She’s put every single champion in a truly shitty position, and she doesn’t seem to care. Which just lines up with what I know about her. Selfish, pampered princess. She decided she didn’t want to be the prize, so she threw a tantrum and entered the competition herself, despite being outmatched and outgunned. She has no fucking chance of winning. Frankly, it pisses me off.
She pisses me off.
“Stop glaring,” Patroclus repeats.
“No one here to see it.”
Bellerophon turns down a series of halls to one that has three offshoots. They point to the first one. “Three people in here. Room choice is up to you, but don’t get precious about it.” We all wait for those three to peel off and head down the short hall to the pair of doors on either side and then walk to the second hallway. “Three more.”
It happens so quickly. They peel off and then there’s just three of us left. Me. Patroclus. Helen. Fuck.
“Last three.”
Helen doesn’t look at any of us, marching down the hallway. I hate how gorgeous she is. Her short golden dress seems designed to catch every ray of light, molding to her athletic body and giving a truly excellent view of her round ass. If I remember correctly, she used to be a gymnast or some shit like that. Looking at her body, I believe it.
A day ago, I’d have said my attraction to her isn’t a bad thing. I plan to marry the woman, after all. Attraction is near enough to liking someone that we could have made something work.
Now I’m not so sure.
Helen glances over her shoulder, lifting her brows when I jerk my gaze to her face. “This one’s mine.” She opens the middle door and steps inside, closing it with a click that feels final. Did she choose that room so she’d share a wall with both of us? I highly doubt it. No matter how pretty her smile, she’s obviously not that savvy if she’s here in the first place.
Bellerophon crosses their arms over their chest. “Is this rooming arrangement going to be a problem?”
“No,” I answer quickly. Too quickly.
They give me a long look. “I wasn’t aware you have history with Helen.”
“I don’t. We don’t.” I don’t give a fuck if Patroclus used to be sandbox playmates with her. That was a long time ago and it’s ancient history now. He feels no loyalty to her. “This is fine.”
“It is fine.” Patroclus shakes his head. “The room arrangements change nothing.”
That’s the problem; my man had a plan and nowhere in that plan did it include us competing against Helen herself. Knowing Patroclus, he needs some quiet time to get his thoughts in order and figure out an updated strategy. He thinks best when I’m not “hovering” as he calls it.
I nod. “I’ll be over in a bit.”
“Achilles.” He holds my gaze. “Don’t do anything impulsive.”
I laugh and put on my most charming smile. “Me? Impulsive? Never.”
“Uh-huh.” Patroclus shakes his head and walks to the door on the right, disappearing through it.
Once he’s gone, I turn to Bellerophon. “Athena around?”
“No.” They prop their hands on their hips. “Even if she were, she doesn’t answer to you and she has her own reasons for allowing Helen to participate. It’s too late to do anything about it but move forward. Keep your eye on the ball, Achilles. We’re all rooting for you.”
Of course they were. Having me as Ares would create a new peace between Ares and Athena that hasn’t existed in decades. By the nature of the two titles’ responsibilities, as often as they work together, they’re also competing for the same resources. Ares holds the security forces that most of the Thirteen utilize and Athena heads up the special forces. Both answer directly to Zeus, and the last Zeus liked to play them against each other. This one promises to rule with a more even hand, but having one of Athena’s former people as Ares would smooth the way even more.
“I’ll get it done.” I nudge their shoulder. “I’m the best, after all.”
“Yeah, yeah.” They snort. “Get some rest and try to stay out of trouble.” Bellerophon hesitates. “And keep an extra eye on the Minotaur and Theseus. They seem like trouble.”
“I think so, too.” We don’t get a lot of outsiders in Olympus by nature of the difficulty to pass in and out of the city. A barrier wraps the city and surrounding area, large enough to encompass the farmland Demeter oversees and ensure the people are fed. I’ve never gotten a solid answer on why Poseidon and a select few of his people are able to pass back and forth freely. Patroclus has his theories and it has to do with bloodlines, but that shit is above my pay grade. For better or worse, Olympus is where I was born and it’s where I will make my mark. I couldn’t give a shit about the rest of the world outside it.
I eye the door Helen disappeared through. I need to have a conversation with the little princess. The glance I shoot at Patroclus’s door isn’t quite guilty, but I can’t help feeling it as I lightly rap on Helen’s door. He told me to behave, and I’m pretty damn sure he wouldn’t approve of the conversation I’m about to have.
If there’s even a chance I can get Helen to resign as champion, I should try. It’s better for everyone if she’s not competing—even her. Patroclus would agree with that reasoning… Probably.
Helen opens the door but doesn’t move out of the way. She also doesn’t seem surprised to see me. “Achilles.”
“We should talk.” There. That’s nice and neutral.
She considers me for a long moment before finally stepping back and holding open the door. “You should know, if you try something, I will make you regret it.”
I’m careful not to brush against her smaller body as I step into the room. I’m a big guy, and I’m not ashamed to say I’ve used my size to intimidate people in the past. It was part of my job, after all, but that’s not what I’m here for right now. Even knowing that, my mouth gets away from me. “What are you going to do, princess? Stomp on my foot with one of those spike heels? That won’t slow down any warrior who’s worth a damn.”
“Hmm.” Helen shuts the door and leans against it, considering me. It almost looks as if she’s measuring me up as an opponent. “Spike heels can do plenty of damage against other parts of your body.” She gives my hips a pointed look.
That surprises a laugh out of me. “I’d like to see you try it.”
“Don’t tempt me with a good time.”
This interaction isn’t going at all like I expected. The precious princess of Olympus should have swooned at the first hint of a threat, no matter how veiled. This woman looks like she’s all too willing to follow through on her threat and sink one of those impressive heels into my fleshy bits.