The Iron Queen (Daughters of Zeus) - By Kaitlin Bevis Page 0,54
one trip. Take Ares, Hephaestus, Adonis, and Aphrodite. Find him, and come straight back, no detours. Don’t let anyone wander off. Anything happens, contact me.”
“Okay,” Melissa agreed.
Demeter motioned for them to hold hands, tapped Melissa’s shoulder, and they vanished. Then she took hold of Artemis, Ryan, and Apollo, and they teleported to the church.
Once everyone else was gone, I studied Athena for a long minute, letting all the anger I’d felt during the overheard conversation heat my gaze.
Athena shifted under my gaze and cleared her throat. “She’s brave, your wife.”
I didn’t so much as blink. “She’s stronger than she looks.”
Athena nodded. “With Poseidon on our side, we have a shot. Zeus may actually die by the end of this.”
“Everyone dies eventually.” I inclined my head toward her. “And if they’re really, really lucky, they haven’t done anything to piss me off.”
Chapter XXXVI
Aphrodite
“He’s not here.” I ran down the stairs to the lobby of the massive house the prophet resided in with a pair of his red heels in my hand. What? It wasn’t like he was coming back, and they were just my size.
“Gee, you think maybe the prophet saw us coming?” Melissa said dryly.
Ares barked a surprised sounding laugh. “You’re kind of funny for a human.”
I had a bad feeling. We didn’t mean the prophet any harm, so why flee? Glancing around, I took in the signs of the prophet’s hurry—a half-eaten lunch still warm on the kitchen table, a smattering of hangers covering the floor of the closet like he’d snatched clothes at random, and the unlocked door when we entered. What had he seen?
And why had he run?
“And you’re way too easily impressed,” Hephaestus muttered. Adonis nodded in agreement.
“Aw, come on!” Ares said, still laughing. “Saw us coming, because he’s a prophet, it’s—”
“As good a guess as any,” said a voice as smooth as silk from the doorway.
I blanched. Zeus.
At the sound of Zeus’ voice, Ares swore and turned, pushing Melissa and Adonis behind him.
“Charm them and tell them to hold still,” Zeus told me with a grin.
My body moved of its own accord, turning and meeting each of their eyes. They all froze, even Adonis and Melissa. I did a double take. Adonis’ eyes locked to mine, pupils still normal sized, unlike everyone else. Just go with it, his look seemed to say.
I swallowed hard and tore my gaze from him to Melissa. She stared back at me, eyes wide with fear. Please don’t move. Zeus didn’t know I’d sworn not to charm Melissa. Maybe she could teleport and get away.
“Now ask them to swear fealty to me,” Zeus instructed.
No. I wouldn’t do that. He couldn’t make me. I clamped my mouth shut.
Gods. Words rose in me, filled my mouth, and pushed against my lips. Swallowing, I forced them down, but they tore at my throat. A strangled, keening wail filled the room, sounding so alien, so desperate and helpless, that at first I didn’t place it as mine. I wouldn’t do this to them. Zeus would kill them in an instant. I wouldn’t—couldn’t—Stop!
My lips parted of their own volition, and I clapped my hand over my mouth. Zeus crossed his arms, looking bored. I couldn’t resist forever, and he knew it. Every fiber in my being pulled at me to obey his command.
I looked away from Zeus, but found I couldn’t face the blind devotion in Ares’ and Hephaestus’ eyes. They had nothing left of themselves in their expressions. All they wanted to do was please me. This was wrong. My vision blurred, and I blinked away the tears, looking to Adonis instead. His bravery and strength was telegraphed in his stiff posture and the trust in the eyes he kept glued to my face.
He trusted me! No one trusted me. A small smile formed on his face, cool and confident. Just wait, it seemed to say. We’ll get out of this.
No, I wouldn’t do this. Not to him. Not to Melissa or any of the others. They trusted me, maybe even thought of me as a friend, and friendships were precious because they hadn’t come easily. I would die before I let Zeus take them from me. Despite my conviction, my jaw stretched, struggling to free itself from behind my tightly clamped hand. But my teeth came together with a click, filling my mouth with the copper taste of blood.
I wouldn’t do it. I’d die first. In fact…
Hades, I thought desperately. Something moved, but I couldn’t make it out from behind the sheen of