I sucked in a breath. I couldn’t look away from his dark eyes even if I wanted to. And I definitely didn’t want to.

  “I thought for sure you were one of those pompous assholes who thought they were better than what they were,” he continued. “I thought you were some spoiled Divine who took after her mother and longed to play with the big boys. I didn’t know you were a Watcher and I certainly didn’t know about the relationship you had with your mom. But working with you on this showed me just how wrong I was.” His fingers brushed hair out of my face, and it took everything in me not to move. I didn’t want him to pull away. I didn’t want him to stop touching me, even though we should probably head out. “I’m glad I was wrong.”

  I swallowed. I wished I had the ability to say something just as poignant, but words failed me as they were wont to do. Instead, I leaned forward until my forehead touched his. I closed my eyes and breathed him in, and for a moment, nothing else was spoken between us.

  There was no need.

  I wanted to ask him what that meant for the two of us. I wanted to know if we were more than just what we were.

  But now wasn’t the time for that.

  “Are you ready to go?” Apollo asked.

  I nodded, standing up. He followed suit.

  The truth was, I wasn’t ready to leave this place. Never had I expected the Underworld to be what I discovered it was. I always thought it was dark and dreary, filled with misery and hopelessness.

  But it wasn’t any of those things.

  There was something beautiful about the darkness, something I looked forward to exploring further, once this was over for once and for all.

  Leaving the Underworld was much easier than getting here. It didn’t hurt that Hades let us cross freely. With his presence, everything seemed to work out in exactly the way we needed to make it mean something. Zeus was quiet the whole time, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. He was stiff and tense, trying to master the obvious anger he felt, though whether that was still directed to his brother and Seph or the Titans themselves, I couldn’t say.

  Hades was fluid in his movements, a neutral expression on his face. He wasn’t angry but he wasn’t happy, either.

  Seph was hesitant. I wasn’t sure she was allowed to leave the Underworld because she had eaten, but maybe if she was with Hades, it was okay. I didn’t understand how the rules worked, and she didn’t seem to either. Before we left, I saw the two whisper to each other. The conversation seemed intimate, something I didn’t want to stumble upon even if I was curious about what was being said.

  There was something going on between the two of them. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was. It was clear Hades had affection for her just because of how gentle he was, but I wasn’t sure if it would amount to anything. And I wasn’t sure if Seph felt anything for him in return. She typically kept her emotions close to her chest, and I doubted that would change now.

  I wanted to ask her about it, but I wasn’t sure she would tell me anything. I didn’t deserve her trust, not after I had dismissed her the last time she confessed something important to me.

  Once we reached the River Styx, and the Ferryman approached us with his longboat, Zeus turned to look at his brother. “Will you leave the Underworld for this?” he asked.

  “I don’t think I have much of a choice, Zeus,” Hades muttered. “You’ve gotten yourself into quite the mess, and now, you need help getting yourself out of it. Again. Except, this time, the game changes.”

  “Are you seriously negotiating your assistance to saving Olympus?” Zeus asked through clenched teeth.

  “Olympus isn’t my realm, or have you so easily forgotten?” Hades asked. “I rule the Underworld, and ever since I was placed in charge, I’ve done a damned good job of it. You, on the other hand, have gotten Olympus into so much trouble because you follow your dick instead of your head. If I leave, I want something for it this time.”

  “And what’s that?” Zeus asked, giving his brother a lazy brow.

  “I want you to officially break off your engagement with Seph,” he said.

  Everyone froze. My mouth dropped and I quickly snapped it shut. The last thing I wanted was to look like some kind of fish caught with their mouth hanging open.

  Seph looked at Hades with wide eyes but Hades ignored her. His focus was on his brother and his brother alone.

  “You what?” Zeus asked.

  “You heard me,” Hades said. “You’ve already insulted her by being unfaithful at your own betrothal party. You’ve assumed the worst of her when she disappeared and when you found her in the Underworld. You don’t love her. You never will. Release her so she can be free from you and the misery you will no doubt cause her.”

  “And you’ll give me what in return?” Zeus demanded, leaning forward.

  “I’ll give you my magic,” he said. “We’ll clean up Olympus and that’s it. You get the credit, the parade, everything.”

  “And you?”

  “I’ll return here,” he said flatly. “Where I belong.”

  Chapter Three

  “Hades.” Seph broke the silence with her soft voice. “I can’t let you do this.”

  “It’s already done,” Hades said, still only looking at his brother. “That is, unless Zeus here thinks he can save the day without me this time.”

  “You want me to give up my betrothed when you should be loyal to your own people,” Zeus said, each word a clap of thunder as he paced along the shore, kicking up sand as he did so.

  “Those aren’t my people.” Hades thrust a finger overhead, his eyes glowing with anger. “You think I give any kind of shit about them? I don’t.”

  “Then who do you give a shit about?” Zeus asked. “Her?” He cocked his head in Seph’s direction.

  “She has a name,” Hades said.

  “I’m aware.”

  “Oy,” Apollo called from where he stood. “We don’t have time for a dick swinging contest right now. We’ve got more pressing issues going on. Like the destruction of civilization as we know it.” He angled his body in Hades’s direction. “They may not be your people, but if they die, they will be. And what’s more, she’s not your people either” – he nodded in my sister’s direction – “but I’m sure if you ask her, she’s concerned about what’s going to happen to her home and those she cares about.” He turned to Zeus. “We both know you don’t care about Seph in a romantic sort of way, so breaking the betrothal shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Especially since these are your people and you’re actually the one responsible for them.” He clapped his hands together. “At the end of the day, both of you are brothers. You’ve worked together before. Fuck your differences. We need you to work together again, for the good of Olympus.”

  Hades took a step forward. It was difficult to gauge the look on his face, but his eyes were stormy and his lips curled into a frown. “I’m happy to help,” he said, “as long as little Zeusy breaks things off with Seph.”

  Apollo and I turned to Zeus, arching brows. Part of me was curious to see what the Golden Prince would do, now that he was in this situation. Zeus scowled. Everyone here knew he didn’t have feelings for my sister beyond maybe a hint of possession. This was supposed to be his wife, after all, and he had never been married before, so Seph’s role in his life was important.

  The question was, was it more important than his role as Golden Prince? Because he couldn’t round up the Titans without Hades, and Hades, for whatever reason, didn’t want Seph married to Zeus. And judging by his demeanor, he wasn’t going to relent until he got exactly what he wanted.

  “Is that what she wants?” Zeus asked, tilting his head in her direction.

  “She’s right here, you know,” I muttered under my breath, but everyone ignored me.

  “It is,” Seph said, speaking up for the first time since telling Hades he didn’t have to do what he was doing. “Zeus, I was ready to marry you, even though I didn’t love you because it was part of my duty, and my duties are important to me. But after walking in on you and Hera, I realized that you weren’t under the same obligation of loyalty as I was, and while I respected my duties, I didn’t feel it was fair to ask me to sacrifice my life to someone who wasn’t willing to do the same. I know you can’t love me, and I realize now that it’s not fair to ask you for that when it’s not something you can give. And I can only hope you feel the same way about me, about granting me this small reprieve, this bit of freedom, without condemning my family and everything my mother has worked so hard for.”

  Zeus’s hard exterior seemed to soften under Seph’s plea. I couldn’t blame him. Not when Seph was kind and gentle, even as she tore into Zeus for his infidelity.

  “I would never want to force you into an unhappy marriage,” he said. “I would have made you happy. I would have treated you like my queen.”

  “Of that, I have no doubt,” she said. “But it’s important to me to find a husband who is faithful, and I couldn’t ask you to give up the lifestyle you’re used to living if it’s not something you want to give up in the first place.” Her lips curved up and her green eyes sparkled with mischief. “Perhaps someday you’ll find someone that will make you yearn for monogamy, but that person isn’t me.”

  “If you couldn’t bring it out in me, I’m certain no one can,” Zeus said. He gave her one last look, and it could have been my eyes deceiving me, but it almost seemed as though there was a great sadness in the blue. “All right. If this will make you happy, I will terminate our betrothal.”

  “Can we still be friends?” Seph stuck out her hand.

  I nearly rolled my eyes, even as a smile touched my lips. How was it possible that she was asking to be friends with a man who cheated on her? Only my sister could be so forgiving. I, on the other hand, would have kicked him in the balls and be done with it.

  Zeus slowly placed his hand in hers. “I’ve never had a friend before,” he murmured. His voice was so low, I didn’t think I heard him right. “I have lovers and I have people who follow my orders. But never a friend.”

  “Well, I’m glad to be your first something,” Seph teased.

  Laughter bubbled out of me, and I slapped my hand over my mouth. I was surprised innocent, little Seph could make such a joke. Then again, knowing she had been in the Underworld the last few days, maybe Hades was already on his way to corrupting her. I didn’t think he had ravaged her; I didn’t think he was capable of lifting one finger to do harm to her. But something had changed in her, and I knew it was because of him. Whether it was a good change or not had yet to be seen…but I was starting to think Hades wasn’t the bad guy here.

  Not really.

  “We have to go,” Apollo insisted.

  At this point, Chiron had docked the longboat and was waiting for us to board.

  Seph took a step forward when Hades grabbed her wrist. “You need to stay,” he told her seriously.

  Her eyes widened and she turned to him with such a look of betrayal on her face that even I flinched at it. “You don’t think I’m capable?” she asked. “I realize I’m not a fighter, but I can still help.”

  “I know that,” he insisted. “If I leave, no one is here to rule the Underworld. No one is here to keep it safe. I’m asking you to stay so you can do that in my stead.”

  I found myself glancing over at Apollo. His eyes were already on me, and something shared passed between us.

  “Wait, what?” Zeus asked. “You’re leaving the Underworld to her?” He stepped forward. “What the hell happened between the two of you, hmm? Did he ravage you, Seph? Be honest. He can’t hurt you.”

  “Of course not!” Seph insisted, her eyes glaring at Zeus. “He would never –”

  “Has he promised you something?”

  “Why would you ask that?!”

  “Because he doesn’t believe I could trust someone to rule the Underworld in my stead,” Hades pointed out. I tried to pick up a tone, something that would indicate how he felt about his brother being suspicious of him. But there was nothing there, almost like he expected nothing less from Zeus. “And I wouldn’t. Except for you.” A beat. “I’m not here to tell you what to do, Seph. I’m not your father, and thank God for that. But I do think you’re capable, and Cerberus will protect you. And if anything should threaten you while I’m gone, I will leave whatever it is I’m doing and I will come for you. Do you understand?”

  Though I could only see him at an angle, his blue eyes burned into my sister with an intensity I didn’t expect from him. I didn’t realize Hades was capable of emoting so obviously, especially when it came to Seph. Then again, Seph seemed to draw it out of people, this need to protect her, this naive bubbliness.

  But it was more than that. Because she was strong and capable. I just wished I had seen it sooner. I wished I had had the necessary faith that she deserved.

  But Hades? Hades seemed to know, without a doubt, who Seph was, and they had only known each other maybe a week.

  “I understand,” Seph finally said, nodding once. There was something in the way she looked at Hades, something that she wanted to say but couldn’t, not with all of us there, staring.

  I cleared my throat and stepped forward, pulling her into a tight hug. “You know,” I said in a low voice. “I was wrong about you. About being a Watcher. About everything.” I pulled back so I could look at her, so she could see I meant what I said.

  “You? Wrong?” she teased, her grass-green eyes sparkling with bold color that reminded me of spring. “I didn’t think such a thing was possible.”

  “I also think a lot of us were wrong about Hades,” I continued carefully. I still wasn’t good at discussing feelings, even if I happened to be feeling more of them, thanks to Apollo. But I still wanted to articulate my support, even if I was shit at it. “Anyway, I’m here when this is all over. When you’re ready to talk.”

  “You better be,” Seph said. “Because there’s a lot I want to talk to you about. Including why this strangely rugged man can’t seem to take his eyes off of you for the entirety of your stay in the Underworld.”

  My cheeks pinched at the insinuation in her tone. “As long as you tell me why one of the three lords and rulers seems to turn into a puppy at your heels whenever you’re around,” I replied.

  Now, she blushed, something I was glad to see.

  Seph threw her arms around me again, pulling me even tighter than before. “Stay safe, Dora,” she whispered. “You better come back to me. Or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  “I don’t know how, but I’ll kick your ass,” she promised.

  I smiled. I didn’t doubt her for one second. Not this time.

  I stepped back and glanced over at Apollo and Zeus. “Come on, boys,” I said, waving in the direction of Chiron. “I think Seph forgot to tell Hades something.”

  “We can wait –” Before Zeus could finish whatever stupid thing he was about to say, I grabbed his ear and pulled him towards the longboat like he was a misbehaving child. I knew this was the Golden Prince, and there would probably be consequences to my actions, but at the same time, Zeus had been running his mouth, and the last thing I wanted for my sister before this was anything ruining this moment between them.

  “What do you think you’re doing? I am your Prince, dammit, and I –”

  I released his ear and then grabbed his face. “You never loved her,” I told him. “You never loved her. And she’s happy. Please. Give her this. Please.”

  Zeus looked like he was going to argue. He glanced over his shoulder, and whatever he was about to say disappeared. Seph kissed Hades on the cheek, her lips lingering. Zeus grunted and all but stomped into the longboat without another word.

  I followed, as did Apollo. After another few minutes, Hades was present as well, his eyes on Seph until she disappeared completely. And even then, his stare never wavered.

  Chapter Four

  After we emerged from the Underworld, Hades had to blink multiple times to get used to the light. We all did, actually. Even one day in the Underworld was enough to forget what daylight looked like.

  The travel was silent, all of us lost in our own thoughts. I tried to keep an eye on Hades from my peripheral. I didn’t think it would go down well if he caught me staring at him outright, even though the fact that I was Seph’s older sister might allow me to get away with it. He seemed distant, a million miles away from us. I wished I had more time with Seph to figure out who Hades really was. The more time I spent with him, the more I realized that the picture everyone painted of him was inaccurate. He seemed stoic and serious and bitter, but if people just peeled back his layers the way Seph seemed to, it revealed there was someone much more complex underneath.

  “What now?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  The strong scent of flowers filled my nose, making it impossible to breathe in anything fresh. I had to be careful I didn’t get too overwhelmed or else I would get a headache. It was one of the reasons I couldn’t wear floral perfume.

  “We meet up with Ares and Hermes,” Zeus said. His words were clipped, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was upset with me about what happened back in the Underworld. I wouldn’t blame him if he was, but I also needed to know where we stood, especially if we were expected to work with each other. “I’m sure they’ve already discussed things with Poseidon. I need to know if the Titans have breached the ocean, and if so, how badly they’ve done so.”

  “I thought you were going to talk to them yourself,” I said.

  “Things change,” Zeus said with an edge to it.

  “We also need to focus on who might have released the Titans in the first place,” Apollo pointed out.

  “I can get a list from my mother,” I said. “For the party.”

 

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