Meanwhile, my brother continued to grovel. I felt for him. Truly, I did. But I also wanted this to be over.Hmm, how do I bring up the curse casually?
“So, uh, Bro.” I cleared my throat.
Apollo stopped apologizing to Ace and looked at me.
“Uh, how about you lift my curse, and we can call it square?”
Apollo narrowed his stare at me.
“You want me to forgive you when you can't forgive your own sister after you've tortured herfor centuries?” Ace shook his head at his father. “You're a fucking hypocrite.”
Apollo's expression went slack.
“Hey!” I pointed at Ace. “Don't you speak to your father like that! You should understand how a murdered lover can make you crazy. He lost his shit. That's true. But it's because helost someone he loved. Cut him some slack. In his own, stupid, dumb, idiotic—”
“We get it,” Apollo growled.
“—asinine way, he was trying to protect you.”
“Are you seriously taking the side of the man who cursed you to be mortal, and then murdered you in every incarnation?”
I shrugged. “He's my brother.” I looked at Helios. “And I love him. You were my first great love, Helios—the man I measured all others by. I thought it was Ace, but he was just an echo of you.”
“Eew,” Ace whispered.
“Not like that!” I snapped. Then I looked back at Helios. “Like a brother.”
Helios sighed and held a hand out to me.
I rushed into his embrace.
“What the fuck is happening?” Hades muttered. “What the actual fuck is happening right now?”
“I'm so sorry, He-he,” I whispered.
“Oh, Le-le. I've missed you.” Helios started to weep.
“I love you, Brother.”
“I love you too.”
“What the fuck?!” Ace shouted. “This is bullshit!”
“Son, please. I'm reuniting with my sister. Can you give us a moment?”
Ace and Hades gaped at each other.
Helios and I stepped out of our hug to stare at each other. Then we burst out laughing.
“Just tell me this is over. Are my boys safe?” Hades growled.
“They are,” Ace said. “And I'm so sorry, Lord Hades. I was misled. If there is any way for me to make it up to you, I will do it. Just name it.”
Hades sighed and grimaced, his expression so sour that I couldn't help laughing again. He shifted his glare to me, then back at Ace. “You will release the humans you have enslaved.”
“Yes, Lord Hades. Absolutely.”
“And you will offer recompense to the Cerberuses you've endangered. Monetary recompense.”
