High-pitched laughter filled the air. Cyane flinched, not finding it funny at all, not since her stolen drink very much had a bottom, and she had found it all too soon.
“Will you remain to greet our beautiful Queen Persephone on the morrow?” Hades asked.
“I would be honored, my lord. Will this new beauty of yours be with us?”
“She will be at the front of the procession. After me, of course, but I fear I will lose Persephone’s attention once she sees Cyane.”
What?Cyane’s eyes snapped back to Hades, albeit unwillingly. She didn’t want to meet the Goddess of Spring, not like that, and not so soon. If she knew anything about the goddesses of Olympus, it was that their jealousy and possessiveness were not a thing to incite.
Was that the answer to her question? Was that Hades’s intention all along?
Was she being used to incite jealousy?
A new cup of wine appeared in Dionysus’s hand. He offered it to her this time. “Here mortal, drink to your heart’s desire tonight. The morrow will be interesting, indeed, and I am even more honored to be in attendance.”
Cyane took the cup, and the other one vanished. She gripped it with white fingers.
Hades scoffed. “Leave us, Dionysus. I won’t have you corrupt Cyane’s mind this night. We are not yet done talking.”
“Yes, my lord.” Dionysus bowed again. He turned to the women behind him with an exuberant dance, and they all tumbled into each other with perverse delight, their laughter far less happy and more dangerously gleeful. Cyane couldn’t help but think it was because of her.
She peered down at the wine in her hand and set it on the floor beside her, no longer wanting it. When the giggles disappeared, and Dionysus departed with his lusty broads, she felt Hades’s attention return.
Cyane ignored them as best she could.I could still find Melinoe, find Cerberus, and get the information the goddess wanted.Maybe Cyane would take her chance at running—if she had the help of a goddess—but something niggling told her not to trust Melinoe. Especially not now that the goddess witnessed Cerberus having sex with her.
Even a blind zombie could tell the Goddess of Nightmares had feelings for Cerberus.
Cyane bit her tongue and steadied herself, turning to Hades. “What do you plan for me?” It hurt asking.
The corner of his devilish lips curled upwards. “Nothing.”
“Why then…why am I here?”
“To serve,” he said, offering no comfort.
“Serve how?”
“You are here for one reason and one reason only.” Hades’s voice slithered into her ear, dark and full of warning. “Your very existence depends on that reason. The fact that you haven’t even inquired about your previous life sits ill with me, but know that it was because of you that Demeter discovered I took her daughter.”
Because of me?
Hades turned fully toward her. “I do not easily forget nor do I easily forgive, Cyane. I gave you a new life for one purpose, and one purpose only—to ensure I have an heir.”
The music roared, and Cyane’s hands went slack. The cup she thought she put aside was returned to her, now empty. Had she picked it back up? Had she drunk it without realizing? Her mouth tasted of wine.
“Rest and be ready tomorrow,” Hades said. “Your service begins tomorrow.”
Her world grew dark. She welcomed it.
It was better than being here.
But Hades’s voice was clear despite that descending darkness; just before oblivion swallowed her, she heard him say, “And Cyane, father or no, I’m not without mercy. You’ll realize that soon enough.”
The Hours Before
Someone carried her.The feel of plated armor dug into her side, but then it was gone, and she was placed on something soft and warm. Warm bodies moved to lie next to her, and a familiar scent filtered into her nose.
Dog.
