Page 7 of For the Love of the Gods

“How could I when you so lovingly remind me every ten seconds,” I responded, sarcastic and not at all bitter. Adrian had the right to assert his authority, especially when he had been thrust into a brutal spotlight from the moment he was born.

The gods in both the Roman and Greek lines were always treated as famous in their own right, publicized as much as the human’s celebrities and governments did. There was an air of mystery and authority around us all, knowing we controlled the way the world worked, from Adrian’s control of the Upperworld all the way down to the Morpheus heir’s control over their dreams, but left the volatile change of politics up to the humans.

In the years past, the appeal wore off a little, the humans content to push our ancient houses into the background out of resentment or fear or whatever they decided warranted a cold shoulder. But Adrian, in his infernal glory as the shaker of worlds, turned the attention back on the entire godly system.

It wore on him. Shit, I was at my wits end half the time with that nonsense and people cared about me only half as much as him.

Adrian’s temper seemed to be eased by amusement as he said, “I need to find some enjoyment in this shit storm. And the look on your face is giving me exactly that.”

I sighed, pushing back so I could drop my head into my hands and prop my elbows on my knees. “This is ridiculous.”

“Really? I think it's brilliant.”

“Do you now?”

“Oh, certainly,” Adrian said. If he didn’t cut the cheerful tone in two seconds I was about to punch him. “This makes my life so much easier. I was worried I’d have to speak at your funeral soon.”

“You thought Rose would kill me?” I was so baffled I had to repeat, “Me?”

Adrian looked at me like it was an obvious answer. “You would have a fighting chance but she’s an evil little thing. She’d get the jump on you and then bye bye Dominic.”

“I hate you.”

“You hate her,” Adrian noted, raising an eyebrow at me in an expression of Fates knew what.

“That is also true.” He was right, of course. And he hated her too.

The only person who might have rivaled Adrian’s notoriety was Rose. The outcome of the Hades and Pluto powerlines was a subject of sick infatuation by humans, constantly betting over who would take power or fade out into oblivion.

The news of Pine’s death and the fact that Rose was the one to end her brother’s life spread like wildfire, burning into every corner of good society and launching her into infamy.

The gods were no secret to killing, but the story of a younger sister killing her own brother in cold blood and showing no remorse for the act painted a very clear picture.

Not to mention their father passed under mysterious circumstances not a week later. She was the perfect Lady Death, reflecting every stereotype and rumor about the heartless, evil ways of the Underworld.

“I must say I’m rather relieved to hear this,” Adrian said, letting a touch of sincerity into his tone. He was actually in support of this. “Marriage is much simpler than having to stomp out the anger from the other side if one of you dies.”

I nodded silently in agreement before Adrian continued. “Were you doing this just for my sake or do you have another motive?”

I leaned forward on my desk and offered the explanation I had decided justified this. “It’s rational.”

“Of course,” Adrian nodded in sarcastic understanding.

The fucker was going to make me explain this. “No one has made her pay for what she did to Pine. She just walks around in his house reaping the benefits.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly, his own anger at the loss of our friend building. “And you are going to be the one to make her pay.”

I nodded again, the necessity of this arrangement becoming increasingly clear.

“How’s that?” Adrian prompted, clearly wanting me to walk him through this. He was smart enough to work through it himself, but he was an ass and would make me say it.

“Destroy everything she loves,” I said, quickly, like it should have been obvious. “Seems simple enough to me.”

“And if she doesn’t love anything?” A fair question, given the chances Rose was actually soulless were high.

“Everything she likes, then.” Easy, rational, necessary.

“Well,” Adrian said, rising from his chair dramatically. “It seems like you have this all sorted out.”

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