Page 96 of The Games Gods Play
Not just any vodka, either—the high-end, super-expensive stuff.
Dionysus grins. “Your task is to get from this doline to the far waterfall in the second doline. The champion carrying the most fluid ounces of vodka wins the Labor.”
I think every single one of us blows out a breath of disappointment. If that’s his idea of revelry, he can keep it.
“How far is it?” Meike asks her patron.
“About a kilometer.” He points in the direction of a dark tunnel entrance and purses his lips. “But don’t expect it to be easy. In fact, you may want to work together with a team on this. At least in the beginning.”
He looks around us with a bright expression, as if he’s expecting us to be equally thrilled with the “fun” he’s concocted.
I mean…at least there aren’t any monsters or immediate plummets to death.
“The prize for the winner is the Unending Cup of Plenty. You have until break of day, but beware the night.” Dionysus spreads his arms again, this time like he wants to hug us all. “Best of luck, champions.”
The god of wine and parties disappears in a silent blink.
I’m not the only one who turns in place, looking the cave over. A kilometer isn’t far, but it’s rough terrain. Carrying only two bottles won’t win us anything, either. That little, almost casual slip in about nighttime makes me think faster is better, but if I’m going to lose this damned curse, I need to win soon. And this one seems easy enough to try.
“First things first,” Dex interrupts my debating.
I tense, able to guess what’s coming. Sure enough, he stares directly at me, and the rest of the champions either stare with him or glance between us in question. Only Zai scoots over to stand beside me.
“We can all agree that Hades can’t be king, yeah?” Dex asks the group, never looking away from me.
Some nod. Some don’t.
I tilt my head. “He can hear and see you. You know that, right?”
Based on the way Dex’s dark eyes narrow, as well as a few others’—Amir, Dae, Samuel, and Neve—I already know that threat was the wrong way to go.
“What do you want?” I ask Dex directly. “I can promise to not win.” Never mind about losing the curse. I’m used to it anyway, and I can’t do much without it if I’m dead.
“We don’t believe that,” Dae says, running a hand through his glossy black hair. “Rima said—”
Rima cuts him off, pink tingeing the naturally warm, brown skin on her cheeks. “That you’re dangerous,” she says.
I peer at her more closely. The way she did that felt…suspicious. Like she didn’t want him to say something in particular.
She does offer me a small wince, which might be an apology. “Hades has already shown he’ll break rules to help you. That axe isn’t mortal. It—”
“Was the relic that came to me over ten years ago when I hit a certain level as a thief,” I tell them. “All thieves get one eventually.” Of course, I never made it to actual thief, but they don’t need to know that.
They glance between one another, doubt etched into their features.
“And the vest, before you ask, is also mine from before.” Granted, Boone brought it to me after I was named Hades’ champion, and it’s for any pledges, not me in particular, but that’s just quibbling. “I’m not the only one who brought mortal tools into this.”
Other than the backpack I think Dae lost, I’m actually not sure that’s true. But they could have, and that’s the point.
“Lies,” Neve hisses, shoving her red hair over one shoulder. “They are cheating, and we all know it. For sure.”
Fuck. This went sideways fast.
“Side with us,” Dex announces to the others. “We take Lyra out of the equation tonight, and that eliminates Hades from the Labors. It’s the only way.”
I take a jerking step back, already looking for which way to run.
Samuel clears his throat. “I don’t condone killing—”
