Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Apollo huffs out a breath. “No. Minos has her under lock and key. She’s not even active online right now.”
Damn it, I haven’t texted Eurydice about Ariadne. I completely forgot in the midst of everything that happened yesterday. I slip my phone out of my purse and type out a quick message asking for an update. It’s entirely possible she hasn’t made more progress than Apollo, but I need to know.
My phone vibrates in my hand almost immediately. While Apollo and my brother keep speaking, I glance down.
Eurydice: I’m taking her to the club tonight.
Holy shit. She’s really doing it.
Me: Keep me updated, please.
Eurydice: Of course. I’ll call tomorrow.
I place my phone back in my purse. Eurydice and Ariadne is still a long shot, even if she’s making more progress than Apollo on that front right now. Ariadne might have warned Apollo about her father’s plans, but that doesn’t mean she knows more about what his next steps are than Pandora does.
Offering this information to the gathered people will sign my husband’s death warrant. If they think they have another way to strike at Minos, they won’t bother with Hephaestus. “There is no other way.”
“That remains to be seen.” Perseus looks at me. “Three days, Aphrodite.”
Helen shifts. “None of that changes the threat we’re facing right now. Increased security is in place for all members of the Thirteen who accepted my offer, but it’s only a matter of time before one of these attempts succeeds. They might not successfully engage the clause, but they could very well kill one of us. If that happens, it will only increase the frenzy.”
“Then ensure it doesn’t happen while we figure this out.” Perseus says it like it’s as easy as that. “Ideas to turn the tide?”
“We need to give them something else to fight.” There’s a flush in Helen’s cheeks from our brother’s rebuke, but her voice is steady.
Athena shakes her head. “Yes, but more than that. A common enemy will unite the city.”
“A common enemy won’t work.” Apollo drags his hands over his face. He’s been working long hours and it shows. Unlike my siblings, he hasn’t bothered to try to hide his exhaustion. “It might bring the majority of people in line, but the majority of people aren’t attempting murder right now. The citizens who have always wanted to be one of the Thirteen, have always believed that they deserve it, will keep coming.” He sighs. “We have to go public about the barrier. It’s the best chance we have.”
“No.” We all look at my brother as he speaks. His expression doesn’t move. “That is not an option.”
“It’s the only option.” Apollo glares. “They need to know we have bigger things to worry about than petty power squabbles inside the city. Not even these murderous fools would want to be in charge in the event that the barrier falls.”
“Find another way.”
Athena sighs. “He’s right, Apollo. If they think the barrier is falling, it will only increase the chaos. People will panic. Some will try to leave, which will either be impossible or weaken the barrier further. We don’t have the answers for why it’s failing, which will only undermine our authority. We can’t tell them.”
“Three days,” I find myself saying. “Give me three days to turn my husband and find something on Minos. Even if you kill Hephaestus, it won’t help the overall climate of the city, and it might just make things worse.” I look around the room. “Take the next three days and see if you can come up with a better plan.”
Perseus pushes to his feet. “I’m sure you all have places to be.”
Everyone reluctantly stands. I already know what’s coming, so I don’t flinch when he says, “Aphrodite, a word.”
Helen squeezes my hand as she slips through the door after Apollo and Athena, closing it softly behind her. I cross my arms over my chest. My brother doesn’t make me wait long.
Perseus plants his hands on the desk and leans forward. “Are you compromised?”
I flinch. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Are you really asking me that? Of all the people in the room, my loyalty should be beyond question.”
“You’re right. It should be.”
A harsh laugh bursts free. Gods, I didn’t expect his doubt to sting quite so badly. “I have done just as much as you for this city. More, even, because your wife is an Olympian citizen and doesn’t threaten to murder you on a regular basis.”
He doesn’t blink. “You’d be surprised.”
Actually, I wouldn’t. Callisto Dimitriou is fucking terrifying.
But she’s not who we’re talking about right now. My skin heats, and I do my best to keep my expression as locked down as my brother’s. He’s always been better at this particular skill set than I have, and he proves it now.
“I am not compromised,” I say through gritted teeth. I might be suffering from permanent indigestion and need to have my heart looked at by a doctor, but I am not some naive innocent who will let my tangled emotions color my actions. “I have always done what’s best for Olympus, and I will continue to do so.”