Chapter 93

Hades

Ares met us at the entrance to Olympus wearing jeans and worn boots. His wings were out, and he looked ready for a fight. “I was wondering how long you would wait before you came up here to kick some ass.”

“There’s no need to look so smug,” I grumbled at his arrogant smirk.

“Sorry,” he replied, sounding genuinely apologetic. “It’s a God of War trait. I’m excited about the fight, and I love being right.”

He gave no further explanation, but it didn’t matter since I didn’t give a flying fuck about apologies or explanations.

“We need to see Aphrodite.” Her name sounded like a curse coming from Lucifer.

“Visitors for me?” the bitch in question asked in a breathy voice as she approached us.

I’d known she was close by. On the rare occasions Lucifer went to Olympus, Aphrodite was always around. She couldn’t resist strutting around like a cat in heat, and she’d made it clear she wanted Lucifer again.

While I still wasn’t certain she’d had any direct involvement in the spell used on Persephone, this was her area of expertise, so even if she was innocent, I suspected she could help identify the magic used. There was no time to play games with her as she tried manipulating the situation to her benefit. I stalked toward her. She was too stupid to realize she was in danger until my hand wrapped around her skinny neck. I lifted her off the ground and shook her.

“Someone used a spell on Persephone,” I growled. “All evidence points to you or one of your offspring. I suggest you tell me what you know before I snap your neck.”

Her blue eyes widened, and she gripped my wrist as she struggled to free herself. Her feet kicked in the air. “Lucifer,” she gasped. “Help me.”

Lucifer laughed in response and shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“What is going on here?” Hera demanded as she raced toward us. “Put her down at once, Hades. Have you lost your mind?”

“Lost my mind?” I asked with a bark of laughter. “That happened long ago, Hera. The only thing keeping me close to sane recently has been Persephone. Now, someone has used a spell to change her feelings for me. Does that sound like anyone you know?”

“Didn’t do it,” Aphrodite forced out as she struggled to breathe.

“Then who was it?” I demanded.

“Tell him to put her down at once!” Hera ordered Lucifer.

It was Ares who responded. “Poor Hera. You seem to have forgotten that you don’t give Lucifer orders.”

“You’re looking more clear-headed than I’d expected,” Lucifer remarked as he approached Hera with narrowed eyes. “Someone was trying to start a rebellion and gain Hades’s help recently. It was a stupid move, considering Hades is much more loyal to me than any of you. He also knows how I deal with traitors. He doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of my anger.”

I grinned as I tightened my hold on Aphrodite’s neck. “It’s not pretty. Lucifer isn’t nearly as kind as I am.”

“I’ve ignored the rebellion attempts from Olympus because none of them have ever gone anywhere, but I won’t ignore this one,” Lucifer told Hera. “Persephone is a good friend of my queen, your queen. Tell me who cast the spell on her before I start killing you all.”

“Eros,” Aphrodite said in a strained voice. Her face was turning blue, and she’d lose consciousness if I didn’t let her go.

I tossed her across the courtyard like a rag doll and stalked after her. “Your son?” I demanded. “You tell me you’re not involved, yet your son is plotting against Persephone?”

“I don’t know that it’s him,” she replied, still gasping. “He told me his lead-tipped arrows had gone missing when I asked him why he was making more.”

“Those arrows would only work for Eros, so he must be involved,” I deduced.

“They could be used in a spell,” Aphrodite added. “I’ve used them before, but the results are unpredictable.”

“Where is Eros?” Lucifer demanded.

“I haven’t seen him in days,” Ares responded. “That’s not unusual. He doesn’t go out much anymore.”

“I’ll call Rainer and update him on what we know so far,” I told Lucifer. It was also an excuse to make sure Persephone was safe.

“What?” Rainer’s curt greeting was nothing out of the ordinary.

“Keep an eye out for Eros,” I told him. “He’s missing, and we suspect he’s responsible for the spell.”

“All right.” His distracted tone worried me.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Persephone had a meltdown and took off,” he admitted. “I’ve got others looking for her.”

“She didn’t go home?” I asked.

“Not yet,” he replied. “She just left Bliss a few minutes ago. I’m heading to her place now.”

“Fuck,” I hissed. “I’m on my way.”

Without waiting for a response, I ended the call. I’d kill Rainer if anything happened to Persephone.

“Persephone?” Lucifer asked.

“Missing,” I replied before turning to leave. Lucifer could handle what was happening on Olympus without me. My gut told me Persephone was in danger.