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“Yeah.” Apollo smirked. “Stay alert, Seph. I’ll summon you soon,” he said and vanished.
Hades glared at the space where Apollo had been, still uncomfortable with the bargain he and Persephone continued to maintain. He did not like the idea that Apollo could summon his fiancée when he pleased, especially in this environment, where goddesses were openly being attacked.
He met Persephone’s gaze briefly before shifting his attention to Aphrodite.
“Why summon us?”
It was probably obvious to Persephone, but it wasn’t obvious to Hades. Aphrodite knew he could not heal or view memories.
Aphrodite straightened and looked at him. He wasn’t really prepared to see her face—eyes rimmed in red and swollen. He’d never seen her so distraught, and it made him uncomfortable.
“I summoned Persephone, not you,” she said.
They both glared at Hermes.
“What?” he demanded. “You know Hades wouldn’t let her come alone!”
“Me?” Persephone asked. “Why?”
Why indeed, Hades thought.
“I would like you to investigate Adonis’s and Harmonia’s attacks.”
“No,” Hades said immediately. He would not even entertain the idea. Persephone did not need to be involved.Hewas taking care of it. “You are asking my fiancée to put herself in the path of these mortals who hurt your sister. Why would I say yes?”
“She asked me, not you,” Persephone snapped, her gaze just as frustrated. There was a brief pause, and then she turned back to Aphrodite. “Still, why me? Why not ask Helios for assistance?”
Hades was already shaking his head.
“Helios is an asshole,” Aphrodite said. “He feels he owes us nothing because he fought for us during the Titanomachy. I’d rather fuck his cows than ask for his assistance. No, he would not give me what I want.”
“And what do you want?” Persephone asked.
“Names, Persephone,” Aphrodite said. “I want the name of every person who laid a hand on my sister.”
But not Adonis? Hades glanced at Hephaestus, wondering if she censored herself because of him.
“I cannot promise you names, Aphrodite. You know I can’t.”
“You can,” she insisted. “But you won’t because of him.”
Hades ground his teeth. “You are not the Goddess of Divine Retribution, Aphrodite.”
“Then promise me you will send Nemesis to enact my revenge.”
“I will make no such promise.”
If Aphrodite decided to kill someone whose fate did not involve her, she would be punished. How, he could not say, but the Fates would come for her eventually.
“Whoever hurt the mortal and Harmonia has an agenda,” Hephaestus said. “Harming those who assaulted them will not lead us to the greater purpose. You might also, inadvertently, prove their cause.”
Aphrodite did not like what her husband was saying, but then again, Hades liked it less as he continued to speak.
“If that’s the case, I can see the value of Persephone investigating Harmonia’s assault. She fits in—as a mortal and a journalist. Given her record of slander against gods,they may even think they can trust her, or at least turn her to their cause. In either case, it would be a better way to understand our enemy, make a plan, and act.”
“I would do nothing without your knowledge,” Persephone said, holding Hades’s gaze. “And I will have Zofie.”
“We will discuss the terms.”
