Page 113 of For the Love of the Gods

I let a full smile show now, maybe it was a little cruel around the edges. “I’m glad to hear that, Io. If you know that, then you’ll also know that we released your other grandson and his conspirator with nothing but a predetermination.”

When they died, they were going straight to the Fields of Punishment for five years, then released to the Meadows. It was fair. Too fair.

“But it has come to our attention that breach might not be an isolated incident,” I continued. “One of our guards was knocked out the day of the breach and was later found to have put poisoned herbs in one of my dresses.”

“That's awful,” Io rushed out, panic slowly creeping into his sunken eyes. “I’m sure that my family had nothing to do with it.”

“That’s what I’m hoping to settle,” I said, then looked back at Max, who pulled an envelope out of their jacket. “I need you to take a look at this photo and tell me if you recognize this man.”

Io nodded quickly, then snatched the photograph the second I placed it on the desk. After a quick perusal, he said, “I have no idea who that is.”

“Good,” I said, switching the cross of my legs. Getting ready to take on the next topic. “I will need you to make sure none of the younger, more courageous family members know him either. He’s Roman, but we both know that is no bar to cooperation.”

Io’s eyes pinched together at my double meaning. “I’ll take it to my family tomorrow, Lady Hades. I won’t have another stain on my family’s name.”

“I feel for your grandson and his love, Io. Death is sometimes hardest on those we leave behind. But the rules of this world cannot be bent, not even for someone who lost their partner too soon.”

Io nodded again, some of the color returning to his face. It was like he thought I was there to kill him, seeking retribution for a far more serious crime.

“Well, I’m glad that’s settled. It has been—” I was cut off by the sound of a brutal crash outside his door. Max turned around and placed an ear to the wood in a heartbeat, trying to figure out what was on the other side of the door.

See, this was why I needed guards. I could fight, but I would have opened that door without thinking. Max pulled back, but didn’t move to open the door.

I stood, opening my mouth to ask them what they heard when a blast shattered the door into a thousand splintered pieces, the force of it throwing Max to the ground and me into the back wall.

Pain radiated down my shoulders and back and I landed too hard on my wrist, agony shooting up my left arm.

Max seemed okay and jumped up like they were barely affected, but that was the least of our worries. A mob of people so large I couldn’t see where they ended started shoving through the door.

It was a crowd of all genders, but they had one thing in common—the absolute rage and disgust in their faces. They were shouting, epithets and curses to my name and the gods in general breaking through the noise.

One thing was crystal clear: this was an organized group of people who really fucking hated the divine.

Max started going after them one at a time, taking them out with swift efficiency. But when one person dropped, another stepped over them and pushed into Io’s office. The second I saw the metal flash of a knife, my stomach plummeted to the floor.

There wasn’t time for figuring out what this was. I tampered my shock and sprang into action. I conjured six Shadowwalkers from the floor, their towering bodies stepping into the room from the darkened corners. I commanded them to start grabbing bodies, pulling them away from where they were closing in on Max.

The color drained from the skin of each person that the Shadowwalkers restrained. Shadowwalkers were the purest creations from the Underworld, and when death touched life, well, it drained it.

But without it, we would be unmatched for too long. And I refused to expose Max to harm.

Just then, bodies started dropping from behind the mob. I caught a flash of blonde and black hair moving through the crowd. Marcus and Raiden.

Fear ebbed slightly. My Shadowwalkers kept me protected, blocking and restraining anyone who made it past Max and leaving a pile of graying bodies at their feet.

Marcus and Raiden were moving closer, subduing the crowd. I kept getting flashes of a dark circle, a tattoo on exposed forearms. Someone else was in Thanatos society robes. I registered the image in the back of my mind with bitter amusement.

Weren’t they supposed to be the ones who loved me the most? I couldn’t entertain that now though, not when my instincts kept me focused on controlling my Shadowwalkers and making sure Max and Raiden and Marcus were okay.

Raiden broke through the crowd a second later, stepping over unconscious bodies. There was blood, which sent my heart racing faster.

But not his. Not his.

As he approached, leaving Max and Marcus to subdue the remaining people, I breathed in, my chest expanding and my throat bobbing outwards to meet a cold bite of metal.

I froze.

The color drained from Raiden’s face and Max whipped around, their expression dire.

---