Page 27 of Sweet Obsession

“And here I am. You found me. Well done, you.” She lifts the bowl to her lips and drinks the milk. When faced with that look on Poseidon’s face, I might piss myself in fear—and that’s being relatively assured he intendsmeno harm. I doubt Hermes can say the same. She’s been labeled an enemy of the city, a traitor, guilty of treason. At least according to MuseWatch.

From what she just said, it’s all true.

Poseidon watches her closely as she leans over and sets the bowl in the sink. He’s doing that thing where it’s as if he can reach past the carefully curated external expressions and delve right into the thoughts of a person. I don’t know if that’s really a skill he has, but it certainly feels like it when I interact with him. “You haven’t beenmissing in action for so long only to come here for food. You have your own house—several of them. Why are youhere?”

“Oh, that.” Hermes hops to the floor and stretches, her fingertips reaching toward the ceiling. I’m always shocked to find that she barely comes up to my shoulder. Her energy fills the room every time I’ve ever interacted with her. Something in her back pops and she gives a sigh of relief. “Much better. Now, where were we?”

Poseidon leans on the doorframe, and I could swear I hear the entire house creak in response. “You were telling me what you’re doing here and why it appears you’ve committed treason.”

“‘Treason’ is such a strong word.” He makes a sound shockingly close to a growl, and she shifts to put the island between them. “Now, now, Poseidon. I came here because you’re the most reasonable of the Thirteen. I expect you tobereasonable. On the other hand, you are keeping the delicious Icarus captive, and if I’m not mistaken, there’s the scent of sex about you. What a horrible abuse of power.”

“Hermes.”

“Fine,” she says flatly, all charm disappearing between one beat and the next. “You can’t trust Circe, no matter what she promises you in late-night meetings on the water. She won’t rest until this city burns and every member of the Thirteen and the legacy families are dead. While we’re on the subject, you shouldn’t trust Hera, either. Those two are more similar than is comfortable.”

Poseidon narrows his eyes. “I have a question for you, and I want you to answer honestly. Are you the reason the barrier fell when it did?”

I jolt. How did he make that leap? The barrier in Olympus hasbeen failing for a very long time—something like thirty years. It was always going to come down; Circe made sure of that. Before Zeus attempted to murder her on their honeymoon, she somehow managed to steal a key component that kept the barrier in place. Ever since then, it’s been slowly weakening. Faltering.

Hermes taps her fingernails against the counter in a rhythm that I almost recognize. “I made a promise to someone. Several promises, in fact. The barrier was coming down regardless. It served my interest that it came down when it did.”

“What interest?” For the second time since I met Poseidon, his voice raises in anger. He slashes a hand through the air. “Because even now, while you claim to be telling me the truth, you’re still talking in circles. Everyone in this fucking city talks in circles. None of you ever say what you mean. So, for fucking once,tell me what you mean.”

She shifts back on her heels; she’s going to bolt. A quick sweep of the kitchen makes her intended exit clear—the small window over the sink that’s cracked to let in the late fall air. I move before she can, sliding my body between hers and the sink. Now, if she wants to get to that window, she has to go through me.

Hermes glances over her shoulder at me and glares. “I thought we had an understanding, Icarus. That’s just rude.”

Poseidon slams his hand against the doorframe. “Leave him out of this.” He leans forward like he’s going to vault the island if she doesn’t speak up. “Answer the fucking question.”

She tilts her head to the side, and I can’t see her face from this angle, but it seems like she’s studying him just as closely as he studied her previously. “I want what I’ve always wanted—what’s best for this city.”

“Ten people were killed in the explosion that brought the barrier down. I highly doubt they agree with you.”

“Probably not.” She sighs. “But if you’d stop reacting andthink, you’d come to the same conclusion I—and others—have. This system is broken and the barrier was allowing the system to stay broken. If it didn’t come down, then nothing was going to change. Thingshaveto change, Poseidon.”

His mouth works, and I can tell that part of him agrees with her, even if he doesn’t want to. He clears his throat, his tone lowering but becoming no less angry. “What makes you the best person to make this decision?”

“I’m the only one who has the audacity to actually get shit done. Well, me and one other. Consider us an army of two. You and Hades and the few who actually want change just sit around and wring your hands while the very people you’re supposed to be protecting are harmed by the very system that you benefit from. I’m not willing to do that. Not anymore.” She takes a deep breath. “Join us. You’ve watched the Thirteen play at being gods in this city for too damned long not to recognize the cost. Help us change things.”

“No.” He shakes his head slowly. “You might be right that things need to change, but we need to focus on Circe. The rest of it can wait until that threat is dealt with.”

“I had hoped you would understand. Oh well. I told her you wouldn’t listen, but she insisted.”

“You toldwho—godsdamn it!”

She doesn’t wait for him to finish questioning her. She spins and punches me in the stomach. It happens so fast, I don’t have time to brace for it. I crumple like paper. I hit the floor on my side, curledup with my knees to my chest. Fuck, that hurts. Worst of all, I don’t stop her from leaving. I don’t even slow her down. I don’t see her jump over me and shove through the window, but I hear it slam open and feel the wind of her passing. I failed.

“Icarus. Icarus, talk to me.” Poseidon crouches next to me, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “Did she reopen one of the cuts?”

“No. Wind…knocked out…of me.”

“Okay.” He exhales shakily and keeps rubbing my back. “Try to relax. Your breath will come.”

As if his words summon reality, my body slowly unclenches and my lungs allow air to move through them. I gasp in a breath and start to sit up, but Poseidon shifts his grip to my shoulder, keeping me on the floor. “Slowly.” He helps me sit up and urges me to lean against the cabinets.

“I kind of hate her,” I wheeze.

“I kind of do, too.” He gives my shoulder one last squeeze and rises to shut and lock the window above the sink. It’s a foolish thing to do, more to comfort us than anything else. Hermes has long since proven that she can get in and out of nearly any residence. I used to think that was pure rumor, but it’s obvious that it’s true. Fuck, she was fast.

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