Page 112 of A Touch of Chaos

Hecate approached. “It is true that Ares is cruel, but he is also a coward. If you wound him, he will run.”

“I thought he was the God of Courage,” Persephone said.

Hecate smiled. “He is, but he is also the god of its opposite.”

Persephone left the suite. Once she stepped into the hallway, she felt like she could breathe again. The air was cool and cleansing, yet it did not ease her anxiety.

Harmonia had taken a turn for the worse and quickly.

Now she worried that Hades would too.

She continued down the hall and found her husband waiting in the foyer, and though she had expected him, she was surprised by the way he was dressed. He wore a pair of dark tactical pants and a gray shirt that only seemed to draw attention to his chest and shoulders. His hair was wet and pulled into a bun at the back of his head. It seemed ridiculous to say, but she found this version of Hades incredibly attractive.

She had expected him to show up in a suit, no matter how impractical.

“What is it?” Hades asked, suddenly concerned.

“What?” she asked, surfacing from her thoughts.

“You’re staring. Is it the shirt?” he asked, pulling at the fabric. “Hermes said this would be appropriate.”

“It isn’t the shirt, Hades,” Persephone said, laughing.

“She thinks you’re hot, you idiot,” said Hermes as he approached. “For someone who gets laid so often, you are really fucking oblivious.”

He was wearing skintight biker shorts and a bright green shirt. Hippolyta’s belt was cinched tight around his waist.

“Gods, you’re like a fucking beacon,” said Hades. “Ares is going to see you coming from the shore.”

Hermes crossed his arms over his chest. “I didn’t realize we were conducting a sneak attack.”

“Why are you wearing a fanny pack?” Persephone asked, noticing the small pouch hanging low on his waist.

“It’s for my snacks,” he said.

They both stared.

“Judge all you want, but when you get hungry, I’m not sharing.”

“I hope we’re not there long enough tobehungry,” Persephone said.

“How is that even possible? I am always hungry.”

Hades sighed as if he was already annoyed.

“When we arrive at the island, we will take every precaution. No killing, no teleporting. I do not wish to anger Ares any more than we already will just by being in his territory.”

“Would he risk divine punishment by denying a favor?” Persephone asked.

“I am more concerned that he will see you as a prize. I’d rather approach hospitably. Perhaps he will extend the same to us.”

“Yeah, right,” said Hermes. “Ares doesn’t know the meaning of hospitality.”

“Let’s just get this over with,” Hades said.

Persephone felt Hades’s magic rise and wrap around her, familiar and dark, an electric energy that brought her comfort despite the dread she felt as they vanished.

“This is it?” Hermes asked.

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