The Warrior God (The Ares Trials #1) - Eliza Raine Page 0,11

“Good luck surviving my idiot brother, sweetie,” she said to me, then turned and strode away.

“Thanks. You keep rescuing me,” I said, turning gratefully to Persephone.

“Not for much longer. You’re needed,” she said.

She walked me the length of the room to stand in front of the dais with the thrones, Hades now occupying one. Ares glared at me as I approached, and as before, his anger seemed to steel me rather than intimidate me. I could take his bullshit. I gave him a potent ‘fuck off’ look as I came to a stop beside him.

The other gods’ eyes bore into me too, and I avoided looking at any of them directly. I wasn’t one to shy away from threats, but fuck - they were intimidating. Energy thrummed from them, swirling through the air like heat over tarmac. It was weird. And I didn’t like it.

The smell of the ocean washed over me suddenly, so strong I froze, then a cool breeze seemed to cut through the uncomfortable power-heat. I felt myself relax instantly, and a man shimmered into being just in front of the dais.

He looked like a completely normal man in his sixties, with a weather-beaten face, fierce blue eyes, and a pale green toga. Persephone and Ares bowed on either side of me, so I did the same.

“Oceanus,” ground out Ares as he straightened, and I felt my eyebrow quirk. This was the most powerful being in Olympus? But he didn’t exude power like the gods behind him. All he exuded, in fact, was a cheerful calm.

“Ares,” Oceanus said pleasantly. “I am pleased to hear that you may have an opportunity to prove yourself a true ruler.” Every muscle in the God of War’s body tensed, and I wished I could see under his helmet. I was pretty sure his face would be as red as a tomato. He clearly didn’t like Oceanus much.

“I have agreed to help Hades with his escaped demon,” he said eventually, voice hoarse.

“And in doing so, you will also be helping this young lady whose power you covet. How selfless.” Oceanus’ eyes twinkled as he looked at me, and I instantly trusted him. Which was very unlike me. I folded my arms, suspicious.

Oceanus smiled. “I have a desire to prove myself an ally to the Olympians,” he said loudly, and turned in a full circle, looking at all the gods on their thrones in turn. “So I have a gift for you. It is in everyone’s interest to get Ares back to ruling his... unique realm. But I am bound by my own rules, and those do not allow me to just hand out power of that magnitude. Power must be earned. It is the most dangerous thing in the world.”

Silence met his words. Ares shifted, his armor clinking.

“If you return to Hades with both the escaped demon and the missing Guardians, then I will forge you a Trident of power.”

No silence this time. Loud gasps rang through the room, and all of the gods behind him moved in their seats.

“I...” Ares began, then faltered. “A true Trident of power?”

“Yes. You will be restored to full strength.”

“I accept,” said Ares, bowing his head. I looked between the two men, blinking.

“Then you must be on your way.”

Before I could think another thing, light flashed around me.

“Where the fuck are we now? And what is a Trident of power?” I said, anger getting the better of me as I blinked into bright sunlight and turned to Ares’ hulking form. We were standing on sand, and all I could see behind him and around us was more sand. Piles of rocks and hardy plants that clearly refused to die in the desert heat dotted the landscape.

“We are in my realm. A Trident of power is extremely rare and grants its wielder power equal to that of an Olympian.” Ares answered stiffly. The bright light was reflecting off his armor, making it hard to look at him, and for the first time I got an idea of what he might look like if he had his power and was truly godly. Except that he didn’t have his power and he wasn’t godly. He was an asshole.

“What do we do now?”

“We find the demon.”

“Just like that? But we don’t even have any supplies!”

“We don’t need supplies, foolish mortal.”

I scowled at him. “I don’t give a flying fuck if you don’t eat, but I sure do.”

He let out a long, agitated breath. “Of course I eat. But I can