Page 81 of Hades

“That’s only because I begged her for years,” Lainie says as she takes a seat next to me.

“Ah, here, I saved you some mortal goodies.” I smile and hand a bag to her.

“Thank you, Lady Hades. The smell had floated down thehalls to tease me.”

“You really think that I would be so cruel and not let you enjoy with us? I was just about to come find you. Don’t want it to get too cold.”

She nods as she takes the bag. It seems as if she isn’t going to sit, but leave.

“Sit,” it comes out as more of a command than I meant. “There is no need for you to leave. You are my dearest friend, that happens to work for me. That doesn’t change because we have guests, silly.”

Lainie smiles and takes the open seat next to me.

Hades’s palace is gorgeous and vast. I don’t dare venture off by myself, because how embarrassing would it be to get lost down here. A wave of dread washes over me when Hades says that I need to work things out with Nile. I know she is right but it isn’t that easy. He put all of us in danger and I, like my father, am stubborn and hardheaded.

“Harper,” Stone calls my name as he waves his hands in front of my face. “Earth to Harper.”

“Sorry, I got lost in my own head for a minute.”

“It has been a long night, and a full belly will make anyone sleepy. Let’s get a few hours of shut eye. We can take shifts, but, Phoenix, will you call your siblings first?” Hades asks.

“Of course, Lady Hades, if they agree how will they get here?” Phoenix asks.

“You and I can go get them. Of course, Harper or one of my guys will accompany us.” Hades smiles.

When my aunt says I can go, something soothes in my chest. It’s not that I don’t trust either of them, butI have only just met my aunt and Phoenix just truly accepted the soulmate bond completely.

“Lainie, once you’re done eating, will you show Phoenix where you get the signal down here? I’m off to visit some of my family and gauge who is siding with Ares. I can’t say that I have favor with many,” Hades tells us. “If you need me, Lainie can get a hold of me. But I shouldn’t be gone too long. Pyro, will you come with me? War and Drevi, will you take the first shift? Maybe Stone and Frank the second? Harper and Nile, third, and then Lainie and Pyro, if we are back. I’ll come back for Phoenix. If he and I have to go get some of his siblings we will take our turn once we return.”

“Nile and I will take the first shift. We have some talking to do and some things to work out,” I pipe in.

“Fine, but I want War as an extra set of eyes. He doesn’t have to be near you two, but just in case the conversation gets too intense, I want to make sure the focus is on the gates,” Hades says.

“That works for me. Besides, he can rescue Nile if he needs it,” I joke. This gets a smile from everyone but Nile.

“Okay, you others try and get some rest, unless you have a task to do,” Hades orders. “I want to thank each of you once again for coming to help me protect my kingdom and the souls that live here.”

She doesn’t wait for a reply as she stands and exits the living room. Pyro does the same. War nods to me, I return it, and we stand at the same time.

“I guess we are going, too,” Nile comments.

“Yep, Ares told us he was coming but not when. He could be knocking at our door now, but he likes to think that he is fancy, so he’ll come at dawn. Better safe than sorry,” War says. “Do you need to grab weapons?”

I reach for my necklace as Nile rubs his trident tattoo. “Nope, we are good to go.”

“I have to stop and grab my swords. I’m not dressed in my gear, so I’ll grab those and we will head to the gates.”

“Want us to follow or wait here?” Nile asks.

“I’ll grab you two on the way back. Lainie, do you need anything before we head out? Frank and Drevi need to get some shut eye,” War says.

“Nope, almost done here, and I’ll take Phoenix and Stone to make the calls before bringing them back for a cat nap.”

“Perfect,” is all War says as he exits the room.

“See, you have a few hours,” Drevi comments as he takes off after War, and Frank isn’t too far behind. He doesn’t say anything, just nods.

The others leave Nile and I alone for the first time since I got my memories back.

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