Everything is waiting for me, just as I instructed. There’s a vanity set up with my preferred products so I can refresh my hair and makeup. I’m not changing my clothing; it’s important the people of Olympus continue to see me as one of them rather than an idol who strives to set herself above them. My leggings and slouchy sweater with boots will accomplish what I need them to do. If the leggings are high-end wool and the sweater is cashmere…well.
And the most important part: There’s a white woman, bound and gagged, on the floor in the corner. She’s certainly seen better days. Her previously immaculate blond hair sticks up in wild directions, and her makeup is smeared around hateful blue eyes.
My smile gains warmth and satisfaction as I ignore Demeter’ssharp inhale and cross to my captive. I crouch just out of reach and croon, “Hello, Aphrodite. Or should I say Peitho. Did you miss me?”
4Hermes
As expected, I find Poseidon at the docks. He’s barely left the place since he returned from escorting the Aeaean soldiers to the ship that will carry them—and his lover, Icarus—back to their island. There are no shipments coming in and out despite the blockade being gone, but Poseidon always looks after his people first, and he’s set up a mutual-aid network to ensure folks are fed while the work is suspended.
He’s in his office with his second-in-command, Orion, and his niece—and heir—Pallas. All three look up when I walk in the room, even pausing to knock on the doorframe because I can be polite when the situation calls for it.
Poseidon pushes slowly to his feet. It takes quite a long time.He’s a tall white man with moon-pale skin dotted with constellations of freckles and a shock of red hair and beard. He’s also got that sexy strong-fat body thing going on, if one is into folks of the masculine persuasion. I can be for the right person, but Poseidon has certainly never been that.
“It was a mistake for you to come here.” He rumbles out the statement, a flush of anger spreading over his face. “Orion, take her.”
“That’s not a good idea.” I step sideways, easily dodging Orion’s grasp. They’re fast, but they’re no soldier. They also look tired as shit, their light-brown skin waxy with exhaustion. “I’m not here to fight, and it would be a shame if I had to hurt one of your people because you’re too stubborn to listen to me.”
Orion grits their teeth and tries to grab me again. “Come quietly.”
“Not a single time in my life.” I waggle my eyebrows, but it feels half-hearted. Flirting outrageously is only fun when your ex isn’t storming the city and threatening all of your friends. Many of them might not consider me a friend any longer, but even if they hate me in the end, they don’t deserve to be hurt.
Poseidon taps his fingers against his big thigh, a sure sign he’s getting agitated. “I don’t have time for this.”
“You’re right. You don’t.” I duck under Orion’s reach and step behind where Pallas stands. She’s a beautiful woman who, thankfully, takes after her mother with her delicate features and long, straight black hair rather than her late father, Triton. “Circe is back in the city.”
“So everyone has been saying.” He starts around the desk. “Stay away from Pallas.”
“Poseidon,listen to me.” I drop the playful act and straighten.“Have you spoken with Zeus in the last day or two?”
“Briefly.” He hesitates, seeming to finally be willing to listen. At least a little. He narrows his eyes. “He said a lot of things—including the fact that you want to demolish the Thirteen and set up a new government in its place.”
I curse myself for showing my hand too early, but gods, it’s like herding cats trying to get the Thirteen to do anything, including save themselves. I knew Zeus wouldn’t listen when I attempted to talk sense into him before, but I had to try. Of course he would start listeningnow, when it’s almost too late.
“The Thirteen are going to fall, Poseidon. It’s inevitable at this point. Circe has the people behind her, and if you’ve done your best to be a good leader, the majority of them—of us—haven’t. The people are angry. It’s a small miracle she hasn’t come for you yet.” I motion to Pallas. “Youandyour young cousins.”
Poseidon might hate most of the realities that come with being one of the Thirteen, but he’s no fool. He makes the connection instantly. “You mean anyone who could become Poseidon.”
“She won’t allow the legacy titles to continue.”
He curses. “Our family line includes dozens of people beyond Triton’s daughters. Surely she won’t…” He shakes his head sharply. “What am I saying? Of course she will. Shehasto. Any other option leaves open a door that she clearly wants shut.”
“You don’t have much time,” I say softly. “The only chance you and yours have is to seek sanctuary in the lower city. Or better yet, leave Olympus entirely. Today. Now.”
“And then what? We couldn’t manage to unify to defend the city from Circe’s blockade, which was a clear and present danger.Even if I go to the lower city, it will be more spiraling arguments that go nowhere. They won’t dissolve the Thirteen.” He meets my gaze. “If everything you’ve said is true, there’s no safety for anyone in my family, even if we leave the city. Circe won’t allow us to settle peacefully somewhere else. Will you? Even if I believe you don’t want anyone—else—dead, how long does that thread of nobility last, Hermes?”
That’s a question I’ve asked myself in the dark of the night. My hands aren’t free of blood, and I’m too jaded to believe the ends justify the means. It’s a lie people use to comfort themselves, as if that’s enough to keep the nightmares at bay. I know better.
Even so, that doesn’t mean I’m a fan of wholesale slaughter as long as there’s another option. The problem is that we’re running out of options. I square my shoulders. “If you don’t get your people behind the barrier in the lower city or out of Olympus entirely, you won’t be alive to find out the answer to that question.”
He nods slowly. “I’ll think about it.”
“Think fast.” I eye Orion and start to slide past them to the door. “You’re running out of time.” I can’t force him to listen to me, but I’d actually be sad if Poseidon died. He and Apollo are both too damned honorable for this city. If they survive the conflict brewing in the university district, I hope they actually get the fuck out of this city, once and for all.
I barely make it out of the shipyard before my phone buzzes against my hip. It’s not a text this time. When I realized Circe would set up her base in the university, I created a series of triggers to notify me when she streamed to the large screens being set up around the quad.
She’s streaming now.
My foolish heart lodges in my throat, bloody and beating hard enough to choke on. She looks good, if tired. It’s calculated, I’m sure, to appear more approachable. One of them. Sheisone of them, or at least was a very long time ago. I was, too. Her short blond hair is perfectly styled and her makeup is sparse, having made no attempt to cover up the circles beneath her green eyes. She’s wearing normal enough clothing, too, in an attempt to be one of the people.
