Page 146 of The Games Gods Play
“Hephaestus isn’t going to share what his Labor is going to be. The rules aren’t going to change, unless you want to allow me to add my own challenge to the mix.” He glances around the deities and the Daemones. No one takes him up on that. “Then I suggest you stop worrying about my shit and figure out your own.”
Then he lifts his gaze directly to mine. Spears me with that look. Right through the heart.
He knows I’m here.
Fuck me.
71
Claims Have Been Staked
With the gods scattering all over Olympus, heading who knows where, Boone doesn’t remove the helm on the way back to Hades’ home, and neither of us speaks. All the way, I feel as if we’re being watched, which is impossible. But if I’m right and Hades knew I was there spying on them, it’s only a matter of time before he shares his displeasure.
We go around to the back, the same way we did Hephaestus’. If anyone saw doors to the front courtyard opening and closing on their own, they’d wonder.
The second we reach the top terrace leading into the house, Boone lets go of my hand to remove the helm. Immediately, we’re both visible, and he runs a hand through his hair. “This helm is terrible for my beauty,” he says.
Such a Boone thing to say. Instead of hiding my laugh, I chuckle right out loud. Funny how knowing someone cares about you changes your perception of them. “You should return it.” I nod at the thing.
Boone looks down at it, then back at me with a twinkle. “You sure? It is a pretty handy gadget.” He makes a face. “Way better than dragon teeth.”
“Those already saved me once,” I say without thinking.
“Really? How?”
I cross my arms. “I’ll tell you after you get back.”
Boone sighs. “You never let yourself have any fun. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Before anyone notices.”
Boone’s eyes narrow. “You mean before Hades notices.”
“Yes.” A harsh rasp of a voice comes from the darkness inside the house. The lanterns immediately flare to life, illuminating a Hades who is all cold control, despite the dark smoke wrapping around him in swirling tendrils. “That is exactly what she means.”
Boone does maybe the worst possible thing and steps in front of me, blocking me protectively from Hades with his body, tension radiating from him so much the air around me heats. He’s holding the helm with one hand, but the other curls into a fist at his side. “This was my idea.”
“You don’t say,” Hades drawls.
I wince at the tone. He’s getting quieter.
Boone’s shoulders draw back. “I won’t let you hurt her.”
Would now be a terrible time to hug him just for that? Probably. I can’t see Hades, but the dead silence from his side can’t be good.
Needing to put a stop to whatever this is, I step to the right, but Boone scoots with me. So I put a hand on his arm and squeeze. “He would never hurt me, Boone.”
He tips his face toward me without looking away from Hades. “You don’t know that.”
“I do,” I say. “It’s one of the few things I’m certain of.”
That’s enough to get Boone to look at me instead of Hades. “You’ve never been a trusting fool before, Lyra.”
An animalistic growl comes from the god across the way. An otherworldly sound that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand.
“I’m not being one now,” I tell Boone. “Return the helm while I talk to him.”
His face takes on a stubborn look—jaw clenched and eyes hard—that I recognize. “No way in all the realms of the Underworld am I leaving you with him.”
