Page 105 of Hades

It was going to take some time to get used to the new era of peace they had just ushered in.

He had spent centuries waiting for this attack to happen, constantly on alert, and it had slowly worn him down. No. Not only him. He looked at his children as they gathered and talked, sharing smiles and checking on each other, eyes bright with relief.

They had all been waiting.

And it had taken a toll on all of them.

He released Persephone and looked at her, feeling right down to his soul that they deserved this time of peace and vowing he would do all in his power to ensure it lasted.

Calindria laughed as Thanatos swept her up into his arms, and Marinda smiled with her, the young Fury not noticing the look Calistos was giving her as he huffed and picked pieces of what looked a lot like flesh from her fair hair. Hades hadn’t missed how vicious she had been during the battle, cutting through the enemies with her talons, living up to her name.

Keras was still scowling at Nikos, but looked less as if he wanted to kill the male as he, Enyo, and Demetrius talked to Esher and Valen. Cassandra rolled her blue eyes as Daimon instantly leaped to help her up the moment she tried to stand, and Ares moved to fuss over her too.

Artemis and Apollo stood guard over close to two dozen daemons and a demigod they had gathered off to one side.

Nyx was still glaring down at Eris as she calmly detailed all the ways the goddess would pay for her betrayal.

Pleasure rolled through Hades at the thought of what he was going to do to them once he had them in Tartarus. Every prisoner there would know never to cross him by the time he was done with them.

Persephone stroked his hand and he looked down at her.

“Cerberus will be fine,” she said with a little smile and relief filling her tender emerald gaze. “He is healed now.”

“Thank you.” He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it, grateful for her help.

He looked at the closed gate and then at Cerberus, and then at the gathered, glad that it was over.

He was glad for something else too.

His brothers.

Hades was no fool. Without their help, he might have lost the Underworld. He might have lost his family.

His life.

He straightened his spine as he led Persephone over to Zeus and Poseidon, and the two of them turned their heads towards him.

“Cronus and the remaining titans are still safe in Tartarus. Mnemosyne did not manage to free any of her brethren.” Hades could practically feel Persephone’s scowl as he issued that report, his deep voice flat and devoid of the emotions he was feeling.

Zeus slapped a hand down on his shoulder and gripped it as he smiled. “I am glad you are well too, Brother.”

Behind his blue beard, Poseidon smiled too. “If you ever need any help, you need only call upon us.”

Zeus nodded in agreement. “Let us put old feuds to rest, Hades, and leave that sort of behaviour to the younger generation.”

Zeus slanted a look at Keras, who was now baring fangs at Enyo as she held him away from Nikos.

Persephone chuckled. “I do not think Keras will ever be able to stand Nikos being near Enyo. He is too much like his father.”

Which reminded Hades.

He glowered at the golden-haired god of war—Enyo’s brother, Ares—as the male joined her in trying to calm Keras down.

“Get out,” Hades growled. “I warned you never to set foot in the Underworld again.”

The god of war levelled a black look on him and then smirked as he shifted his mischievous blue gaze to Persephone.

“As beautiful as ever, my sweet goddess,” the god of war purred.

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