A Game of Gods (Hades Saga, #3)

by Scarlett St. Clair

“We fought,” Hephaestus said. “Is Aphrodite all right?” Hades’s voice rose in alarm. “She’s fine, physically at least,” Hephaestus said quickly. “I didn’t touch her. I’ve never…touched her.” Hephaestus took a deep breath and then raked his fingers through his hair. “What happened?” Hades asked again. “She…accused me of being the reason Harmonia was injured,” Hephaestus said. “She said that whatever had been used against Harmonia had to have been one of my creations.” So many relics had been stolen and funneled into the black market it wasn’t impossible but that did not make it Hephaestus’s fault. After a moment, the god continued. “I left after she told me how miserable I made her and came here,” he said. “The rest you can guess.” Hades had to admit, though he’d always known something seething lingered beneath the surface of Hephaestus’s calm and quiet exterior, seeing it in person was another experience entirely. He understood that the god was not proud. If anything, he seemed even more devastated that he had not been able to control his anger. “Hephaestus, you don’t really believe—” “I believe what she says, Hades,” Hephaestus said quickly. “I have nothing else.” Hades did not know what to say. These two gods had loved each other for most of their immortal lives, and yet they had never managed to learn how to speak the same language. “She should have left me long ago.” “Do you not know the woman you married?” Hades asked. “If she wanted to leave, she would have.” “Then h...