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Her murderous expression soon turned to fear when she looked at Hades’.
“You aided Sisyphus in his escape from the Underworld,” he said. He barely kept his voice from quivering as he spoke, the rage was so acute.“Have you any idea what I sacrificed to put him in chains?”
He had granted Theseus a favor. He had given away his control, and the thought made his chest feel like a chasm, split open and oozing. It was a sacrifice he’d made that was now worthless.
“Hades, I—”
“Do not speak my name!” he roared, taking a step toward her. The whole room shook.
Minthe shuffled away, her eyes wide.
She was right to fear him. Usually, when he brought people before him for punishment, he had an idea of how he would go about the execution, but not in this moment. In this moment, anything was possible. This nymph thought she had known every emotion associated with anger and loss and grief. Hades would show her otherwise.
“I can explain—”
“Was your jealousy so severe it blinded you from your loyalty?”
“I have only ever been loyal to you!” Minthe’s eyes ignited like an ethereal fire.
“Lies!” The taste was bitter, and he spat before he spoke.“You are loyal only to yourself.”
“I loved you!” Her cry was guttural and real and cruel.“I loved you, and all you cared about was your imposter queen!”
Hades snarled. Persephone was no imposter. The true fraud was before him, because if she had ever loved him, she would have never helped Sisyphus escape.
“You paraded her in front of me, undermining me, berating me, taunting me. You deserve to see your Fate unravel. I hope Sisyphus pulls the thread.”
There was silence.
So she had understood half of the equation, the part where the Fates had threatened to undo his future with Persephone if Sisyphus was not captured. It was information she had probably gained while spying. Well, she would spy no more. Not for him.
“If that is truly how you feel, then you have no place in the Underworld.”
Minthe’s mouth fell open.
“But this is my home,” she said, her lips quivering.
“Not anymore.” His words were cold.
The nymph swallowed."Wh-where will I go?”
He did not know; she had never existed outside the boundaries of Hades’ realm, even in the Upperworld. Her only connections were his connections, and those would evaporate the moment her exile leaked. No one would help her, because they would not wish to defy him.
“That is not my concern. Minthe, you are banished forthwith from my kingdom. If you attempt to set foot here again, I will exhibit no mercy.”
Hades’ magic closed in around her, and she vanished from sight. There was a beat of silence, and then he spoke.
“Hermes, spread the word that I am willing to bargain with Sisyphus. If it is eternity he wants, he has only to come to Nevernight and request a contract.”
Eternal life wasn’t something Hades could grant without sacrifice and required the same payment—a soul for a soul. It would mean that if he lost, the Fates would take the life of a god.
He was playing a game—a game of fate.
“I don’t suppose this can wait until morning?” Hermes asked and when Hades looked at him, the god offered a nervous laugh.“I mean, on it, my lord.”
He vanished.
“Don’t—”
