Page 112 of For the Love of the Gods

“Smart ass,” Dominic grumbled as he carried me through the bathroom. “I’ve gotten used to you in my bed. Don’t take that away from me.”

I nodded, only because Dream Dominic sounded like he was pleading. He set me down gently on my side of the bed then pulled the covers over me. He turned my clock, the one he'd once taken from my room after I threw it at him, making sure the light wasn't shining on my face. A second later he was under the sheets with me, tucking me against his side and wrapping both arms around me.

“I’m sorry,” he said, pressing his lips to the top of my head.

“Me too,” I said against his neck, then drifted back to sleep. Restful this time.

†

My temple in Corinth was a monstrosity.

The Nekromanteion.

The name fit, given the dark gray stone looked like rotting flesh in some places. It was a towering dedication to the strength of my House. A reminder that death would come for everyone. That there was no escaping the reach of Dominic and I’s power.

The structure of the temple was standard: tall columns topped with intricate details of flowers and a long rectangular base that came together in a pointed roof. The facade on the front was of the Asphodel fields, barely there carvings of human figures—meant to represent souls—amongst stringy grass. Long banners dropped down in the between the columns, a rich black with gold string weaved through. Five of them, still spelling Hades in Ancient Greek letters.

I instantly wondered if that was a choice or a detail that hadn’t yet been updated. It wasn’t like our marriage wasn’t highly publicized. It only just stopped gracing the news.

I appeared right behind one of the columns, lest I scare off half the city. Only Max came with me, much to both Raiden and Marcus’s chagrin.

To which I responded that this was me talking to a priest who lived to serve me and if that wasn’t a relatively safe situation for me to be in, I didn’t know what was.

Max and I walked through the giant oak doors and into the main temple space. There was a statue of the first namesake, a tall, lean man with long hair and a full beard, holding a staff taller than he was in his right hand and his three-headed dog sitting on his left.

A priest donning rich black robes almost fell over when she saw me. “Lady Hades!”

I almost corrected her. Like a reflex.

“Hello,” I greeted, fighting a smirk. Speaking to humans often made them think you were there to claim their soul. In a twisted way it was hilarious, watching their faces drain of color and expressions turn grim. “I’m here to see Io.”

She nodded quickly and ushered me to the perimeter of the room, behind even more columns, and walked me back to the Io’s office. People stared as I walked, their scrutiny somewhere between fear, awe, and dread. I knew it was likely positive but the attention still made my skin itch.

When we got to the office, Io answered the door as if he was expecting us. Io nodded at the priest, who got the hell out of dodge as quickly as she could, leaving the three of us alone. Max shut the door behind us and went to stand guard by it, their legs widening to a strong stance.

“It’s a pleasure, Lady Pluto,” Io said, gesturing for me to take the chair on the other side of his desk.

“Pleasure’s mine, Io.” I sat, crossing my legs and settling my hands in my lap. “How has summer been for you?”

“Calm, mostly.” Io’s aged voice pinged off the wood and the walls sharply.

I smiled softly. In an attempt to be lighthearted, I said, “I hope thatmostlyhas little to do with my marriage.”

Io crossed his hands over his stomach and the white robes covering it. “It caused quite a ruckus around here.”

“Nothing too chaotic, I imagine,” and then because his tone was inching too close to combative, I added, “Much less chaotic than the Hades line ending all together.”

Io’s mouth tightened, the corner of his lip twitching up. Contempt or a twitch, but too close to call. “We had full faith in your ability to protect this line.”

Oh, Io. It was the same old bullshit with all these loyalists. “It is a well-known fact that Dominic and I are equally matched in power. He’s older, too. The odds between us were equal. We chose the best path for both our Houses.”

And because the Fates said so, but I didn’t add that on.

“You make a strong point, Lady Pluto,” Io conceded, his shoulders dropping an inch.

I grinned, pleased Io knew his place. “Well, now that that is settled, I am here for a different reason.”

Io’s face went tight, fear taking over his features. “I had nothing to do with that nonsense with my grandson.”

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