Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1) - Katee Robert Page 0,24
“What happens if you do?”
“War.” He shrugs as if it’s of no concern. Maybe it isn’t for him. “You crossed of your own free will, and he can’t take you back without risking a conflict that will embroil all of Olympus.” His lips quirk. “Your fiancé never does anything that might endanger his power and position, so he’ll let me do whatever I want to you to avoid that fight.”
He’s trying to scare me. Little does he realize that he’s actually reassuring me that this haphazard plan has a chance of working. “Why does everyone believe you’re a myth?”
“I stay in the lower city. It’s not my problem the upper city likes to tell tales that have nothing to do with reality.”
That’s not even close to a complete answer, but I suppose I don’t need that information right now. I can see the framework well enough without all the details. Treaty or no, Zeus has a vested interest in keeping Hades a myth. Without the third legacy role in place, the power balance lands firmly in Zeus’s favor. It was always strange to me that he effectively ignored half of Olympus, but now that I know Hades is real, it makes more sense.
I straighten my spine, holding his gaze. “Regardless, that doesn’t explain the way you spoke to his men last night. You hate him.”
Hades doesn’t blink. “He killed my parents when I was very young. Hate is too gentle a word.”
Shock nearly steals my breath. I’m not surprised to hear Zeus accused of another set of murders, exactly, but Hades speaks of his parents’ death so neutrally, as if it happened to someone else. I swallow hard. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. People always say that.”
I’m losing him. I can see it in the way his gaze tracks around the room as if debating how quickly he can bundle me up and send me on my way. I take a deep breath and press forward. No matter what he told those men last night, it couldn’t be clearer that he has no intention of keeping me around. I can’t allow that. “Use me.”
Hades refocuses on me. “What?”
“It’s not the same thing, not even on the same level, but he claimed me and now you have me.”
Surprise colors his features. “I didn’t realize you’d resigned yourself so fully to playing the pawn in a chess match between men.”
Humiliation heats my cheeks, but I ignore it. He’s trying to provoke a reaction, and I won’t give it to him. “A pawn between you or a pawn to be used by my mother—it all amounts to the same.” I smile brightly, enjoying the way he flinches as if I’ve struck him. “I can’t go back, you see.”
“I’m not keeping you.”
No reason for that to sting. I don’t know this man, and I have no intention of being kept. It still irks that he’s so ready to dismiss me out of hand. I keep my smile firmly in place and my tone bright. “Not forever, of course. I have somewhere to be in three months’ time, but until I turn twenty-five, I can’t access my trust fund to get there.”
“You’re twenty-four.” If anything, he looks grumpier, as if my age is a personal affront.
“Yes, that is how math works.” Tone it down, Persephone. You need his help. Stop needling him. I can’t seem to help myself. Normally, I’m better at putting people at ease, which makes them more inclined to do what I want. Hades makes me want to dig in my heels and stick it to him until he squirms.
He turns to look out the window, which is when I notice that he’s replaced the side table exactly how it was before I moved it. How wonderfully anal of him. It doesn’t line up in the least with the boogeyman of Olympus. That man would have kicked down the door and dragged me out by my hair. He’d be only too happy to take me up on my offer instead of looking at the open bathroom door like I’ve left my wits behind me in the tub.
By the time he turns back to me, I have my placid, happy expression firmly in place. Hades glowers. “You want to stay here for three months.”
“In fact, I do. My birthday is April sixteenth. I’ll be out of your hair the day after. I’ll be out of everyone’s hair.”
“What does that mean?”
“Once my trust fund is in my hands, I’m bribing someone to get me out of Olympus.