Asterion (The Court of the Underworld #1; The Gods Universe #1)

by Alessa Thorn

Sing, of when Greece’s economy collapsed and the land was on fire with the turmoil man’s governance had wrought.

Ariadne scattered photos of Botsaris's beaten and raped wife around his body.

There was a running joke internationally that Hades had come back to make the New York City of Greece and had ended up

with Gotham instead. The people who lived in Styx didn't find this joke amusing because they knew that Hades Acheron would eat the toughest of Gotham for breakfast before picking his teeth with Batman's bones.

Only the tough survived on the str...

"One other thing, Spindle. If you interfere with my training again, like you did today, I'll break more than the girl's arm. Understand?" "Yes, pater. I'm sorry," Ariadne said and left his office before she climbed over the desk and shoved her fist down his throat.

Ariadne had burned her fingerprints off years ago, back when she believed all of Minos's bullshit and wanted to impress him with her devotion.

"The Minotaur doesn't make friends, especially not with beautiful women," said an arrogant voice behind them. "Nikos, what brings you slinking in here tonight?" Asterion asked,

Don't get emotional. He's a contract. Your body is a weapon and one you can control, Madame Zera's voice echoed in her head.

"There are rules. No animals, no kids, no death unless it's agreed on first by both parties. People have to prove they are good enough before they go into the Labyrinth."

"Would you like me or one of the triplets to handle this?" The triplets, Thanatos, Charon, and Erebus,

"I protect my own. You know that. Update me on any progress you make, nephew," Hades said, and then he was simply gone.

She couldn't afford to get comfortable enough to hope her end wasn't going to be messy, even if Asterion's mouth said one thing and his actions said another. Trusting him would be trusting another a man, and that was something she was too smart ever to do again.

"How did you know the Maserati was my favorite?" "Are you kidding me? Even my dick gets hard when I look at that thing." "Quite a feat considering I'm intimately acquainted with your anatomy, and you lack the necessary equipment."

"I don't want to die, but I'm not afraid of it. I've been raised in it, reveled in it, been the cause of it. Death and I are old friends. Death is kinder than Minos, so I'd rather you kill me than go back to him. At least you won't have an erection as you watch me die."

"You want a kiss for good luck?" Theseus asked. "You want to be punched in the dick?" she replied. His smile was cold and vicious. "I hope you die screaming, Spindle."

"Is she fucking smiling right now?" Asterion said incredulously, leaning over the edge of the balcony for a better look. She was. A big fuck you grin now stretched from ear to ear. This woman is fucking insane. The way she'd handled herself in the firefight and their hurried orgasms in the shower afterward had him wondering if she even knew how to act like a normal person. Now he had proof she was nuts as she faced certain death and was smiling.

"Look upon me and despair, mortal!" Medusa shouted theatrically, making Asterion jump in surprise.

"I see us as being different sides of the same coin. When I'm the Minotaur, I act more impulsively, and more primal instincts come into play. When I'm a man, I can think clearer, control myself better, but sometimes we…leak…into each other during moments of stress or heightened emotion," Asterion said.

"Truce and 'not a prisoner' imply I can leave whenever I

want. If he doesn't like it, I'll leave permanently." "Oh, to be a fly on the wall when that conversation goes down," Medusa hooted with laughter.

"You need to get something into that bull head of yours. Ariadne is a capable, kick-ass woman. She's not like one of the ditsy club girls you usually sleep with. She has more experience wading through the filthy underbelly of Styx than the majority of your men. She was born into it, and has lived through the worst of it. You can't treat her like a damsel and expect to keep her."

Listen, girlie, from the moment I saw his reaction to you on the street, I knew you were special. He's not been himself since he met you. Don't know what that means, but he's softer than he seems. He trusts you, even after all the shit you've put him through. Don't make him regret it."

Ariadne waved him aside. "Move. I need to go grab a bull by the horns." "I don't want to know if that's a euphemism," he complained.

"Are you okay?" Ariadne asked uncertainly. Asterion's hands stroked down her back. "I am now. You can…calm him down." "You mean, I can calm you down. I still see him when I look at you and you when I look at him," Ariadne said, leaning back so she could run her thumbs along his cheek. "Here, in the

eyes. Oh look, they are still pissed off around the edges." "Can you blame me? I was worried all bloody day. I believe the gods designed you as my great test," he said, kissing her cheek.

"Hmm, you still should've waited for me to go with you. I can't lock you up, so maybe I need to work on making the thought of you leaving me unbearable." "Work away. I still won't sit around and wait for the menfolk to do all the work," Ariadne said sarcastically.

"There is no I in team."

Asterion had always seemed worried and confused that she could want him, knowing that he was the Minotaur.