Chapter 17
POSEIDON
‘Ifeel the women will be safest in the Underworld,’ Hades said, swirling his whisky with casual detachment.
‘They will be just as safe in Genesion,’ I snapped.
‘True,’ he conceded. ‘But—’ his eyes pinned mine, serious and unreadable, ‘this entire situation is a clusterfuck courtesy of Ixion. The assassin—’
‘Cordelia,’ I bit out.
‘Cordelia,’ he corrected, unbothered. ‘She and her sister need more than just protection—they need comfort. Stability. Familiarity. Persephone and Hecate can provide that. Temporarily, of course… until things settle.’
I exhaled heavily. He wasn’t wrong. As much as it made my blood itch to agree, the Underworld—with Persephone’s calming presence and Hecate’s magic—would offer both girls a level of care I couldn’t replicate in Genesion.
‘I’ll stay with them,’ I said. ‘Split my time between your kingdom and mine. But I won’t leave Cordelia for long.’
‘I didn’t think you would,’ he drawled, lifting a dark brow. ‘You’re already circling her like a storm. Can’t stay away.’
I didn’t rise to the bait. Not worth it.
‘I’ll inform Minos of the shift in plans. Jason can return to Genesion to assist him. Ajax, Theseus, and Perseus will remain with me. They’ll move between realms as needed. Theseus has already started going through Drakos’s affairs. The Mayfair offices were—’
‘Empty,’ Hades finished, unsurprised. ‘Ixion covers his tracks too well.’
He took a sip, then added, ‘Persephone was disappointed our break was cut short, but she’s returned home to help Hecate and Hedone with coronation preparations.
We’ve expedited it.’ His eyes gleamed—not the usual sharp glitter of calculation, but something else.
Something suspiciously like joy. It looked strange on him, but he had his consort-to-be back, so fate had treated him kindly.
Fate, on the other hand, was afoot in my life, sending it into chaos—a lightning bolt in the form of a little assassin that shattered the neat, godly composure I’d maintained for centuries.
I tried not to think of her rejecting me.
Yes, I had claimed her, but I wanted—needed—her to accept and want me as much as I craved her.
I could barely concentrate because of the alien need to protect her. What the fuck was going on with me?
I couldn’t love her. The thought was preposterous. But that fucking warm, persistent hum in my chest told another story entirely.
Shit. What a mess.
‘I’ll return to the Underworld. I’ll see you there.’ Hades said, rising from his chair with the grace of a wraith. ‘I’ll leave Erebus and Thanatos to help guard the women until you are ready to depart.’
‘I’ll let Cordelia know the plan, then head to Genesion with Jason to brief Minos on the temporary arrangement.’ I downed the last of my drink and stood. Hades gave me his signature cold bastard smile. I scowled in return before leaving to find her.
She was in the kitchen, fixing a drink.
‘How’s Guinn?’ I asked softly.
Cordelia yelped, spun around, knife in hand, eyes wild.
‘Godsdammit!’ She slapped a hand to her chest. ‘Don’t just appear like some poltergeist; I’m a little jumpy right now with everything that’s happened, and Ixion, and…’ She sighed, sheathing the knife, and picked up her mug. ‘Guinn’s fine. Sleeping. But what now, if we can’t go back to London?’
‘That’s what I came to discuss. Let’s sit.’ I gestured to the table and took the chair opposite her. ‘You and Guinn are going to the Underworld.’
She froze, blinked, and held up a hand. ‘The Underworld?’
‘Yes. It’s the safest place right now. It’s a temporary precaution until we find out more about Ixion, and let the dust settle.’
‘The Underworld,’ she repeated, her tone incredulous. ‘It feels a bit… extreme. I’m not a coward, Si. I won’t go into hiding. And besides, isn’t that place crawling with dead people?’
I chuckled. ‘Not just the dead. You'll be safe. Guinn will be safe. That’s what matters.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘This is emotional blackmail.’
I knew her sister was her Achilles heel. Manipulation was another inbuilt trait of the gods, but I’d use any method to keep her from harm. ‘No. This is survival. Hecate and Persephone will be there. Hades thought female company would help.’
‘I don’t need “female company”. I’m not fifteen.’
‘Guinn is,’ I said gently.
Cordelia sighed and raked a hand through her hair. ‘Fine. Temporarily. But I want my life back, Si. I won’t stay buried like some scared rat.’ Her jaw set in that way I was beginning to know well—defiance radiating from her in waves.
‘Persephone is Hades’ wife, isn’t she?’ she asked, her curiosity cutting through her resistance.
‘His consort-to-be. The coronation is soon. But yes, she’s… his.’
‘She must have some big balls to put up with him. He scares the crap out of me.’
I snorted a laugh. ‘He scares you?’ Cordelia nodded. ‘Are you scared of me?’ I asked before I could stop myself. She hesitated, and a strange, dull sensation ached in my chest. Did I frighten her?
A beat passed before she answered. ‘Only when you try to kill me after I attempt to assassinate you. That was not a pleasant experience… Most of the time, no.’ I let out a slow breath of relief. ‘How do you do that anyway?’
‘I’m a god. I have many skills…’ I grinned at her. She huffed and motioned for me to elaborate. ‘I can dry drown someone by flooding their lungs with water or blood. Or suck every ounce of water from their bodies with a flick of my wrist.’ I paused. ‘That one’s particularly nasty.’
‘Eww. That’s just plain gross.’ She grimaced. ‘And you can control the sea?’
I nodded. ‘And create earthquakes and control the weather. I’m a man of many talents.
’ I drew out the word “many”, making her roll her eyes dramatically.
‘Anyway, Hades has well and truly met his match with Persephone. She’s a fiercely irritating woman.
The type of woman who could start a fight in an empty room. ’
‘Sounds like my type of girl.’ She tilted her head, a twitch of a smile on her luscious lips, and I squinted at her.
‘Oh, and another thing… I’m coming with you to the Underworld, Little Red.’ I gave her a slow, wolfish smile. ‘I still owe you a punishment… and a fuck.’ She gave me a frosty glare.
‘How about a blow job?’ I wiggled my brows.
‘Ahh, I appreciate the offer,’ she deadpanned. ‘But I don’t have a penis.’
I roared a laugh. Gods, she was feisty.
‘I am going to fuck you, Cordelia.’ I purred the words like a promise.
‘I have two fingers, a thumb, and nightly orgasms. I don’t need a cock to satisfy me.’
My mouth watered at the thought, and my cock twitched. ‘Do you always use your fingers, or do you have toys?’
‘None of your damn business!’ Her cheeks flushed that delicious pink… then her smile turned wicked. ‘Vibrator. Easy and super reliable.’
I resisted the urge to groan at the image of her, legs spread, pleasuring herself. ‘Can I watch? Then you can compare it to my dick.’
She barked a laugh. ‘No man can compete with my all-singing, all-dancing vibrator.’
‘I’m not a man, Cordelia.’ I leaned in slightly, voice a seductive purr. ‘I’m a god.’
‘You’re also an arrogant twunt!’
I blinked. ‘Twunt?’
‘Not only a twat but a cunt as well. Yes… A—a twunt! Congratulations, you’ve earned the full title.’ Her cheeks were a delectable shade of rose, and her eyes sparked with anger. She rose abruptly, storming out of the room.
My laughter echoed after her, bouncing off the walls.