Page 79 of The Games Gods Play
His gaze suddenly turns sharper with interest, and a wide smile overtakes his thin face. “Sure. See you then.”
With no warning, he leans forward and wraps his arms around me in a hug that is…really nice. I stiffen but then relax into him, closing my eyes a little, trying to absorb this, because I’m guessing the next hug is years away. Zai’s a good hugger, sweet and just enough squeeze without lingering.
His eyes crinkle with humor as he pulls back. “Not used to hugs?”
I laugh. “Not really a thing when you grow up in the Order of Thieves.” I tilt my head. “I’m surprised you are used to them, though.”
“My mom.”
Ah. “I like her already.”
“Me too.” Then he gives me a little salute, which I take as my cue to leave first.
“You’d better get Amir.”
Zai’s eyes widen like he forgot, and he glances back toward the mountain. “Go ahead,” he says.
He stays and watches as I let myself through the gates and the courtyard beyond. I’m still wondering if Hades is even here as I step into his house. I frown as I realize there are no locks at all on the doors. With gods and champions not happy with me? That seems…unwise.
“Hello?” I call out. My voice sort of echoes. Good grief, this place is a mausoleum.
No one answers.
I make my way to the second floor, headed to my bedroom, but as soon as I reach the top of the stairs, I spot Hades.
He’s standing at the massive window that runs the length of the courtyard, from which he has a perfect view of the road where I was standing with Zai. It is incredibly unfair that his ass should look that good in jeans when the rest of him, held stiffly erect with his hands stuffed in his pockets, is so blatantly pissed off.
Again.
If he thinks I’m sticking around to be yelled at after yet another Labor I managed to survive, he can fuck right off.
I turn on my heel in the direction of my bedroom.
“Zai. Godsdamned. Aridam?” Hades pronounces each syllable distinctly, the words like cuts, and with the same tone an executioner would use to read a death sentence.
40
Consequences
Walking away would only piss Hades off more, so I face him, arms crossed but with a deliberately sweet smile. “Didn’t you just curse yourself?”
“What?” He’s still glaring out the window with his back to me.
“‘Godsdamned.’ That’s you that you’re damning.”
Hades turns slowly and pins me with a look that could skewer a wild bull. “You picked the runt of the litter for your ally. Not even a discussion with me first. With that unexpected and supremely inconvenient soft heart of yours, I am damned.”
“Don’t call him that.” I eye him with deliberate patience. “And by that logic, you picked me, and so you damned yourself.”
Hades’ glare hones to dagger-sharp. “So I did.”
“Glad we can agree on something. I’m taking a shower and a nap—”
Suddenly, Hades’ demeanor shifts. Just slightly, in a way that’s hard to pin down. He’s still angry, but now it’s smoother, like the difference between a charging bear and a coiled rattlesnake. “Starting a collection, are we?”
I sigh like I’m dealing with an irritating gnat. “What are you on about now?”
His eyes narrow, but I widen mine and give him my most guileless stare. If he’s trying to make a point, I’m certainly not going to help him.
