Page 61 of Conquered Obstacles

“It’s refreshing,” Poseidon agreed. “Fun and freeing.” He moved closer, and before I even realized what he was doing, he punched Zeus for all to see. “You have countless bastards running around that you don’t even claim and let Hera kill. They’re in the underworld, and I’ve confirmed it with my own eyes. Don’t you dare say our sister is sullied again, you bastard.”

“Well said,” someone from the crowd agreed.

“Let’s get Hera in her new home before we’re here all day yelling at the idiot,” I grumbled. “I thought for a moment things would be different now that the necklace was gone.”

“You broke your promise to me?” Hera screeched.

I slowly blinked at her. “He’s never kept any promise to you and you’re shocked?” There was pure panic in her eyes. “Okay, whatever curse was in that necklace has to be a doozy.”

“And it’s not only her magic, but some of it is also Father’s,” Hades said, nodding when I couldn’t hide my shock. “She doesn’t have the power to make gods, but she definitely paid attention and learned a trick to make that necklace. I would think she used it for what she planned to do to you next.”

“Don’t tell me more or I really will kill her,” I grumbled. I shot Zeus a nasty look. “You should be grateful that we figured out what she was—”

“Hera did nothing,” he snapped. “You are making up your lies again, and if you don’t stop disparaging my wife, I will return you to Father as I should have years ago.”

I appeared in front of him and backhanded him across the face before I even realized what I was doing. “I think we should return you to Father. You will never learn from your mistakes and your lies, Zeus. Everyone knows about the necklace. Hera just freaked out about it. So your answer will be to lie that it never existed and she didn’t curse you?”

“What will that solve? We all know you’re lying. So you care more about your image still than the truth and setting things right. You will die with lies on your tongue about her not pulling a fast one on you to save face while everyone laughs at you behind your back. Is that really better than admitting you were fooled?

“So what? You were fooled by your wife. I was fooled by you and the lies that you loved me. So were Hades and Poseidon. We truly believed you loved us once. We were fooled.” I gestured around Olympus. “It still stands from admitting that. We’re still here. No one died from admitting the mistake.”

“I actually find it freeing,” Poseidon chuckled. “We were fools to trust you, Zeus.” He glanced around at the gods. “The original gods were fools to believe Zeus’s bullshit. Don’t make the same mistakes we did. He’s full of shit. Hera cursed the necklace that she gave him as a wedding present. With what, we don’t know yet.”

I gasped as more power hit me… So Hades punished Zeus again and he’d gone to do something.

“You won’t have anything left if you keep behaving like a petulant child, dear brother,” Hades jeered. He nodded to his minions, and Hera was handed over to Zeus. “Keep your monster locked down, or next time she will—”

“Yes, yes, whatever forty-nine times forty-nine is,” Zeus drawled. “Your exponential punishment foolery. Enough. None of you are welcome here anymore and—”

“Oh no, not that, I think my heart just broke,” Hades drawled. “Yes, I feel pain in my chest… No wait, I’m hungry.” He turned to me with a cold amusement in his eyes. “Sister, you were talking about testing new pie recipes today, yes? Do you need a taster? Since you actually do something to help your realm, and Poseidon is helping you unlike the failure of the four of us.”

Wow. Just… Wow.

Half of the gods there couldn’t contain their amusement and burst out laughing, Zeus and Hera both flinching.

“Oh yes, they would all jump to take us down and be your loyal dogs to fight any war you wanted like you said, Zeus,” Poseidon taunted, throwing fuel on the fire. Gods did not like being talked about like that.

Well, no one did, but gods especially with their egos.

I smiled at Hades. “Yes, I am actually, and I love having you both as my testers. I received the list of fruits coming in Friday from the recent harvest. I have containers and containers coming, so I thought we could have some new combinations.” I made two copies appear and handed one to each of my brothers as we walked down Olympus.

While I flicked off Zeus and Hera over my shoulder. Fuck them.

“You will regret this, Kismet!” Hera screamed. “I will finish—”

“Shut up before Hades takes all our power,” Zeus seethed. “You are to be locked up, and we will have a long discussion about much, my lovely wife.”

I couldn’t feel bad for her anymore. She’d had so many chances to leave him or free herself from his cruelty. No, she’d fed it. She’d been just as cruel.

She’d tried to kill me over her damn jealousy. I felt nothing but regret they were still alive.

Still, I felt… Freer. I felt lighter almost. I left Olympus on my terms this time, not in fear or being chased out.

And I left with my brothers who I loved and who loved me.

So the last thing I wanted when I arrived home was to walk into problems, but that was just life. What confused me was the group.

Poseidon was the first to react, pointing between the twins, Colton, and Jacob.

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