A Game of Retribution (Hades Saga, #2)

by Scarlett St. Clair

There was no fucking way he was going to leave her alone. She’d nearly exploded in a bloody heap of thorns, and he didn’t think that was an exaggeration. Her magic had done this. It had gained power from her anger, and when it had nowhere to go, it just manifested like this. He knelt beside her, unsure of what to do. She had gone so pale, and it was made worse by the light, which made her blood look black. “Fuck, Persephone. How long has your magic been manifesting like this?” “Don’t you ever listen?” The words slipped from between her clenched teeth. “I could ask the same of you,” he said humorlessly as he lifted his hand, intent on healing her, though he hesitated a moment, waiting for her to protest. The pain must have won out because she said nothing. He winced as he placed his hand on the first wound. The thorn was sharp and wet from her blood, the skin around it shredded. He gritted his teeth as it healed and moved to the next one on her side, then the two that protruded from her calves. When he was finished, he sat back, hating the feel of her blood on his hands so much, they shook. “How long have you kept this from me?” he asked, knowing it had not gotten this bad overnight. Has she told Hecate? he wondered. “I’ve been a little distracted in case you haven’t noticed,” she replied bitterly, her breathing still not quite right.

“I don’t know how to lose someone, Hades.” It was moments like this when he realized that his heart no longer belonged to him. “I know,” he said, taking her face into his hands. “But running from it won’t help, Persephone. You are just delaying the inevitable.” “Hades, please,” she said, desperate, and then whispered, “What if it were me?” No. He released her. “I refuse to entertain such a thought.” “You cannot tell me you wouldn’t break every Divine law in existence for me.” Hades’s power preened at the thought. “Make no mistake, my lady, I would burn this world for you.” He had said it before, but perhaps she did not quite understand what that meant. There were no rules, Divine or otherwise, when it came to her. She was the exception. It did not matter that no one else thought so. He did, and he was the end. “But that is a burden I am willing to carry. Can you say the same?”

“You are so busy searching for the gray monsters, you haven’t even noticed what is unfolding around you.” “And what exactly is that?” “Unrest,” he said. “And do you know what unrest breeds?” War. Hades did not say the word aloud because he did not wish to speak it into existence, but he knew what Helios was implying. The god laughed again. “I predict another war soon. Olympianomachy,” he said in a lofty voice, smiling. “It has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?” “So certain we will lose?” Hades asked. “I have no doubt.”

“You forget that you are all seeing, Helios,” said Hades. “Not all knowing.” “I’ve always chosen the winning side,” said Helios. “That has never been by chance.” “Treason is a poor look, Helios.” “I have taken no action,” said the god. “And I am helping you. That is far from treasonous.”

“Where are the Graeae?” Hades asked at last. Helios offered a wicked smile. “Lake Tritonis,” he said. “You’ll find them held in the caves.” The God of the Sun pulled Rosie close, his great strength allowing him to carry the animal under his arm. “You are about to find out, Hades, that you’re on the wrong side.”

“I’d like you to retrieve Hippolyta’s belt,” she said, almost casually. Hades’s brows lowered. That was a relatively tame ask given what she had saddled him with before. “Hippolyta’s belt,” Hades said. “Why?” “Do not question my wants, Lord Hades. It is none of your business.” Hades narrowed his eyes. “Does Ares know of your wants?” “The belt was his gift to Hippolyta. I see no reason to ask him.”

“Yeah?” the satyr answered, out of breath. Hades arched a brow. “Are you in the middle of something?” “Running a marathon,” Ilias replied, a sarcastic edge to his voice. Hades did not question it. “When you are finished,” he said, “I need you to travel to Lake Tritonis and secure the Graeae. Tell no one. I will be back as soon as possible.” “Got it,” Ilias replied, and when Hades hung up, he vanished.