The Power of Hades (The Hades Trials, #1)

by Eliza Raine

'No. He swore after his first wife that he would never remarry, but he upset Zeus in a pretty big way recently. And the big man's punishments cut deep.'

'You're Hades' first wife.'

'And her? Do you believe she deserved this?' said Hera, speaking for the first time and gesturing at me. Zeus shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

'You forget, brother, she has the potential to be dangerous. Your games should not go this far,' said Poseidon, his piercing blue eyes not leaving me as he spoke.

'Why the fuck do I need a guard?' I hissed at her. 'Her powers haven't been unlocked,' said Hecate loudly to the assembled gods, ignoring me. 'She does not need a guard.'

'Let me guess,' I said, feeling an unhinged smile take over my face. If I could have any power in the world what would it be? That was easy. 'I can make plants grow?'

Hecate looked at me, her brows drawing together. 'How'd you know that?' 'Because Hades left her love of nature when he sent her to the mortal world,' said Hera, so quietly I barely heard her.

'Hades is the Lord of the Dead. He's the most fearsome of all the Olympians, although not the strongest, and his rage would cause any human to see death. And trust me, that was Hades' real rage.' She blew out a breath, chewing on her lip. 'He let his true form show. With spectators. That's... Well, there are very, very few people in Olympus who have seen his eyes.'

Hades' eyes... I knew, more surely than I'd ever known anything in my life, that this was not the first time I'd seen those eyes. They meant something to me, down to my very core.

'I'm sorry your first meeting with him turned out like that. I knew it would be

pretty shit but... Nearly killing you was definitely not ideal. But

'You owe me,' I hissed. 'You kidnapped me just to play stupid games with your brother. Until we're even you'll get no deference from me.'

'I do believe that you need to be reminded of who I am, little mortal,'

'Won't you be in trouble if you kill the girl you went to so much trouble to find?'

'Trouble? Me? Nobody chastises Zeus!'

'Harm a single hair on her body and we'll find out once and for all which king

is strongest,' hissed a voice, at the same time as my skin felt like it was being covered in ice. A smoky form shimmered into existence beside Zeus and tension literally crackled through the air. Then Zeus slowly began to shrink, the tension easing as his size decreased.

'So I was right? You can't kill me? Or hurt me?'

'Not during the Trials, no. And anyway, I don't want to hurt you. There are many other things I'd rather do with you...'

A stronger wave of heat blew over me, and I thought I saw Hades' chest solidify under the smoke for a second. 'Right,' I said, flexing my fingers. 'Well, in that case, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that you are a colossal prick.'

'Oh, brother Hades. I see why you liked this one. And I can see why it was so hard to let her go.'

You have about ten seconds before that thing puts itself back together. Move, now.

Aww Hades

'I'm your friend, Persephone. I remember you well.' 'Really?' 'Of course. The Queen of the Underworld is not easily forgotten.'

'Where are you?' 'All around you. I am the garden.'

'Am I dreaming?' 'Of course you are. But dreams are controlled by the gods too, Persephone. I heard you chose seeds.'

'Why does everyone care so much that I chose seeds?'

'I admire your choice. You know, pomegranate seeds can be eaten.' I frowned. 'I'd rather plant them.' 'Trust me, my Queen. You'd rather eat them.'

'I sure am,' he said, rocking on his heels. 'Could you put some clothes on?' 'Nope.' 'Please?' 'No can do. Not allowed.' 'You're not allowed to wear clothes? Why not?' 'Dunno. Is it this that's causing the issue?' He thrust his hips forward, flicking himself at me and I spluttered as my cheeks reddened.

'Ah. Does this help?' With a little pop, the gnome vanished, replaced by a dog.

'It's weird,' I said, frowning. 'You're in my head.'

'Then I'll go back to my normal form-' he started, but I waved my hands. 'No! No, stay like that, please.' I'd rather a wagging tail than a wagging gnome knob. 'What are you?' I asked him.

'A kob...

'Can I see your eyes?' 'No,'

'Why do you want to see them?' he asked. 'Because... When I saw them yesterday, I knew I wasn't dreaming. I knew this was real,' I said, knowing I was telling him too much, but not able to stop

myself. 'They're the only thing I recognize in this world.'

Hades' form flashed, and suddenly, there they were. Those intense, beautiful silver eyes. But they were filled with sadness, and pa...

The desire to help him, to make him happy, to fix whatever made him so intensely sad was overwhelming me.

One minute he was making me feel all this overwhelming emotional crap, the next he was being a dick to me?

'You can see through his smoke?' 'Yeah.'

'What does he look like?' I hated myself for asking, but I was incredibly curious.

'I'm mostly into women, but he's p...

'You'll see him soon enough,' Skop said, trotting about in a little circle on the covers, then settling down in a tight ball. 'I doubt that. He just told me never to talk to him again.'

'Which is angry-man-god-speak for: I'd very much like to have sex with you.'

Hades was definitely one bad boy too far.

'People only see smoke,' I said. 'He wasn't always like that,' she answered quietly. Something in my stomach tightened. 'What happened?' I asked, but deep in my gut, I already knew the answer. 'You.'

'Why did you send me away? What happened between us?'

'Nothing happened between us,' he answered, his voice sad. 'Circumstances beyond my control meant you had to leave.'

'Good. In the meantime, take care of that fucking flower for me so I don't have to.'

'Why are you suddenly being nice to me?'

'Seeing you here, in this room... It's impossible not to be. And if you are only to be here a short while longer, then you may as well enjoy it.'