Cronus’ entire body went rigid when he saw Zeus, fighting the urge to rip his head off. I reached out and stroked his arm.
#DownBoy
“Well, well…” Zeus looked at me, his nasty gaze running the length of my body, stopping on my stomach. “That’s interesting.”
“Don’t even look at her,” Cronus said shortly. “Did Hyperion tell you about the games?”
Zeus nodded, stroking the necklace at his throat, eyes still on me. “You want the sins.”
Cronus stepped in front of me, preventing Zeus from looking at me any longer. “I want your fucking head in a blender, but I’ll settle for the sins.”
I peered around Cronus’ shoulder to find Zeus grinning. “The gods and the Titans,” he mused. “What a glorious event. We will finally see who is more powerful.”
The sky darkened then, lightning cracking as it threw shadows across the gods’ faces.
“Oh I think we already know that answer. Without the sins you’re no match for me,” Cronus said arrogantly.
Zeus’ eyes went black. “Really?”
Narida, who had just reappeared covered in dirt and sticks, cleared her throat. “So the terms will be set with a blood oath. Winner of the games gets the trunk and necklace containing all nine sins.” I saw the glint of a small dagger in her palm. “They also get the bragging rights of who is the most powerful. Age old question, right?” She looked between Cronus and Zeus. “Titan or god. Who is truly the strongest?”
Wow, the old bitch was actually helping us. Nothing played on Zeus’ competitiveness more than trying to usurp a Titan. Especially the one he thought was his father.
Cronus nodded. “I agree.”
Zeus was silent for a moment. “In this situation, I am bringing more to the table. I already have the sins, so there must be an incentive for me to play. What do I get if I win? Other than bragging rights?”
Cronus’ hands clenched into fists at his side, so tightly I could hear his knuckles crack. “You get to keep the sins, we won’t fight you for them, and I won’t kill you.”
He’d very deliberately usedIthere for a reason.
Zeus frowned. “Tempting, but…” His eyes snapped to me. “I want her. I could use a new wife, and I haven’t had a child in so long. She’s obviously a good breeder.”
Everything happened so fast then I couldn’t track it. The sky exploded in lightning, thunder, and rain. Cronus was a blur in front of me, lurching toward Zeus. Luckily, Hyperion managed to zoom out of nowhere and yank his best friend back.
“Focus on the sins,” he whispered to Cronus.
Wife? Breeder?
#HellToTheFuckingNo #IDontHaveBreederHips
Zeus was disgusting. The thought of ever touching him made me sick to my stomach. But what if we said no and he walked? He would take the sins with him, and no doubt would eventually release them into the world again.
“Those are my terms,” Zeus declared casually. “Maisey as my wife and the unborn child transferred to me. Think about it. You know where to find me.” Hepoofedout of existence.
Cronus looked me dead in the eyes. “I’m sorry, love. I know you like Earth and the humans, but I’m going to kill Zeus now, and if the world perishes in the process, then so be it.”
Wait, what?
“NO!” I jumped forward and gripped his arm so if he flashed out of here he would bring me with him.
“Maisey, love, let go.” There was fire in his eyes, and I knew without a doubt that if I removed my hand, he would disappear to kill Zeus, starting a war with the gods, which would release the sins upon the Earth and probably destroy us all.
“Cronus, listen to me.” I reached up and touched both sides of his face, forcing him to look down at me. “What world do you want to give our baby girl? A broken one? With no playmates?”
Not to mention … Mommy needed some playdates to drink wine and talk about parenting. That’s what you did at those things, right? If all the humans were dead, I wouldn’t have that.
Cronus looked around the forest. “This one looks fine. We’ll give our daughter this one.”
