Gideon recovered slowly, slower than any of us could have anticipated. Apollo assured us that the child in his belly was unharmed, but Gideon had been instructed to rest. My uncle had taken those words to heart, and he kept Gideon secreted away in his library lair for longer than was probably necessary. But the mortal seemed content in his new role as the consort of Hades—most often I found him curled in a chair by the fire in the library with a book on his lap and Cerberus laying at his feet.

Brooke’s pregnancy was advancing, and the shy young man had overcome some of his trepidation as he adjusted to life on Olympus. Cameron was, as I had expected, a worthy match for my father. He was pure and excitable, and his presence put a smile on the face of anyone who crossed his path.

Alkira, the newly born Goddess of the Spring Winds was just beginning to toddle unsteadily around the airy nursery when Hades brought Gideon to Olympus. She was growing quickly, and it wouldn’t be long before we would all be chasing her through the marble halls of the divine palace.

My father had been changed by the birth of this child. She represented so much more than just the fulfillment of a prophecy. Gideon’s death at the hands of my sister, Eris, had opened a deep wound in Zeus’ heart, but it was Ares who gave me the most cause for concern.

My stoic brother had been the only one in the throne room when I had returned from the Underworld.

He had been staring into the cistern, seated on his red sandstone throne when I appeared.

“Brother, I have news.”

“Don’t you always,” he had replied, disinterested in my sudden appearance.

“Our uncle, Hades, has brought his spark back to Olympus… he was almost killed by Eris…”

“And the child?”

“They both live,” I said. “Even now he will be taking the ambrosia and will join the pantheon at our uncle’s side.”

Ares had nodded and looked back into the cistern, but when I stepped closer he swept his hand over the surface, obscuring the view with thick clouds.

“Good… The children are the key to the survival of Olympus. I know how important this prophecy is to our father. Hades’ capitulation is an unexpected occurrence.” Ares stepped down from his throne and strode towards me. “You will want to tell the others. I believe you’ll find father in the nursery.”

And then he was gone, in a flash of hot wind, and I blinked in confusion.

I had never known my brother to take much interest in anything our father did, and I wondered if he held any bitterness towards these new immortals… I had struggled with my own jealousy—I doubted our father had ever looked down on our sleeping forms the way he watched his new daughter. I doubted he had ever held a lover as tenderly as he did Cameron.

I walked to the edge of the throne room and looked out at the clouds that shrouded Olympus from mortal eyes.

When he had brought Cameron to Olympus, Zeus had urged all of us to find our own sparks—there was one for each of us. But I could not face the thought of failing in my own search. I could not watch another mortal die in my arms because of this curse. And after seeing Gideon’s ashen face, cold to the touch, I could not put my spark in danger.

The goddesses were growing bolder in their attacks and I didn’t know what I would do if something happened to my spark. If I ever found them…

I heard footsteps on the marble floor and turned to see my father striding towards me. “Hades has returned with his spark? Is it true?”

“Yes, father. But the goddesses… the attempt on his life. They almost succeeded. But Hades brought his shade back from Acheron—”

“Hades broke his own law.”

I nodded. “My uncle sent me away after Gideon was revived. He’s already pregnant, father. Another New Olympian.”

Zeus nodded thoughtfully. “Good,” he said, and then laid a heavy hand upon my shoulder. “You have been away from Olympus for some time, my son. What have you been doing?” He raised an eyebrow and observed me carefully, and I tried not to flinch.

“Doing? I’ve been doing my job, father. The mortals might have changed the way they see us, but it doesn’t change anything else.”

“Do you know where Hera is?” he said suddenly.

My eyes widened and I tried to quiet the flare of panic in my chest. “No, father… of course not. I would tell you immediately if I knew.”

Zeus nodded and looked out over the clouds. “You’ve been too cavalier, my son. We are at war and you are walking a very fine line. Hera will never stop. You know this as well as I do. What will it take to make you choose a side?”

I shook my head and shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said quickly. “My duty is to you, and Olympus… you know that.”

“See that you keep it that way,” Zeus said quietly.

“Of course, father.”

He stood beside me for several minutes, silent and still, as though he were carved from the same marble as the columns that rose around us. I stayed as still as I could, but my body vibrated with the need to run as far away from this place as fast as I could. Without another word, I willed myself to earth and left my father standing on the edge of Olympus, staring down over the mortal world. I only hoped he wasn’t watching me.  

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