Page 50 of Sweet Obsession

“No, she won’t. And we should all be worrying aboutwhyshe’s still out there.”

It’s nothing more than I was thinking earlier, but hearing it echoed in Demeter’s voice has the small hairs on the back of myneck rising. I wanted to attribute Circe’s hesitation to her giving us a way to remove civilians or to her arrogance about the Thirteen’s constant squabbling, but it doesn’t feel right. She’s already created a tumultuous and unsafe environment in Olympus with her machinations, which has put civilians in danger, directly and indirectly.

“Demeter,” I say slowly. “Post sentries around the borders of the civilian camp.”

“You think she’s going to send some of her soldiers to harm the civilians the same way she did Hades in the lower city.”

“It’s possible I’m being paranoid.”

She chuckles. “Are you truly paranoid when our enemy has proven to be clever and ruthless?” She pauses for a beat. “We are keeping order in the camp, and that includes guards around the edges to dissuade anyone from taking advantage.”

I release the breath I’d been holding. “That’s good to hear.”

“We both want the same thing, even if we’re going about it in different ways. We’ll figure this out and then we’ll crush the bitch.” Voices in the background. “I’m sorry, Poseidon, but I’ve got to go.”

“Be safe.”

“You too.”

I set my phone down but pick it back up almost immediately. I don’t like what Hera is attempting, don’t like not knowing how far she’ll go, but there’s one part of this whole thing I don’t understand, and I won’t be able to move forward until I do. Before I can talk myself out of it, I call Zeus.

Like Demeter, he answers on the first ring. “Problem?”

I’ll never admit it aloud, but it’s a strange sort of relief to deal with Zeus during this time of crisis.Hedoesn’t bother with wastefulsmall talk. “Before we move forward with tonight, I have a question, and I want an honest answer.”

“A plan that will benefit all of Olympus.”

I flush, but I’ve been dealing with the Thirteen for twenty years. I’m not going to fold over a sharp question, no matter how valid. “Yes.”

He sighs. “Very well. Ask.”

No going back now. “To hear you tell it, you knew of Hera’s rebellion from the start and chose not to intervene until now. Why? Why did you allow Hera’s plans to move forward?”

His silence reigns as the seconds tick by into minutes. I check and make sure the call hasn’t dropped—or he hasn’t hung up on me. Finally, he says, “Because I was the only one she intended to kill.”

I don’t want to understand…but I do. I laugh hoarsely, and then louder, the sound gaining a thread of hysteria. He waits me out, once again silent as I try to regain control of myself. My chest feels too tight, my brain not firing properly. What are wedoingamong the Thirteen?

“Are you done?”

Apparently I am. “You and she really are on the same side, aren’t you?”

“My wife doesn’t see things that way.” He continues before I can ask another question. “It’s a moot point. Her values have changed and she’ll let the city burn to save her mother and sisters. I won’t, no matter how little the city in question appreciates it. Are you satisfied?”

“Yes.” There’s no other answer. He’s right. I agreed to Hera’s initial plan to kill Zeus for the same reason—to save the city. Nowthat she’s stepped over the line and her priorities have narrowed so dramatically, I can’t continue to side with her. “We’ll have your boats ready. If things go well, you’ll only be fighting one ship’s worth of leaders instead of five.”

“We’ll see.” He hangs up before I can say anything else, which is just as well. There’s nothing else to say. We only have to get the pieces in order.

I turn my chair to survey Icarus. His chest still rises and falls in a steady rhythm. Orion will deliver the clothing I requested in the morning. Until then, there’s little to do but wait. I lean away and lace my fingers behind my back, popping my spine. I can’t help the faint groan that slips free in response.

“There’s room on the couch, big guy.”

I smile even as I tell myself not to. “I thought you were asleep.”

“I was.” He yawns and rolls to his side, creating a tiny sliver of space that will certainlynotfit me. “Come here.”

I pause long enough to set my alarm on my phone and then arrange myself on the couch. Not next to him but pulling him up to sprawl on my chest. I like him like this, fitted perfectly against me, his weight a comforting pressure against my chest, keeping me firmly in my body. I stroke my hand down his spine. “Comfortable?”

“Yeah.” He presses his face to my throat and inhales deeply. “Thank you. For…everything. I don’t deserve your kindness, but I’ll try to deserve it. I promise.” His words go syrupy and slow toward the end, trailing off into a cute little snore.

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