Page 46 of Sweet Obsession

The last Zeus would have drawn this out, would have lorded over his hated enemy. This one just nods. “We all want the same thing, and we’re all dealing with the sins of the past that we inherited. The Thirteen was set up for a specific reason, but the founders couldn’t have known we’d end up here. Thirteen is too manyprideful personalities to make an effective war council, and that’s even if we could get the majority to vote to go to war, which has proved to be impossible.”

Hades slips his hands into the pockets of his long coat, expression carefully blank. “Did you call me here to make proclamations about things I already know, or do you have something actually useful to say?”

“Your wall won’t stand against Circe indefinitely. If the upper city falls, the rest of Olympus won’t be far behind.” Zeus holds his gaze as he goes in for the kill. “When Circe is done picking her teeth free of the rest of the Thirteen, she’ll turn on you…and your children. She won’t risk another legacy title rising to defy her.”

Hades doesn’t flinch. This obviously isn’t news to him. He meets Zeus’s eyes steadily. “I’m aware.”

“We don’t need the rest of the Thirteen. We’re the three legacy positions, and there’s power in that. We don’t need to bother with the rest of them—Athena excepting—to remove the threat Circe represents.”

I’ve heard the spiel, but it still makes me look around to ensure no one is listening. What Zeus proposes is as much treason as what Hermes is up to.

From the way Hades lifts his brows, he agrees with me. “Your father must be dancing in his grave to see how well you follow in his footsteps.”

“You’re saying that as an insult, but I couldn’t give a fuck what that man wants.” Zeus doesn’t flinch, doesn’t raise his voice. “I want what I’ve always wanted: what’s best for Olympus. We can argue semantics if you’d like, but it’s a waste of time. The otherscan’t see it through their gilded walls, butyoucan—both of you can. Circe has the capability to destroy us, and she’ll do it if we don’t get to her first.”

As unconvinced as I remain, I can’t help saying, “He’s made a deal with Athena. If he doesn’t hand back power after the attack…”

“She’ll kill you?” Hades gives a sardonic smile. “That’s a polite little fiction to get us to go along with your plans.”

“If you think Athena would permanently consent to losing her status and her power, then you don’t know her.” Zeus crosses his arms over his chest. “I understand your stated condition, and I’m asking you to make an exception for tonight so we can remove the threat of Circe once and for all.”

Hades turns and looks out into the fog, his expression contemplative. None of us speak as he thinks through this tangled mess. I already know he’s come to the same conclusion I have when he turns back and says, “I suppose you have an actual plan.”

“I do. Poseidon can get us to the ships, and Athena’s assassins can take out the leaders, but we need your people to help with the rest. Once the crews realize the ships are sinking, they’ll panic and try to swim for the city. I don’t want a single one of them to make it.”

Icarus is so tense next to me, he’s practically vibrating. I can feel him looking at me, imploring me to say something. To spare what lives I can. I clear my throat. “Not the crew.”

Both Zeus and Hades turn to me, nearly identical blank expressions on their faces. “What?” Zeus says.

“Not the crew,” I repeat. “We kill Circe and the generals if we have to, but not the rest of the crew. My people can ferry them tothe nearest port outside Olympus.” Zeus opens his mouth as if he’s about to argue, but I’m already pressing forward. “In addition to that, there’s a chance that the information Icarus holds is enough to ensure some—if not all—of Circe’s generals will abandon her. We’re going to try that first before we murder our way through five ships’ worth of leaders.”

Hades raises his brows. “That must be particularly interesting information.”

Yeah, it must be, but I haven’t the slightest clue what it entails. It’s something I should have asked Icarus before coming here, but I was too unwilling to break the silence. I turn to Zeus. “Those are my terms. I agree that this is the best way to deal with Circe. The rest of the Thirteen won’t move quickly enough to stop her from terrorizing the people who remain in the city or attempting to starve us out. If we can remove the threat in one fell swoop, then that’s the most logical step to take, regardless of it requiring a coup. But the fact remains thatCirceis the driving force behind this invasion. There’s no reason not to explore all our options to ensure as many ofourpeople come home as possible.”

“Cut the head off of the snake and all that,” Hades murmurs.

For a moment, it seems like Zeus might argue, but he gives a short nod. “We can’t afford to wait long.”

Hades considers us. Finally, he says, “I’ll lend my people, but there are several conditions. The barrier between the upper and lower city stays up, and I’ll only ask for volunteers. I won’t order my people to cross the river and help an upper city that thinks we’re shit on the bottom of its shoe.”

“We’re one city, Hades.”

“Maybe once upon a time. No longer.”

“We could be again.”

Hades shakes his head. “No, we can’t.” He extends his hand. “But I’m willing to commit to your coup for the space of a single attack. After that, if you don’t step down, Athena won’t be the only one you have to worry about.”

Zeus smiles tightly and shakes his hand. “Noted.”

They both turn to me. I don’t like this. It feels wrong to break the rules, no matter how archaic some of our laws are. I’m honestly surprised there’s not some cleverly hidden bylaw for a situation such as this. The fact that thereisn’tseems to suggest that the founders of the city were just as worried as their descendants are about the legacy titles abusing their power.

They should be worried.

“One night, one battle.” I reluctantly shake first Zeus’s hand and then Hades’s, sealing our fates.

“We need to act fast.” Hades turns away. “Three days, no more. Figure out the details by then.”

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