Page 208 of A Touch of Chaos

“Other than you, it was the only good thing that came out of the labyrinth.”

CHAPTER XXXIX

HADES

Hades chose to dress in his usual black, tailored suit.

When he appeared before the gate of the House of Aethra, he did not want to do so in armor. He was not going to fight; he was going to make a deal—perhaps the greatest bargain of his life.

“Are you ready?” Persephone asked.

He turned to look at her, dressed in Hephaestus’s fine armor. She was beautiful, a warrior in her own right.

“Are you?” he asked. He touched her chin, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip.

“I am ready for it to be over,” she said. “So we can start our life.”

He gave her a small smile and then kissed her, his hand slipping into her hair. He held her close and tight, tasting her until she was the only thing that filled his senses.

When they parted, Persephone touched the pocket of his jacket, and there, a red polyanthus flowered.

Her eyes lifted to his. “I will look for you at the gates,” she said.

He took that as a promise, and with a final kiss, he left.

Hades was not surprised to hear the groan of several bows nocking when he appeared before the gate of Theseus’s house. He stared up at the mortals who aimed at him, the tips of their arrows gleaming beneath Selene’s moon.

He said nothing as he waited. He was not often anxious, but today the feeling burned his chest and churned in his stomach. Despite believing this was the right course of action, he knew it would be difficult. He did not like the idea of surrendering to a man he hated, even if it was only to gain entrance and proximity to his target.

He hoped he could maintain the act.

As he expected, Theseus kept him waiting under the threat of his archers. When he finally appeared, it was on the wall at the very center of the gates.

He looked down at Hades, eyes glittering with amusement.

“What a surprise,” Theseus said. “To what do we owe the honor of your presence, Lord Hades?”

The demigod was already testing his patience. Hades worked not to show his frustration—or his hatred.

“I have considered much and consulted many,” said Hades. “I hoped we might speak.”

Hades wanted the demigod to be intrigued by the vagueness of his statements and let his imagination run wild with possibilities of what had brought Hades to hisgates in the middle of the night, but if that was the case, Theseus did not let it show. Instead, he tilted his head to the side and offered a single word. “Speak.”

“I have convened with the Fates and borne witness to your future,” said Hades, though it was a lie. “The promise is great.”

“You have told me nothing I do not already know,” said Theseus.

“No,” said Hades. “You have always been certain of your destiny.”

“It is hard to argue with prophecy,” said Theseus.

That was not true, but Hades would not disagree.

“So you have come to what?” Theseus asked. “Do not dance about, Hades. Neither one of us has time for that.”

“I have come to surrender,” said Hades. “To offer my allegiance to your side.”

He was not prepared for how horrible those words would taste. He wanted to spit the moment they left his mouth.

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