Neon Gods (Dark Olympus 1)

It doesn’t change the fact that I like seeing her golden hair spread out over a pillow next to mine. And the evidence of her being a restless sleeper, the sheet tangled around her waist, leaving her breasts bare to meet the morning light streaming through the windows. It’s almost enough to make me forget myself and wake her up with my mouth.

Almost.

I look down at my chest, at the mess of scars left from the fire that killed my parents. A memory I can never escape because it’s written on my very skin. With a sigh, I climb out of bed, careful to tuck the blankets up around Persephone so she doesn’t get chilled, and walk to close the curtains. A quick shower later and I’m dressed. I almost head down to my study on the main floor but hesitate. Will Persephone see it as a rejection, as me leaving her? I can’t be sure. Fuck, I shouldn’t care one way or another. No matter how great the sex, we aren’t dating. Forgetting that truth, forgetting the expiration date, is a recipe for disaster.

I keep telling myself that even as I drop into the chair in my barely used desk in the study off the bedroom. A quick check of my phone reveals half a dozen text messages. I scroll through them, stopping at one from Hermes.

Hermes: Mandatory meeting @9. Don’t miss this, Hades. I’m being uncharacteristically serious.

I knew this was coming, though I expected it days ago. I take a deep breath and open the laptop. It takes a few minutes to get everything booted up, but I’m still ten minutes early to the meeting. Unsurprisingly, everyone else is here.

The screen splits into four. One image is myself mirrored back. One is Hermes and Dionysus, who appear to be sitting on a hotel bed and eating Cheetos, still wearing their clothing from last night. The third shows Poseidon, his big, burly shoulders consuming the frame. He’s wearing a pissed-off expression under his red hair and beard, like he doesn’t want to be here any more than I do. The remaining square contains the other eight people who represent the remainder of the Thirteen seated around a boardroom table. Since Zeus is unmarried after the last Hera died, we’re one short.

The thought of Persephone sitting at that table makes me sick to my stomach.

Zeus sits in the center, and I don’t miss the fact that his chair is slightly higher than the rest of them. Even though technically the power lies in the group itself, he’s always fancied himself a modern-day king. To his right is Aphrodite, her skin flawless and her blond hair flowing around her shoulders in carefully curated waves. To his left, Demeter.

I study Persephone’s mother. I’ve seen her before, of course. It’s impossible to avoid her image in the gossip columns and news feeds. I see a bit of Persephone in the piercing hazel eyes and in the line of her jaw, though Demeter’s has softened a little with age. She’s as regal as a queen in her pantsuit, and she looks ready to call for my head. Lovely.

For a long moment, no one speaks. I sit back. I’m certainly not going to be the one to break the silence. I didn’t call this meeting. Zeus wants me here, so he had damn well better get on with it.

As if he can sense my thoughts, Zeus leans forward. “Return my fiancée.”

“The treaty was honored and you know it. She ran from you, ran until she bloodied her feet and damn near froze to death, because she couldn’t get away from you fast enough. She crossed the River Styx of her own power. She’s free to return whenever she wants.” I make a show of looking at everyone gathered before responding. “She doesn’t want to. You’re wasting everyone’s time with this.”

“You’re defiling my baby, you monster.”

I raise my eyebrows at Demeter. “You were prepared to sell your baby to a man with a reputation for killing his wives. Let’s not throw stones.”

Demeter gasps, but it’s all theatrics. I don’t know her well enough to be sure if I’m seeing guilt or just fury on her face. It doesn’t matter to me. Persephone will do anything to get away from these people, and I’ll throw myself on a literal sword before I hand her back against her will.

Zeus shakes his head slowly. “Don’t test me. The last Hades…”

“You mean my father. The one you murdered. The reason this treaty was created in the first place.” I lean forward. “If you’re going to threaten me, pick a better weapon.” I meet the gazes of the other members of the Thirteen in turn. “I honored the treaty. Persephone is free to come and go as she pleases. Are we done here?”