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

by Eliza Raine

'In my experience, the prettiest men are the best ones to avoid,'

Purple lightning was firing in his irises, in time with the flashes above me. It was utterly beautiful and completely terrifying.

Zeus has decided that Hades needs a wife. Women have been trying to earn the position of Queen of the Underworld by completing a series of Trials.

'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.' 'Hades is being forced to marry as a punishment?' 'Yep.' 'So... what's this all got to do with me? And how do you know who I am?' A worried look crossed her beautiful face, then she let out a big sigh and closed her eyes. 'What a fucking mess,' she breathed, and opened her eyes again, fixing them on mine. 'I could refuse to tell you, but I guess you'll find out sooner or later.' 'Find what out?' 'You're Hades' first wife.'

There was no way I was the wife of Hades. I'd been watching too much Netflix.

'You can conjure wine? I'd be drunk constantly,' I said, impressed. She winked at me. 'Who says I'm not?'

But was it right that they could remove my memories? Tell me I was married, then not allow me to know any more? Married! The thought was laughable. I'd never even had a boyfriend for more than six months, what the hell would I want with a husband?

'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.

'I've been kidnapped, told my whole life was a lie and that I had a husband I didn't know existed. If that isn't bad enough, you now want me to compete to marry the same man who already decided NOT to be married to me once before, in order to live in a world full of dead things when all I've wanted to do my whole life is grow things.'

My mind flashed to what sex with a man made of smoke and death would be like. Probably significantly more kinky than I was used to. Stop it, I chided myself.

'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.

'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.'

As you all know, the Hades Trials test the future queen in the four values that our divine gods hold most dear; Glory, Intelligence, Loyalty and Hospitality. All things the queen of the dead will need in abundance!'

The Queen of the Underworld is not easily forgotten.'

'This is a test to see if you are capable of holding the position of Queen of the Underworld. Politics and combat go hand-in-hand. You need to prove your ability to hold your own, support your husband and represent your realm.

'I like it when you swear,' Skop said as he jumped up beside me. 'Feisty women are just my type.' 'Not now, Skop. I am seriously not in the mood. I thought you were here to cheer me up.' 'I am. Would you like me to take a shit in one of his shoes?'

'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 pretty tasty.' 'Right,' I said, rolling my eyes. '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.'

'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.'

'Parties. Everything you need to know can be learned at parties. They're where all the politics of Olympus are managed.'

'I'm pleased to meet you, Persephone. I'm Morpheus, god of dreams and permanent resident of the underworld,'

The goddess of pleasure with the god of dreams. I bet that lead to some seriously epic sex.

The sub-conscious is a powerful thing, and it dictates most of my work.'

This time I saw more than a flash of silver. Hades solidified, and I swear, my knees actually went weak, like I was in a slushy romance novel.

'Why would I need to harm a god?' I asked her, alarmed. 'Persy, are you learning nothing? You must always be prepared.'

'Finalize the food for the feast, and go over greeting and conversational etiquette,' I told him with a scowl. My idea of a nightmare. If I had my way it would be beef burgers and a cheerful hug, but apparently that didn't cut it if you were trying out for queen of the Underworld.

Did I tell you about the time Dionysus tricked Poseidon into having sex with a tree?'

Don't shake hands, hold yours out to be kissed, like you're more important than they are.'

Channel what Hedone taught you, I thought. A little arrogance, a lot of grace.

He was gorgeous. And not mysteriously good looking like Morpheus, or pretty-boy good looking like Zeus, but panty-dropping, mouth-drooling, dizzy-making gorgeous.

He loved me. I could see it in his face, hear it in his broken voice, feel it in his electrifying touch. All this time, all those years alone in New York, and someone, somewhere, loved me this much. And I never knew.