“If you are so ashamed, why make so many bargains?”
“Because I am self-serving. There was a time when I cared nothing about the consequences of trading souls.”
Persephone’s hand curled on his stomach. “They cannot all be bad.”
He wasn’t sure if she said it because she was hopeful he might find a way to save Lexa if worse came to worse or because she wished to see the best in him in this moment.
“There are only those I regret more,” he said. “And those souls belong to children.”
He called up his glamour, and they spoke no more.
* * *
An hour later, Persephone was sound asleep once more. Hades lay awake staring at the ceiling, recalling the vision the eye had shown him. He could still remember it in vivid detail—the crowded square, the guttural sounds of sex, the acidic smell of Dionysus’s magic, and the god himself seated with his lover. Perhaps the worst part was how comfortable she appeared to be as a goddess and a queen. Had the eye been trying to tell him something? Or was it merely fucking with him because it did not trust him?
He turned his head, and as he traced Persephone’s features in the semidarkness, he wondered if she were better off without him.
A pulse of magic drew his attention as Hermes appeared at the end of his bed. He raised a brow.
“You could knock,” he said.
“Courtesy is for mortals,” said Hermes.
“And gods who want to keep their teeth.”
Hermes was not amused, but their banter was overshadowed by how quickly his expression changed to something far too serious for the God of Mischief.
“You’ve been summoned, Hades,” he said.
He did not need to ask who had summoned him. He could guess well enough.
Hera.
“Where?” he asked.
“I cannot tell you that,” Hermes said. “I can only take you there.”
Hades narrowed his eyes as Hermes began to draw a line in the air, summoning a portal.
“No teleportation?” he asked.
“Hera does not allow teleportation into her…realm…without consent, much like you,” Hermes replied just as the portal he had summoned yawned open. It was big enough for Hermes to step through without hassle, but Hades would have to bend.
He sighed, a gnawing anxiety growing in his chest. He leaned over and kissed Persephone softly before rising, summoning his clothes, and stepping through the portal.
He found himself in a room—an office. He recognized where he was only because the wall of windows opposite him overlooked a familiar part of New Athens.
This was the Diadem Hotel, and it was owned by Hera. The goddess herself stood in front of a black-and-gold desk that looked more like an art piece than practical furniture. A set of gold peacock statues flanked it while a three-piece canvas hung behind it, depicting a prowling black panther with emerald eyes.
“Hades,” Hera greeted with a nod. Her brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and she wore a white jumpsuit and tailored jacket. The goddess usually chose gold accessories, and today was no different—a large gold chain hung around her neck, paired with a stack of gold bracelets on her left wrist.
Hades always felt that the goddess’s choice to wear white was symbolic. She was communicating her innocence, in contrast to her husband, who was far from chaste or loyal to her in any regard.
“Hera,” Hades replied.
“I hope I was not interrupting,” she said.
Hades looked around the room. No one was present aside from Hermes.
“Perhaps we should drop false pretenses, Hera,” Hades said. “There is no one present to witness your false courtesy.”
The goddess smiled. “Your next labor begins in an hour,” she said. “Hermes, why don’t you prepare our…guest?”
Hades’s gaze cut to the god, who was far too nervous not to be guilty of something. Hermes bowed his head. “Of course,” he said, finally meeting Hades’s eyes. “This way, Hades.”
Hades had never felt this kind of tension with Hermes. It was the kind that developed when someone wasn’t being truthful, and it was rapidly morphing into anger. He knew the God of Mischief felt it too, because he moved stiffly before Hades as he called for the elevator in Hera’s office.
Its doors were gold and opened into a needlessly extravagant lift. The floor was carpeted, thick and plush. The walls were mirrored and framed in gold. There was even a chandelier overhead; the crystals dripping from it touched Hades’s head. He turned once inside, never taking his eyes from Hera as the doors closed, sealing him inside with the God of Trickery.
Now that they were alone, Hades spoke. “Care to tell me what is going on?” he asked.
“I…” Hermes said and cleared his throat. “I can’t.”
“Hmm…so much for being best friends.”
Hermes’s eyes and mouth opened, and Hades did not know if it was from the shock of him using those words or the thought of actually losing his friendship, but after a moment, his gaze narrowed, and his lips pressed thin. Hermes seemed more on edge, and with good reason, because in the next second, Hades had him pressed against the wall by his neck.
The god’s hand clamped down on Hades’s arm and he laughed nervously. “This was far less scary in my dreams.”
“For what am I being made ready?” Hades asked through clenched teeth.
“Fight night,” Hermes said. “You’re going into the ring, Hades.”
Hades released him, and the god fell to the floor. As he rose to his feet again, Hermes pressed his fingers to his neck.
“Definitely thought I’d enjoy choking far more,” Hermes said. “Thanks for ruining a fantasy.”
Hades ignored the god. He was not so surprised that Hera hosted such an event. It was likely she used it to choose heroes and favored mortals.
“Who am I fighting?” Hades asked.
“I don’t know,” Hermes replied.
Hades looked at him, and the god flinched away.
“You’re being a little dramatic, don’t you think?” Hades asked.
Hermes straightened and glared. “You just pinned me against a wall and not in a good way!”
Hades stared, waiting for an answer to his question.
“The competitors are different every week,” Hermes said. “That’s the point. The chosen—that’s you, in case you didn’t know—goes in blind. It’s a test of your ability to improvise and adapt.”