Captured (Shadow Guild Hades & Persephone #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,20

sacrifices he’d made for me, I did. “Yes.”

“I hope that you are correct.”

“So do I. Why are you really here?”

“I offer aid in defeating Chronos.”

“Then why not offer it to Hades?”

“I did.”

“And he said no.” Of course he’d said no. “But you’re brothers.”

“Technically, by blood or relation, we are not. The myths say it is so, but they do not account for Hades’ true nature.”

“Which is?”

“He is not the same type of being as you or I. While I was born of Chronos and Rhea, along with Zeus and the other main gods, Hades was created from magic itself.”

“But he seems so real. So…human. Or godly, at least.”

“And he is. Time and determination have made him like us, but we are not related in the true sense. He is not related to anyone.”

So lonely. Hades had to be so lonely. I hadn’t had family for a long time, but at least I’d had memories of them. At least I’d known I’d come from somewhere. From someone.

“Hades is aware of our differences,” he said. “He won’t accept our help.”

“Because he’s never had it before. Never had even the promise or thought of it.” I hated this for Hades. Hated learning why I should feel for him, even as I clung to these bits of proof that he wasn’t terrible. That he could be saved.

“Perhaps.” Poseidon shrugged. “Perhaps he’s just a stubborn bastard. But whatever the case, Zeus and I would like to offer our assistance, should you need it to defeat Chronos.” He paused, adding, “Or Hades.”

Defeat Hades.

It was what I planned to do. Kind of. I meant to stop him from taking over the Earth, that was for sure. But defeat Hades sounded so formal and final. Like I was going to kill him or bind him in Tartarus or something. And I totally wasn’t going to do that.

“I don’t think I have the same goals you do,” I said.

“They are close enough.” He reached into a pocket at his hip and withdrew a golden coin. He held it out to me. “Take this. If you need me, throw it to the ground and say my name.”

I reached out and nodded, my heart in my throat. As my fingertips closed over the charm, they flickered, disappearing briefly.

Poseidon’s gaze sharpened as he watched. “You have been cursed as well.”

My mouth flattened. “I fell into the crevasse that led to Tartarus. But Hades saved me.”

“Only partially.” Poseidon’s eyes were shadowed with worry. “Though I am not sure that is what cursed you. You are in trouble.”

“I know. That’s the least of it.” I frowned. “I don’t think I like you.”

“The feeling is not mutual, for I think I like you very much.”

I frowned, unsure of what to say next. Fortunately, the column of water that held him retracted, and he lowered back into the sea.

A shuddery breath escaped me as I put the coin in my pocket. Part of me wanted to chuck it into the ocean after Poseidon, but that would be stupid.

Wind whispered over my face as I stared out to sea, watching the moonlight glitter on the waves. The salty scent of the water contrasted with the smell of the vegetation, and I felt a pang of homesickness. I was standing on the land of my childhood. I rubbed my arms.

I felt Hades’ presence before I saw him, smelled the firelight scent of his magic over everything else. He appeared at my right side a moment later, but I didn’t turn my head to look at him fully.

“What did Poseidon have to say?” Hades asked.

“You couldn’t hear?”

“Not all of it, though I did feel him arrive.”

“He wants to help me defeat Chronos. And you.”

Hades nodded. “That makes sense.”

“I didn’t take him up on it. Though I will if I have to.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

“How’s the workshop treating you?”

“About as one could expect. Quite rustic.”

“You could have eaten and slept inside with us.”

“I—”

I turned to him, wanting to see his face. His brow was creased slightly, and his eyes were dark as he searched for the word.

“I do not know how to be around families.”

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t. Isn’t there any of that in the Underworld?”

“I never thought about it. There must be.”

“Wow. You really are a machine.”

His jaw twitched, almost as if he didn’t like the sound of that. I felt the most piercing need to apologize. “I’m—”

“Don’t.”

“How did you know what I was going to say?”

“You’re so softhearted that there was only one option, but don’t. I