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Hades whirled and found Aphrodite impaled by Ares’s golden spear.
Hephaestus was the one screaming. He tore his way toward her, wreathed in flame. He pulled the spear from her body, his hand covering the wound as her blood seeped between his fingers.
Ares neared. “Aphrodite…I didn’t mean—”
“If you take another step,” Hephaestus threatened, “I will slit your throat.”
On the ground nearby was Persephone. Hades teleported to her and urged her to her feet.
“Persephone, come,” he said.
They had to get out of there. It was the first of many battles they would fight, and for now, this one was over.
“Aphrodite!” Persephone tried to go to her, but Hades held her back.
“We must go,” he said.
“Apollo! Heal her!” she screamed.
Hades gathered her into his arms and vanished even as she screamed.
CHAPTER XLIII
HADES
Persephone was still screaming when they made it to the Underworld.
“It’s going to be okay,” Hades said. He knew those were the wrong words, but he did not know what else to offer. There was nothing that could quite quell the hysteria of battle—not even time.
“She took that spear for me,” she said, leaning heavily against him.
“Aphrodite will be well. It is not yet her time to die,” Hades promised, though he could not discount the terror of seeing the goddess injured and in such a violent manner. Persephone had never seen Olympians battle before. “Sit.”
She followed his directions but spoke as he knelt before her. “Hades, we cannot stay here. We have to find Sybil.”
“I know, I know,” he said, though he had no idea what she was talking about. He just needed her to sitstill for a few moments. Her shirt was covered in blood, and he would not feel at ease until he knew she was not injured. “Just let me make sure you are well.”
“I’m fine,” she argued. “I healed myself.”
“Please.”
He knew she’d been practicing her healing skills, but he had to be sure, because he could already feel his body shaking and his heart racing at the sight of her blood.
She stared at him for a moment and then relented, unbuttoning her shirt to show him her smooth skin. He took a breath and then shot to his feet, that strange terror roiling through him turning to anger.
“Fuck!” he roared. “I never fucking wanted this for you!”
“Hades, this is not your fault.”
“I wanted to protect you from this,” he said.
He had tried so hard, but at some point, it seemed inevitable that things would come to this.
“You had no control over how the gods would act today, Hades. I made a choice to use my power. Zeus made a choice to end me.”
“I will destroy him,” Hades swore.
“I have no doubt,” she said. “And I will be beside you when you do.”
