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She turns to face me. I still can’t read her expression, and that scares the shit out of me. My oldest sister has never been one for politics, and she’s never bothered to hide exactly what she’s thinking or feeling.
She’s hiding both now.
“Stay in the lower city,” she finally says. “Let yourself fall in love with that man who watches you with his heart in his eyes. Have a happy life. You deserve it.”
My fear transforms into alarm. It almost sounds like she’s saying goodbye. “What’s going on? Why are you talking like that?”
“When you talk to Ariadne, she’s going to tell you that something’s coming. Something catastrophic. Something I don’t think most of the upper city will survive, at least those peacocks in the legacy families. I need you to promise me that you will stay in the lower city. I want to hear you say it.”
What could she possibly know? Everyone in Olympus has been working overtime to figure out what Minos’s endgame is, but my sister speaks like she already knows it. Who could…?
“Have you been talking to Hermes?” In the two months since Minos’s party, Hermes hasn’t been around much. It’s more than her stopping her unannounced visits to this house to pester Hades. Even MuseWatch has noticed her absence enough to comment on it. She was supposedly even seen slipping through the boundary a few weeks back, which shouldn’t be possible on her own. “She’s a traitor.”
“Maybe. Or maybe she’s doing what it takes to survive. We could all take some notes on that.” It’s clear she won’t budge on her determination to get a promise from me.
It’s easy enough to do, except for… “What about the family dinners?”What about Psyche?I don’t voice the last question. Considering our sister is married to a mostly former hit man, she should be safe enough, no matter what happens. Eros will make sure of it. Or at least I hope he will.
“I don’t expect we’ll have them for the next little while.” She looks away. “Don’t worry about Mother, or Psyche for that matter. They can both take care of themselves better than you andPersephone, and I’m doing everything I can to ensure our family is protected.”
“What does that mean?” I take a step toward her. “What are you doing? What have you done?”
Instead of answering, she says, “I’ll have your promise now, Eurydice.”
Later today, I’ll talk to Charon and see what he thinks. I don’t believe he would keep something so important from me if he had information about a threat against the upper city. Or at least more of a threat than they are already experiencing. I don’t think so…but I’m not entirely certain. “Fine. I promise not to go to the upper city for a little while.”
From her narrowed eyes, she’s all too aware of the limit I put on that promise. “Good.”
I watch my sister walk away. Few people are aware of how dangerous she is, and not just because she punches first and asks questions never. Everyone in my family is fiercely loyal, but it goes to a greater depth with Callisto. I always understood that on some level, but it wasn’t until she went behind everyone’s back and arranged a marriage with Zeus in order to protect Psyche—and me—that I started to realize exactly the lengths she would go. My sister doesn’t care about the city. She sure as fuck doesn’t care about the Thirteen or gathering power for herself.
What is she up to?
I have a feeling I won’t find the answer tothatuntil it’s far too late, but at least I can find other answers. If Callisto knows exactly what’s coming for us, then it’s all the more important I talk to Ariadne and get that information to Hades. I pull my phone outand glance at the time. It’s not technically afternoon yet, but it’s late enough that showing up to Medusa’s house isn’t out of the question.
I head for the door but stop short when I turn the corner and find Minthe waiting for me. She’s a tall white woman with long brown hair, impeccable fashion sense, and a sleek, muscular form that I envy. No one looks at her and thinksbreakable. She holds up a hand, which is when I notice that she has my coat captive. “Going somewhere?”
Yesterday, I would’ve answered evasively. Today, I am in Hades’s employ. Just like Minthe. “I want to check on Ariadne to see if she feels well enough to tell me everything she knows.”
Yesterday, she would’ve asked if I had Charon’s permission. Today, she just shrugs and jerks her thumb at the door. “Let’s go.”
Clearly, my change in status has already been conveyed to her. I half expect to choke on being babysat, but this doesn’t feel like that at all. This feels like I’m finally a member of the team. Like I have value. Like I’m an asset.
I will do everything in my power to prove that I’m worthy of Hades’s trust.
23
CHARON
I barely wait for the door to close behind Eurydice before I spin on Hades to demand to know what the fuck he thinks he’s trying to pull. Persephone gets there first. She marches around the desk and gets right in his face. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I think I was rather clear about my intentions.”
“Hades,” I cut in. “She has no training. She’s going to get hurt.”
The look he gives me is calculating. “Ensure that she doesn’t.”
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this.” Persephone lifts a hand as if she’ll touch him but takes a step back instead. “That’s my baby sister. Charon’s right—she’s going to get hurt.”
He drags his hand over his face. “I wish the two of you would give me a little more credit…and would see things more clearly. She needs a purpose. She’s all but begging to have one. She’ll be safer here than doing this back-and-forth thing she’s had going for the last year. If she decides it’s not what she wants, I’ll release her from my employ. But in the meantime, she’ll stay in the lower city.”
