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)
The Minotaur gives Minos a long look, but that fucker always plays his cards close to his chest. Even knowing him for years, I can’t say for sure if he knew about this before or if he’s only hearing about it now.
Minos leans back. “Don’t you worry about my plan. I—”
“I think it’s time you shared that plan with us.” I glance at the Minotaur. “You would have been in the crosshairs, too, if you’d managed to kill Artemis and take that title. Don’t you want to know what he’s up to?”
He crosses his massive arms over his equally massive chest. “Yes.”
Minos narrows his eyes. “All right, boys. I suppose I can let you in on some of the plan you’ve both managed to fuck up repeatedly.” The words sting, but not as much as they used to. He shakes his head slowly. “Olympus is a ripe fruit to be plucked. They have little experience with anything resembling war; peace has made them soft.”
“We’ve heard the spiel.” I’ve never talked to Minos this way before, but the events of the last couple days keep compounding in my head. Adonis’s uncertainty. The vulnerable look in Aphrodite’s eyes that she wasn’t quite able to hide. Pandora’s fierce words. The worry all three of them share for my safety.
When I came to Olympus, the only thing I cared about was Pandora’s happiness and Minos’s approval. Now, things feel more complicated.
Minos glares. “One of you was supposed to take Ares. The other was intended to use the assassination clause to take another title. With two in the Thirteen, it would have been enough to start the destabilization process. You failed.” He turns that furious look on the Minotaur. “As a result, we had to take a different route. The end outcome is the same. The Thirteen fall, and a new leadership rises in its place.”
A different route. Something having to do with shipments in the harbor. What is he importing? I glare at him. “You mean you’ll rise in its place.”
Minos blinks, true surprise on his face. “Is that what you think, my boy?” He laughs, the sound filling the room. “No, I prefer proximity to power to taking it myself.” He gives me a sly look. “Fewer targets on my back that way.”
Targets like the one currently on my back. Not that he cares. I’ve obviously served my purpose, and he doesn’t give a shit about the potential fallout. I’ve never felt more like a fool than I do in this moment. “If not you in a leadership position, then who?”
“My benefactor.” His smile widens. “Olympus owes her a debt, and she means to collect.”
31
ADONIS
I’m not really surprised when Eris texts me an invite to have lunch with her. We’d been hurtling along before she broke up with me and married Theseus. Crashing into each other and away again. I used to be so sure I knew where we were headed before that point, and then when it ended, I was certain it had ended for good this time.
I’m not sure of anything anymore.
Her building looks exactly the same as it has every other time I’ve come here. There’s no way to tell from the street that violence was committed here just yesterday.
I push through the door and smile. “Hey, Sele.”
“Hey, Adonis.” They tuck a strand of hair behind their ear. “You’re looking good.”
“Thanks.” I examine the new glass divider. If I hadn’t spent a whole lot of time in this place, I don’t know if I’d notice it’s different from the last one. Both have a floral pattern etched into frosted glass. They both even have roses in the design. But it’s not the same. “Is she in her office?”
“Yes, she’s expecting you.” They tap a few keys on their keyboard. “You can go back.”
I find Eris standing in front of her desk, frowning at a bag with takeout in it. She glances up at me, and her eyes go soft. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I wish things could be as easy between us as they used to be, but I’m not sure if it’s even possible. It’s a mistake to wish for that, too, but I don’t care. My heart is already in tatters. Might as well light it on fire. I nod at the bag. “You got us lunch already?”
“Not me.” She goes back to staring at the bag as if it’s a snake ready to strike. “Pandora sent it, along with a bitingly polite note saying she expects me to eat a proper amount and not skip this meal in favor of working.”
I raise my brows. “She knows you well.”
“Apparently.” She sighs and shakes her head. “Sorry, this just threw me. It showed up right as I was about to order for us.” She pokes at the bag tentatively. “There’s enough food here to feed a small army, so I think it should work for the two of us.”