Page 38 of Hades

“Irule this realm,” Hades snarled and shadows snaked around the pointed toes of his black metal boots. From beneath Keras’s polished leather shoes, similar shadows crept outwards across the dark wooden floor. “Must I remind you of that…son?”

“You’re both being dicks.” Megan’s words lashed at him and Keras like a whip, snapping their gazes towards her. Keras’s face darkened in anger and Hades echoed his expression, concealing the fact he wasn’t sure what she meant by it. She made it perfectly clear when she handed Adora to Ares, came to face them, and planted her hands on her hips, her look thunderous. “Taking shots at each other isn’t going to get us anywhere. We need to be a united front. We need to stand together. Hades… Keras isn’t questioning your authority, he just doesn’t think it’s wise to go rushing off with your dog to track Persephone when you could be running into a trap. Keras… Hades is hurting. How would you feel if Enyo was taken and you couldn’t find her? We’re all worried about Persephone, but what we feel… you have to magnify it by a thousand to understand what your father is going through.”

Keras looked thoroughly berated as he eased back and his shoulders relaxed, and the shadows around his feet dissipated.

Hades assumed he wore the same look, because Megan’s expression softened as she came to him.

“I know this is taking its toll on you and that it’s hard to be here, feeling like you’re doing nothing, but what we’re doing here is important.” She laid her hand on his gauntlet. “If anyone can tell us the memories Persephone is most fond of, it’s you… because I’m sure you were there for a lot of them. Persephone loves us all, but she loves you the most. Her fondest memories would involve you.”

Hades looked down at her hand on his arm, her words whirling through his mind, triggering thoughts that gathered speed like an avalanche and swept him along just as fiercely as one would.

“Just… try to remain in control, old man. I know it’s hard, but the legions are doing their work and we need to do ours.” Ares’s voice tried to cut into his thoughts, but it was as if he was miles away, his words distant in the storm that swept through Hades.

Remain in control.

His eyebrows knitted hard and his lips flattened.

He knew he needed to retain control.

The irony wasn’t lost on him though. He had demanded calm and control, and rational thinking from his sons when he had been training them—demanding they use their heads and not their hearts, no matter the situation.

It was harder than it sounded.

Daimon only made it harder when Ares said, “Maybe Cass can cast another seeker spell. We can take her to the realm where Calindria was held. We haven’t searched all of it yet.”

“No,” Daimon bit out, his tone firm. “Cass is in no condition to keep casting magic.”

Hades arched an eyebrow at the witch. She seemed perfectly well, albeit her cheeks were turning red from anger as she glared at the back of Daimon’s head.

“I can still fight,” she snapped, her Russian accent strong as rage painted her features dark and her blue eyes brightened dangerously. “I am needed in this fight.”

“You need to rest.” Daimon looked over his shoulder at her, noticed how angry she looked and turned towards her. His expression softened as he reached for her hands, but he barely made contact before she yanked them away from him.

“I am not an invalid,” she barked, her accent growing stronger as fury, and hurt, lit her eyes. “I am strong. I am helping and you do not get a say.”

Ice glittered over Daimon’s fists as he clenched them at his sides and the air around Hades cooled.

“Don’t get a say?” Daimon all but growled that question at her. “The kid is half mine.”

“Kid?” Ares blurted, a stunned expression shifting across his features as he looked from Daimon to Cass.

Keras looked equally as shocked. “Are you saying she’s pregnant?”

“I am here,” Cass snapped. “No need to talk about me as if I am not. It is early days. The baby is strong. I am strong… and I am a part of this fight. No one in this room can stop me.”

She placed her hand on her stomach, her glacial blue eyes daring someone to say otherwise.

Hades dared. “You are no longer a part of this fight.”

She gaped at him and then rallied. “I am not your daughter. You get no say.”

“I am ruler of this realm.” And Persephone would never forgive him if something happened to Cassandra or the baby.

“Then I go fight in the mortal world.” Cassandra stood her ground, tipping her chin up in a haughty way that irritated Hades. “You do not rule there.”

Infuriating little witch.

Daimon’s expression said he was thinking the same thing, but rather than ordering her around, he reached for her hand again, the ice on his fingers melting before they made contact with her.

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