Captured (Shadow Guild Hades & Persephone #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,35
entry hall. With his dark armor and stern expression, he fit right in.
As soon as he caught sight of us, he turned and led us to one of the massive libraries on the main floor. The room was silent, soaring bookcases standing sentinel around a huge fireplace. Hades waved a hand toward it, and the flames burst to life, five feet tall within the massive hearth.
He turned toward us. “No one will overhear us here.”
“Is that really a risk in your realm?” Mac asked. “Everyone out there looked like they’d throw themself off a cliff before they betrayed you.”
“You are correct. My subjects are not the concern. The other gods, however…”
“Zeus and Poseidon?” I asked.
He nodded. “They visited the library steps the other day. Not in their physical bodies, but their spirits. Should they do that again, they could overhear us.”
“Maybe that’s not the worst thing,” Beatrix said. “We could use their help.”
The icy look he gave her made her mouth snap shut. I glared at him, and he had the grace to look uncomfortable. He gestured at the chairs. “Please, sit.”
A wooden table was surrounded by half a dozen chairs. I chose the biggest, most ornately carved one and sat. Beatrix, Mac, and Eve joined me. Gratitude for their presence warmed me. They had my back, and I was glad. I’d invited them here so that we could plan our attack on Chronos, a plan we’d make as a group. Working together was how we’d defeat the Titan.
Sitting at the table surrounded by my friends, I was surprised that Hades had allowed them to come. Not only to the Underworld, but to his castle, a big concession on his part.
The old Hades had dragged me to hell. The new Hades was trying to win me over.
Was it working? Yeah, maybe a little.
He took the seat across the table from me and met my gaze. The intensity of the connection could have made my friends disappear, but Mac was determined not to let that happen.
“So, Seraphia has fixed her power,” she said. “She’s a full goddess now. What next?”
Hades nodded. “We must find Chronos. To do that, we will first find what he seeks—the Crown of Destiny.”
“We don’t want to just find him?” Eve asked.
“If we can. But that’s going to be difficult. He is likely warded against magic.”
“What about FireSouls?” Mac asked. “What if we had one of them?”
FireSouls were a rare type of supernatural who could find anything of value. Since value was subjective, they’d certainly be able to find Chronos. If he wasn’t hidden by powerful magic. We knew a few FireSouls—I’d seen them at the city square when Chronos’s curse had first been discovered. They’d surely be looking for him now.
“Why don’t you see to that,” Hades said. “If you find him, let us know.”
“Don’t try to brush us off,” Eve said. “You just want us out of the way.”
Hades nodded once. “That is correct.”
“You want the Crown of Destiny,” Mac said.
One more nod. “That is also correct.”
I ground my teeth. This was the tricky part. Maybe it was the only way to find Chronos. But it also gave Hades the crown he wanted.
“You really don’t think the FireSouls can find him, do you?” I asked.
“I think it’s doubtful anyone can find him. He’ll be protected by powerful magic, hidden from all who seek him. The only way to get him is to draw him to us. And the only way to do that is with the crown.”
Okay. If that was the case, I just had to keep Hades from donning the crown himself. Surely, I could do that. “Then how do we find the thing?”
“Now that your magic is complete and you’ve fully ascended to godhood, you and I will visit the Astra Planeta, the gods of the wandering stars.”
I blinked at him, surprised. “Really? What have they to do with it?”
He looked between me and my friends, as if debating what he should tell us. Finally, he relented. “History is written in the stars. The Crown of Destiny was hidden long ago by Titans. Chronos does not know where it is because it was erased from the memory of all living beings. Only the stars know. For us to find the crown, we need to consult the Astra Planeta, the five gods who are capable of reading the history written in the stars.”
“Wow.” That was incredibly cool. “I had no idea.”
“It’s an ancient part of Greek history, long forgotten by most.”
“Why did the Titans