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“Oh, you’re coming, too, mortal,” he said, and Vasilis’ eyes grew wide.
“But I told you the truth! I—”
The Magi was silenced, vanishing with a wave of Hades’ hand. He would spend time imprisoned, but not in Tartarus—he would go to a Phantom Site, a prison that could only be seen by those who were favored. It was a special place for mortals like him—Magi who broke the law or held secrets—and on rare occasions, might be used as bait.
Hades turned to Hecate. “See, I can be compassionate.”
***
Before leaving The Three Moons, Hades summoned Ilias to the shop so the satyr could dispose of the contents—which meant burning it to the ground. He and Hecate parted, Hades had business with Aphrodite, while Hecate intended to return to the Underworld.
“The souls are celebrating you tonight,” she reminded him.“They would be overjoyed to see you.”
Guilt slammed into him, as it always did when his people set aside time to worship him.
“Persephone will be there. I believe they plan to honor her as well.”
That was not unexpected. She deserved their worship. She was more of a god than he had ever been to them. Besides, they would have to get used to celebrating her. She was to be their queen.
“Perhaps I will make it this time,” he said before departing, but doubted his words.
The Goddess of Witchcraft meant well, but there were some demons Hades did not wish to face, and his people—his past treatment of them—was one.
Hades found Aphrodite at her seaside mansion, reclining on a blush chaise in her marbled home, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ocean and Hephaestus’island. When he appeared, she yawned, placing the back of her hand over her mouth.
“I expected you to return last night,” she said, fanning herself with what looked like a bundle of feathers.“You must have had quite the distraction on your hands.”
“Your mortal drugged Persephone,” Hades said, getting to the point of his visit. He did not normally mind Aphrodite’s badgering, but he was not in the mood for it today.
The goddess did not react, but her hand continued to move, the feathered fan beating in a steady rhythm.
“Where is your proof?” she asked, bored.
“I tasted the poison on her tongue, Aphrodite,” Hades said tightly.
“Tasted?” Aphrodite sat up, eyes widened slightly as she set her fan aside.“So you kissed her, then?”
Hades’ jaw tightened, and he did not respond.
“Are you in love?” she asked, and there was a note of alarm in her voice Hades did not understand. Did Aphrodite fear that he would win their bargain and she would lose her chance to see Basil returned from the Underworld? Or did she even care about Basil? Did she fear more that she would no longer see him as she saw herself—alone?
He glared at her, and her eyes sparkled, a smile curling her lips.“You are! Oh, this is news, indeed.”
“Enough, Aphrodite.”
She glared, folding her arms over her chest.“I suppose you have come here to threaten Adonis?”
“I have come to ask why you let it happen.”
Aphrodite’s eyes widened, and she blinked, clearly not expecting Hades to ask that question. Then her eyes narrowed.“What are you accusing me of, Hades?”
“You keep your lovers on a short leash, and yet you let Adonis go and summoned me when things got out of hand. Were you hoping to see me rage?”
“I think you are accusing me of setting up last night’s debacle.”
Aphrodite might be the Goddess of Love, but she did not believe in it and often made obtaining it difficult for mortals. She saw it as a game and played them like pawns, introducing distractions, challenging the bond she could never establish with another.
He knew what she was doing, and he was here to stop it.
