Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
And Zeus? He may not be the monster his father was, but he’s sure as shit not an innocent. He was willing to break the rules and stage a damned coup with Hades and Poseidon. Yes, it was in pursuit of Circe, but once you start breaking the rules, it becomes easier and easier to do each time. He was willing to sell Helen in marriage to whoever became Ares, no matter that she clearly wasn’t on board with the whole plan. He did sell Eris in an effort to control Theseus during his short time holding the Hephaestus title.
Hades meets Athena’s gaze over my shoulder and slowly lowers his gun. She, on the other hand, shows no signs of letting up. I’ll have a bruise tomorrow…assuming I live that long. He sits back. “That rescue by Hermes is the only reason you’re still alive. Regardless, you cannot stay in the lower city.” He motions to Eurydice. “Escort her to the bridge and ensure she crosses through the barrier and won’t be able to return.”
Persephone opens her mouth like she might protest, but turns to me instead of her husband. “If you touch my sister—”
This was old the moment it started. They’re still worried about the wrong fucking things. “For gods’ sake, you have bigger things to worry about than me. I’m not the one who wants all of you dead. Neither is Hermes.”
“You want the Thirteen abolished,” Hera says stonily.
“So do you,” I snap. “The citizens of this city deserve better. Every single person in this room would admit it if they weren’t allergic to the truth. You’re all rich as fuck; you’ll be fine anywhere in the big, wide world. So will the legacy families. The rest of Olympus aren’t as lucky.”
“Eurydice.” Hades’s face is a mask of ice. Does he realize how similar he and Zeus look right now? Sure, they have different coloring and features, but both are attempting to freeze out me—and my logic. They won’t listen. Damn them.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying. “The lower city barrier won’t hold forever. You have to know that. Are you prepared for a damned ground war? Where will your precious lower city citizens be then?”
“That’s enough.” Athena muscles me from the room, and I don’t bother to fight her. They never fucking listen. If they did, we wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with.
Out in the hall, she releases me but keeps the gun trained on me as I turn to face her. We’ve only worked together for a few months, but in that time, Athena has proven to be ruthless, but not cruel. Not foolish. “Circe is out for revenge. Most of the people in that room couldn’t have saved her when she was taken by the last Zeus and forced into marriage, but you could have. You were the only one who had a chance of getting him to listen.”
Athena shakes her head, as if I’ve disappointed her. “That man listened to no one, and if you weren’t an idealistic fool, you would realize it. Anyone who challenged him, privately or publicly, was removed.”
Convenient answer. As if anything Hermes and I have done in the last ten years was safe. “You could have tried.”
“So you say.” She glances at Eurydice. “Take one of my people to ensure she behaves.”
I have to fight not to curse at how misguided this energy is. “Eurydice is in no danger from me. You are in no danger from me.”
“Under the condition I leave the city that is my home and the only place I’ve ever known.” Athena smiles bitterly. “Like I said: You’re an idealistic fool.” Without another word, she turns and walks back into the study, closing the door softly behind her.
Eurydice initially gave the appearance of being the most boring of all the Dimitriou sisters. She’s beautiful the same way her sisters are, lean and delicate with model-perfect features and the hazel eyes they all share. The only difference is that her daddy was Black, so she’s got gorgeous warm light-brown skin and wavy black hair.
She surveys me. “I’ll be honest. I probably can’t take you in a fight, but you also won’t make it far in the lower city with our people hunting you. It’s best you come quietly.”
I have to close my eyes and concentrate for several beats before the urge to shake her passes. She’s not the one I’m mad at. It’s the whole fucking ruling class. The rot goes right down to its bones. This entire time, I’ve never doubted they were worth saving, but now I can’t help but wonder. All the years, all the sacrifice, and for what? People who don’t want to be saved from the natural consequences of the corrupt system they worship.
“I’m not going to cause problems,” I finally say.