Page 71 of Sweet Obsession

I don’t know. I don’t fuckingknow. If there was someone else to step into Poseidon’s shoes without completely undermining any attempts to fight Circe, if we weren’t actively under attack, if, if, if. But there’s no one else. Triton’s eldest daughter can be trained, at least enough to take over, and Orion and Polyphemus and the rest can help her settle in and find her feet once I’m gone.

All that takes time, though. I’ll be hard pressed to keep my promise to find Icarus in three months, but the thought of it taking longer is untenable. I have given Olympus everything, have done my best for a city and people who were never supposed to be under my command. For the first time in my life, I want something formeand me alone.

I want Icarus. I want a life at his side, whatever that ends up looking like. I have no preconceived notions. The idea of yearsstretching out without having every detail in place is a little scary, but it means leaving behind the memory of my uncle for good. It means…I get to choose.

In the distance, I can no longer make out Icarus on the deck. I swallow past the sudden tightness in my throat. “Let’s go.”

Ida doesn’t make me say it twice. Ze strides away from me, issuing orders with the ease of someone who’s used to being obeyed. Ze has held zir position for years now and has several ships under zir direct command. It shows.

All too soon, we’re sailing back into Olympian waters. The city looks much like it did when we left, and yet it feels dramatically different. As if this morning is the first in a new era. That’s the kind of superstitious thought process I rarely indulge in, but I can’t shake the feeling that everything has changed.

That sensation solidifies as we reach the docks and the group of Athena’s and Hades’s people waiting for us. Zeus is nowhere to be found, but Athena and Hades stand a careful distance apart as their people file onto the ship and separate into groups, obviously following orders given out while they waited for me to arrive.

I walk down the metal plank to the dock and head to Athena first. “The Aeaeans have been taken care of.”

She nods, her gaze on the ship. “I think it was a mistake to let them go. There’s little enough reason for the other four ships to keep going instead of turning around and picking up where they left off.”

“They won’t.” They’ll have their hands full with Icarus making moves on Aeaea. Even if they were inclined to continue the assault on Olympus, they’ll have to choose a course of action to prioritizeand it will certainly be their home.

“We’ll see.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “We have no idea where Circe is. It’s a problem.”

“More than a problem.” I twist and look toward the city center, even though I can’t see Dodona Tower from this position. “Zeus?”

She smiles tightly. “He’s going to call a meeting officially relinquishing control of his coup.”

“I’m sure the rest of the Thirteen will love that.”

“Undoubtedly.”

Especially Hera. But she’s not my problem any longer. Our alliance is at its end. I want to believe she wouldn’t have gone behind my back and opened the gates for Circe, but I can’t say it with any amount of surety. She’s ruthless to a fault, and if she thinks she can save her family, there’s no depths she won’t descend to.

Hades shifts closer, his expression unreadable. “I’ll leave some of my people here to assist with things—and continue reporting to me—but I’m returning to the lower city.” To his people and his pregnant wife.

I extend my hand. “Thank you for your help tonight.” I have no doubt Zeus would want to press the importance of continuing with a legacy-title alliance, even without a coup in the works, but I don’t bother saying it. Hades knows everything I do; it’s why he’s here. He’ll show up when we need him next time, too.

“Keep me updated.”

“I will.” I watch him leave and then glance at Athena. “Do you need me here for this?”

“Go.” She waves me away. “I know how to reach you if I need you.”

I go. After a brief internal debate, I call Orion and Polyphemus and tell them to meet me at the main house. After a longer internal debate, I call Pallas.

It’s early but she answers on the third ring. “Hello?”

“It’s Poseidon.”

“Yes, I know. What can I do for you?”

This is the moment of no return. If I hand over the title, I’ll lose the control it gives me. I won’t be able to protect the people under my command any longer. I’ll have to trust that my read on Pallas is correct and that she’ll step up with enough support. I had intended to hold this title until my dying day, but…Gods, I’m tired. I didn’t even realize how tired until I shared the burden with another person for a few days. No, not just another person. WithIcarus.

“I would like you to come to the house for a meeting. Now, if you’re available.”

She’s quiet for a moment, and then says, “Okay. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

There’s no going back now. No time to second-guess myself. “I’ll see you shortly.” I hang up and head for my SUV.

Twenty minutes later, the four of us are closed in my rarely used study as I outline my plan. Orion and Polyphemus are shocked, but it’s Pallas who speaks first. “But…are you sure? You’rePoseidonand I’m just—”

---