Neon Gods (Dark Olympus 1)

I raise my eyebrows. “Do you ever go home?”

“Home is such a fluid concept.” She nods at the brand-new phone sitting on the counter by my elbow. “So you do have a phone. Your poor sisters have resorted to using me as messenger because they can’t get ahold of you.”

I stare at it and then at her. “My sisters sent you here?”

“Apparently you were supposed to contact them a few days ago, and when you didn’t, they assumed the worst. Also, Psyche sent along a message.” She clears her throat and then my sister’s voice emerges from her lips. “I can only hold Callisto off for another day or two. Call as soon as you get this so we can calm her down. She and Mother have been fighting, and you know how that goes.” Hermes grins and steals a fry off my plate. “End message.”

“Um, thanks.” I’ve heard she can do that, but it’s still eerie as hell to witness it.

“It’s my job.” She snags another fry. “So, you and Hades are making the beast with two backs in real life, not just pretend. I’m not exactly surprised but also very, very surprised.”

I’m not about to start sharing secrets with the woman who’s primary job is to collect them. I raise my brows. “You and Dionysus seem awfully close for just friends. Is it true that he’s not particularly interested in sex?”

“Point taken.” She laughs. “Better call your sisters. I’d hate for Callisto to do something to piss off Zeus.”

The thought leaves me cold. Psyche knows well enough to play the game. Eurydice is all flavors of distracted by her boyfriend. Callisto? If Callisto and our mother go head-to-head, I’m not sure the city will survive it. If she goes after Zeus… “I’ll call them.”

“Good girl.” She pats me on the shoulder and walks out of the room, presumably off to torment some other unsuspecting soul. Despite that, I like her. Hermes might play at deeper games than I can begin to guess at, but she’s at least interesting. And I think she and Dionysus actually care about Hades. I’m not sure it’s enough to prevent them from siding with the other Thirteen if it comes to that, but that’s a worry for another day.

I take one last bite, grab the phone Hades gave me earlier, and head out of the kitchen and down the hall to the room I found during a cursory exploration of the first floor. I suppose it’s a living room, but it feels like a cozy little reading nook with two comfortable chairs, a giant fireplace, and several bookshelves filled with everything from nonfiction to fantasy.

I sink into the deep-purple chair and turn on the phone. It’s already got my sisters’ contact information in it and the video chat app installed. I take a deep breath and call Psyche.

She answers immediately. “Oh, thank the gods.” She leans back. “She’s here!”

Callisto and Eurydice appear behind her. Anyone looking at the four of us wouldn’t assume we’re siblings. Technically, we’re all half siblings. My mother went through four marriages before she achieved her goal to become one of the Thirteen and ceased needing men to further her ambitions. We all have our mother’s hazel eyes, but that’s where the similarities stop.

Eurydice looks ready to cry, her light-brown skin already blotchy. “You’re alive.”

“Yes, I’m alive.” Guilt threads through me. I was too worried about getting as close to Hades as possible to remember to contact my sisters. Selfish. So selfish of me. But then, what else do you call my plan to leave Olympus forever? I push the thought away.

Callisto leans forward and runs a critical eye over me. “You look…good.”

“I am good.” As tempting as it is to downplay the situation, being perfectly honest with them is the only way to go. “Hades and I made a deal. He’s going to keep me safe until I’m able to get out of Olympus.”

Callisto narrows her eyes. “At what cost?”

Here’s the crux of it. I hold her gaze. “If Zeus considers me less desirable because I’ve been sleeping with Hades, he won’t try to pursue me when I leave.” When my sisters just stare at me, I sigh. “And yes, I’m furious at Mother and furious at Zeus and I wanted to prove a point.”

Psyche frowns. “There’s a rumor circulating this morning that you and Hades were, well, having sex in front of half the lower city. I thought it was just people gossiping nonsense, but…”

“It’s true.” I can feel my face getting red. “Our plan won’t work if it’s just pretend. It has to be real.”

It’s Eurydice, my sweet and innocent sister, who speaks next, her voice low and furious. “We’re coming to get you right now. If he thinks he can force you—”

“No one is forcing me to do anything.” I hold up a hand. I have to get ahead of this. I should have known that trying to be vague would only incite every single one of their protective instincts. “I’ll tell you the full truth, but you have to stop reacting and listen.”