before I can go with you to find what you’re looking for.”
He turned to me, one eyebrow raised skeptically. “Really? You dragged Poseidon himself under the waves of his own sea, and you think you don’t have control?”
Hmm. When he put it that way…I was doing all right.
I frowned at him and crossed my arms over my chest. “Fine. But I’m not going to help you when it really counts. You can never make me suck all the life from the earth.”
“We’ll see.” His tone was cryptic as he turned toward the door.
I followed him outside, finding Cerberus sleeping by the base of the tower. He was so big that I could touch his head from here, even though it was resting on the ground.
“Where to next?” I asked.
“We will be going to the Place of Memories.”
I waited a beat for him to continue. When he didn’t, I said, “Aaand?”
At the base of the stairs, he turned back to me. “And what?”
“What’s there?”
“I’ve never been.” He turned back to the forest.
“Now you’re being purposefully obtuse. Tell me what you know. Do you think I won’t want to go?”
His shoulders moved with a sigh, and he turned back. “Of course I think you won’t want to go. But if you insist on knowing, I’ll tell you. The Place of Memories is dangerous, but it’s also valuable. It is a temple where we might be able to speak to the most ancient of my race—the Titans.”
“Weren’t they locked away in Tartarus?”
He nodded, his gaze shifting slightly, as if he didn’t want to talk about this. Was that why he’d tried to avoid the conversation? He didn’t like discussing Tartarus? But why? Before I could ask, he continued. “Their memories are stored away there, as shadows of their former selves. If we ask the correct questions, we can get the answers we need.”
“Why didn’t we go there before?”
“Because you were not strong enough.”
“So you really think I’m strong enough to face a Titan?”
Something flashed on his face, and he stepped toward me, gripping my bicep firmly. “Yes, Seraphia. I would not put you at risk.”
I swallowed hard at the protective fierceness in his eyes. “Don’t you realize you put my soul at risk by trying to force me to do that? It will tear me apart if I fall to the darkness and do what you want me to do.”
His dark gaze searched mine, no doubt looking for the truth of my words. There was so much truth there. How could he not see that?
“It won’t feel as bad as you think it will,” he said.
“You feel terrible all the time, don’t you?”
“That’s because of the light inside me.”
“No, it’s the conflict. And you’re choosing the wrong side.”
He pulled back and spun away. “We will not discuss this now. Come.”
Pissed, I hurried after him, matching him stride for stride as we walked toward the gate. “Will we be bothered by your brothers where we’re going?”
“They are not my brothers.”
“Really? The myths were wrong?”
He said nothing, just kept walking toward the gate, and I had to wonder if they actually were his bothers, and he just didn’t want to claim them as his own. Considering how they attacked him on sight, I couldn’t blame him.
I kept pace with him. “So do we need to be on the alert for attack? Because godly attacks are well outside the realm of my usual abilities. A little warning would be nice.”
“Anything is possible, though they wouldn’t expect me to be leaving my realm again so soon.”
I nodded, hoping to avoid them. I didn’t want to give my magic any more chances to turn dark.
You must go with him…
Nana’s words echoed in my head. I’d have listened to her, no matter what, but now that I knew she was an ancient oracle…
Of course I had to go. To prove myself.
I shivered, not liking the sound of that.
Did I believe her?
Yes.
She’d never lie to me. Still, what if she’d interpreted it wrong?
It wouldn’t matter. Either way, I had to at least go with Hades to our next destination.
Hades stopped at the gates and stared out. Cerberus joined him, the massive dog standing at his side and watching through the gate as well. In a seemingly unconscious gesture, Hades placed a hand on the dog’s side, and Cerberus heaved a great sigh and leaned into him.
My heart twisted in my chest.
Hades was changing. There was no question that he was slowly beginning to turn to the light, even if I