. “Consider it done.”
“Good. Keep me updated.”
“I will.”
He hangs up without saying goodbye. The awful sensation in my chest doesn’t abate as I check the time. I’m due at Aphrodite’s place before too long, and for all her determination to cook or whatever the fuck she had in her head this morning, I’m showing up with food.
It takes thirty minutes to find a place that sounds like something I’d actually eat and another twenty to drive to her building. Most of the Thirteen have chauffeurs, but I don’t trust anyone in this city enough to mindlessly let them drive me around.
Doing that shit is a good way to end up dead.
I take the elevator up to my wife’s place and let myself in. It feels strange to walk through the empty space and set the takeout on the kitchen counter. I expected her to sweep in the moment I walked through the door, a sharp word and a wicked smile firmly in place.
She’s nowhere to be seen.
The small hairs at the nape of my neck stand on end. “Aphrodite?” No answer. I take a moment to check the living room and then start down the hall. “Eris?”
She’s fine. This is just another game. Another way she’s outmaneuvering me. I poke my head into the guest bathroom and the spare bedroom, not finding anything, and then make my way to the master.
The bed is perfectly made, looking like something in a catalog for rich people, right down to the dozen pillows taking up the top third. I hadn’t had a chance to get a good look at it the other night. It’s luxurious and so perfectly Aphrodite that I shake my head…and pause. Is that the shower running?
I walk slowly across the bedroom, that sick feeling in my chest getting stronger. There is no way my wife would be in the shower at the time when I said I’d be here. Not after today. It’s too vulnerable a position. Even if she meant to seduce me, she’d do it in another way. I’m sure of it.
Feeling slightly absurd but not able to shake off my caution, I crack the door and push it slowly open. The shower is a monstrosity, a huge tiled beast that would probably fit five people without crowding.
My wife sits on the floor, her knees drawn to her chest and her head down, her wet hair creating dark rivers down her bare back. A bruise has blossomed on her hip, turning her pale skin a rainbow of purple and black, fading to green and yellow on the edges.
She looks…small.
I don’t remember moving away from the door. It’s like I blink and I’m back in the kitchen, my head swimming and my chest too tight. I don’t even pause to think. I drag out my phone and call Pandora.
She answers almost immediately. “What?”
“Help.”
Instantly, all joking is gone from her voice. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“Aphrodite.” I’m whispering and that’s fucking ridiculous, but I can’t seem to stop. “I brought her dinner. Someone tried to shoot her this morning, and now she’s in her shower and she looks so fucking small, and I think she might be crying.”
“What?”
“She—”
“No, I heard you. I’m just processing.” She curses softly. “Damn it, Theseus, are you really hiding in her apartment instead of comforting her right now?”
“I don’t know how to comfort someone.”
Her tone goes soft. “Look, I’d come, but I think that just might complicate the situation tonight.” She hesitates. “You should call Adonis.”