Hades’s fist flies at my illusion’s face, so I mist the creation to his opposite side.
“Fighting me won’t fix this,” I go on. “Work with me instead, Hades. Let me prove to you how much of an ally I can be.”
“I don’t need you as an ally,” he returns flatly.
I’m about to reply when the world shifts, my illusionfading away into smoke as I suddenly find my throat gripped by Hades’s palm.
“You’re right about us being equals,” he says as he materializes fully in front of me. “You’re wrong to assume that I want to work with you in any capacity.”
Now my jaw is the one that clenches.
Because he’s cut off my air supply, thus making it impossible to reply.
So I manifest another version of myself and have the illusion do the talking for me. “Wanting to and needing to are very different phrases,” my replica says.
Hades’s gaze narrows even more, and his fist flies out to punch my illusion in the face while his opposite hand releases my throat. “I know,” he growls, taking a step back. “That doesn’t mean I accept any of this.”
I massage my neck, my vocal cords still feeling constricted from his residual touch.
So my illusion responds for me with “Unfortunately, fate isn’t giving you much of a choice.”
He grunts at that and turns away from me, his fingers combing through his dark hair as he begins to pace.
I retract my power, the image of me disappearing as the beach comes into full view once more.
Hades continues to walk an angry path back and forth by the water while I wait for my throat to heal. When I’m seconds away from being able to speak again, he says, “I need to check on the Netherworld.”
My eyebrow arches. “Oh?”
I assume his word choice of “need” is purposeful. Because, yes, he really should ensure his kingdom is all right. Just as heneedsto work with me. Both obligations, and for somewhat related reasons. Yet entirely different ones, too.
“Ossa,” he says, his voice seeming to carry on the windas he appears to ignore my presence. Though, I’m aware he murmured the name aloud on purpose. Because he could have called his beast to him with his mind rather than his voice.
I take a step back just as a three-headed monstrosity appears on the beach, the paws pounding across the sand as Hades’s creature adheres to his every command.
“You know the rules here,” he says conversationally, his focus on the one with silver eyes and a matching collar around the fluffy neck. “Keep your brothers in line.”
Ossa dips her head, while Howl and Mort both loll their tongues to the side, like they think the order is a joke.
“Guard our Omega with your life,” he says, and I know he’s referring tohisOmega that he’s sharing withhiscreature.
But I choose to believe he meansouras inHades’s and myOmega. Because she is indeedours.
“And, Pip,” Hades goes on, calling the little soul over to him. “Alert Maliki of any issues first, then come find me in the Netherworld. Understood?”
The little soul gives a salute and proceeds to march off with a purpose, his cloak stomping in the wind beneath his invisible feet.
Howl glances at the cloaked figure with interest, but Ossa snaps at him. I assume she’s telling the playful head to focus instead of considering a chaotic game of chase.
Mort cocks his head as well, and Ossa growls.
Hades sighs in response and looks at me. “We had better make this quick. I don’t know how successful this guarding mission will be.”
“We?” I echo.
“Yes,we,” he replies. “You wanted to prove yourself as an ally, right? Cleaning up the Netherworld seems like a good place to start.” Then he disappears.
My lips twitch. This isn’t what I meant at all, and he knows it. But I’m not about to turn down an opportunity to show off my talents. Especially when it means punching some old Alpha enemies. If I get to “accidentally” hit Hades a few times in the process, all the more fun.
