Page 119 of The Duplicity of Thieves

“Murder is always exciting.” An impulsive smile graces my lips. “I’m finding, recently, that history isn’t anything like how they tell it,” I say more to myself than to him.

He uses it to continue the conversation. “You’re a realist?”

“I’m not delusional.”

That makes him chuckle. “Good. I already like you, Josie. Not that I would have a say about it otherwise. No, Aedonaeus is quite taken with you.”

“You said obsessed wrong,” I point out.

“You said love wrong,” he retorts. I make a face. “You don’t believe in love?” He leans against some other ancient piece that's probably worth more than my life.

“Aedon calls it Destiny,” I deflect.

“And you?”

I think about it. Do I believe in love? “I’m a strong believer in choices.”

“Insightful. I’ve never thought about it like that. So let me ask you this: What is love if not a choice?” He strokes his chin in thought.

“Then it’s Hope.”

He analyzes me with his violet eyes. “You have quite the mind.”

“I’ve said a handful of sentences, and you’re impressed?”

“You’re not full of shit. So yes, I’m impressed. You have that in common with him. Among other things.” He assesses my skin. “Aedon is going to tear the place apart with his bare hands looking for you.”

He's going to be so pissed that I slipped away. It’s the one thing he didn’t want. I’m not going to take the blame for this. I will immediately direct him to his father, and they can argue about it, but I don’t care. I’m not a child.

“Let him.” I smirk at the thought. That’s what he gets for his stunt in the stairwell.

He clears his throat. “Well, I’m sure you’re wondering why I brought you down here.”

“I figured you wanted me to steal something. So which thing is it?” I ask.

Hades looks like I just struck him in the face. I let it sink in for a few extra seconds before I laugh.

“You’re joking. Very funny.” He wags his finger at me. “Purveyor of wickedness, indeed.”

“A hard-earned title if I do say so myself.”

“Certainly not one to be taken lightly,” he agrees. “Which is why I’ve brought this to you.”

I don’t like the sound of this. It’s the same statement I’ve heard plenty of times when Stafford has accepted jobs. It comes with a ridiculous amount of trust that hasn’t been earned and leaves no room for failure. I hate expectations more than parties.

“You look perturbed.” He frowns.

“My frustration does not lay with you.” Aedon’s verbal assault creeps back toward the edges of my consciousness.

“I see.” He chuckles. “I wanted to give you a wedding present.”

“A wedding present?”

“You are familiar with those, are you not?”

“I am…It’s just…Wouldn’t you want Aedon here, too?”

“This gift is not meant for him. You may do whatever you like with it. Share it with him if you want, but it won’t be of any use.” Hades pulls the chain holding the Eye of the Graeae over his head and holds it out to me. “Take it.”

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