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“Red?” another demanded. “Why red?”
He looked down at Persephone, his hand splayed across her waist. “I think I began to favor the color when Persephone wore it at the Olympian Gala.”
There were a few sighs, but one voice carried over the crowd.
“Who would have thought my brother to be so sentimental?” Poseidon said with a humorless laugh.
Hades had not seen his brother since he’d taken Dionysus to his yacht to rescue Ariadne. He stood across the room with Amphitrite on his arm, and Hades wondered if Poseidon’s wife knew about that encounter and the horrible things he’d threatened.
“Ignore him,” Hermes said. “He’s had too much ambrosia.”
“Do not make excuses for him,” Hades said. “Poseidon is always an ass.”
“Brother!” Zeus boomed, and Hades took a deep breath as he prepared to face him. Zeus pushed through the crowd until he reached them, slapping Hades on the back. He seemed jolly and exaggerated. He was either drunk or his balls had started to grow back. “And gorgeous Persephone. So glad you could make it.”
“I was under the impression we did not have a choice,” she said.
Zeus’s laughter burst from deep in his throat. “You’re rubbing off on her, Brother,” he said and elbowed Hades in the side. There was an angry glint in his eye, as if he did not like Persephone’s tone, but Hades did not care, because he loved it. “Why wouldn’t you come?” Zeus continued. “This is your engagement feast after all!”
“Then that must mean we have your blessing,” Persephone said and then added pointedly, “to marry.”
Zeus’s laugh was dull, though he tried to hide it behind a boisterous tone. “That is not for me to decide, dear. It is my oracle who will decide.”
“Don’tcall me dear,” Persephone said.
“It is only a word,” he replied, tone devoid of any humor. “I mean no offense.”
“I don’t care what you intended,” Persephone said. “The word offends me.”
The silence around them was deafening. As much as Hades was enjoying this exchange, he also shifted closer to Persephone. He knew Zeus’s anger well, and nothing triggered it more than defiance, but his brother only burst into peals of annoying laughter.
“Hades, your plaything is far too sensitive.”
Hades wasn’t sure which word triggered him more—playthingorsensitive—but it didn’t really matter. This was his queen, and Zeus had disrespected her.
Hades’s hand shot out, and he gripped Zeus by the neck. “What did you call my fiancée?” Hades spoke between his teeth.
Zeus’s eyes were as dark as stormy skies, flashing with the threat of his power. This was likely not the best move, given that Hades wished for his brother’s blessing, but he would not let this slight pass.
“Careful, Hades. I still rule your fate.”
Zeus determined whether he would marry, and even that was up for debate. Hades was not above defying Zeus, even if it meant the possibility of facing divine retribution.
“Wrong, Brother,” Hades said, his voice quiet and harsh. “Apologize.” He squeezed enough to feel the god swallow against his palm.
“Persephone,” Zeus said, his voice rough and low. “Forgive me.”
She said nothing, but Hades released him.
His brother’s eyes remained trained on him, but Zeussmiled and laughed, throwing his arms into the air as he exclaimed, “Let us feast!”
They filed into the banquet hall with the crowd where several round tables were spread across the large room. Hades would have liked to believe that making it to this part of the night meant they were closer to the end and Zeus would make his decision soon, but he knew this was just the beginning. They would have to make it through this tedious dinner and the festivities that followed. It was possible, given Hades’s earlier behavior, that Zeus would delay his decision another day, but Zeus had deserved the very public shaming.
“It appears we will not be sitting together,” Persephone said, glancing at him.
“How so?”
She nodded toward the front of the room where one long table was elevated above the rest.
