Olympian, least of all his power-hungry brothers. But in another lucky turn of events—Hades wasn’t considered an Olympian, and the realm of Argolea wasn’t closed to him.
“There are ways,” Zeus said, staring out at the view. “Ways we can discuss later.” He turned from the window to face them, and whatever worry was previously etched into his features cleared. “What we need to focus on are the two remaining elements.”
Double bullshit . “What would you have us do, oh great King of the Gods?”
Zeus turned his dark gaze Hades’s way, and his cold stare clearly conveyed his displeasure over Hades’s mockery. “I would have you focus your hellhounds and underlings on finding the water element before it’s lost for good, adelfos .”
“And what of fire?”
“Leave that to Poseidon. He and I have already discussed…options.”
A smug look crossed Poseidon’s face. The two were in league together. That realization only infuriated Hades more. Though it shouldn’t have surprised him. “Isn’t fire more my expertise?”
“Not this time.”
Yeah, they were definitely up to something. Hades looked from face to face. “Assuming we do find the last two elements, why then, dear brother, do we need you?”
“Because with our resources pooled, we’ll be able find the elements faster together than we ever could alone.”
There was something more, though. Hades felt it in the pit of his stomach. Some trump card Zeus was holding back.
A self-righteous smile spread across Zeus’s face, almost as if the bastard had read his mind. “And because I hold Prometheus.”
“That’s not exactly a surprise,” Hades countered. “Prometheus has been chained, what…? Over three thousand years? And after all that torture, the Titan has yet to tell you where he hid the elements. What makes you think he’ll cooperate now?”
“I don’t need him to cooperate,” Zeus said. “I just need his daughter to cooperate.”
His daughter …
A chill spread down Hades’s spine. He’d heard rumors of a child, but after all this time with no sign or mention of her, he’d thought she was mere myth. Prophecy said Prometheus’s child would lead to the downfall of the Olympian king—yet another reason Zeus had imprisoned Prometheus, so he could never procreate. But if what Zeus said was true, if Prometheus did have a daughter somewhere, and if Hades could find her first, it meant this whole game could be over much sooner than even Hades had planned. And it meant not only could Hades take control of the human realm like he wanted, but he could grind Zeus to dust in the process and claim Olympus for himself.
Excitement reverberated through his veins. Now, more than ever, it was imperative he get to Persephone and their son, Zagreus, before anyone else.
Careful not to show enthusiasm, Hades tipped his head and worked to keep the bite in his words when he said, “And where, oh great and glorious Grand Pooh-Bah, are you going to look for this mystery daughter?”
“That,” Zeus said, leaning back against the windowsill, “is my worry, not yours. You just focus on finding the water element.”
They were sending him on a wild-goose chase. Hades could feel it. He didn’t know why, but he was certain they were plotting to use Prometheus’s daughter for something cataclysmic.
Hades wasn’t about to let them win.
“Are you in or out, adelfos ?” Zeus’s eyes sharpened. “Think carefully, because the choice you make now could change your life for good.”
Hades didn’t need to think twice. He already knew exactly what he wanted. And whose back he was going to stab to get it.
One side of his mouth curled into a vicious smile. “I’m already there, brother mine.”
* * *
She was back. He hadn’t imagined her after all.
“ Skata… ” Titus pushed his muscles into gear and climbed faster. He couldn’t lose her now. He reached for the top of the wall. A loud, cracking sound echoed through the
“There are ways,” Zeus said, staring out at the view. “Ways we can discuss later.” He turned from the window to face them, and whatever worry was previously etched into his features cleared. “What we need to focus on are the two remaining elements.”
Double bullshit . “What would you have us do, oh great King of the Gods?”
Zeus turned his dark gaze Hades’s way, and his cold stare clearly conveyed his displeasure over Hades’s mockery. “I would have you focus your hellhounds and underlings on finding the water element before it’s lost for good, adelfos .”
“And what of fire?”
“Leave that to Poseidon. He and I have already discussed…options.”
A smug look crossed Poseidon’s face. The two were in league together. That realization only infuriated Hades more. Though it shouldn’t have surprised him. “Isn’t fire more my expertise?”
“Not this time.”
Yeah, they were definitely up to something. Hades looked from face to face. “Assuming we do find the last two elements, why then, dear brother, do we need you?”
“Because with our resources pooled, we’ll be able find the elements faster together than we ever could alone.”
There was something more, though. Hades felt it in the pit of his stomach. Some trump card Zeus was holding back.
A self-righteous smile spread across Zeus’s face, almost as if the bastard had read his mind. “And because I hold Prometheus.”
“That’s not exactly a surprise,” Hades countered. “Prometheus has been chained, what…? Over three thousand years? And after all that torture, the Titan has yet to tell you where he hid the elements. What makes you think he’ll cooperate now?”
“I don’t need him to cooperate,” Zeus said. “I just need his daughter to cooperate.”
His daughter …
A chill spread down Hades’s spine. He’d heard rumors of a child, but after all this time with no sign or mention of her, he’d thought she was mere myth. Prophecy said Prometheus’s child would lead to the downfall of the Olympian king—yet another reason Zeus had imprisoned Prometheus, so he could never procreate. But if what Zeus said was true, if Prometheus did have a daughter somewhere, and if Hades could find her first, it meant this whole game could be over much sooner than even Hades had planned. And it meant not only could Hades take control of the human realm like he wanted, but he could grind Zeus to dust in the process and claim Olympus for himself.
Excitement reverberated through his veins. Now, more than ever, it was imperative he get to Persephone and their son, Zagreus, before anyone else.
Careful not to show enthusiasm, Hades tipped his head and worked to keep the bite in his words when he said, “And where, oh great and glorious Grand Pooh-Bah, are you going to look for this mystery daughter?”
“That,” Zeus said, leaning back against the windowsill, “is my worry, not yours. You just focus on finding the water element.”
They were sending him on a wild-goose chase. Hades could feel it. He didn’t know why, but he was certain they were plotting to use Prometheus’s daughter for something cataclysmic.
Hades wasn’t about to let them win.
“Are you in or out, adelfos ?” Zeus’s eyes sharpened. “Think carefully, because the choice you make now could change your life for good.”
Hades didn’t need to think twice. He already knew exactly what he wanted. And whose back he was going to stab to get it.
One side of his mouth curled into a vicious smile. “I’m already there, brother mine.”
* * *
She was back. He hadn’t imagined her after all.
“ Skata… ” Titus pushed his muscles into gear and climbed faster. He couldn’t lose her now. He reached for the top of the wall. A loud, cracking sound echoed through the
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