Page 92 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
‘No, nothing has happened.’ Eris inspected her nails with exaggerated care before her gaze swept the empty throne room. ‘Where is my brother Thanatos?’
‘On an errand.’
‘And when will he return?’
Persephone’s dark eyes narrowed, suspicion sharpening her features. ‘Promptly. Tell me, Eris, why are you here? Should you not be occupied with finding a way to secure Mal Blackburn’s child?’
‘Yes, yes.’ Eris waved the concern aside, bored. ‘These things require patience. One mustn’t rush matters of such importance.’
‘Since you mention important matters…’ Persephone cleared her throat. ‘There is something I wish to discuss with you.’
Eris tilted her head, interest sparking to life.
‘You have never married.’
An eyebrow arched. Before Eris could reply, Zagreus stepped forward, shouldering past her.
‘Mother—’
‘My son Zagreus remains unwed,’ Persephone continued, ignoring him entirely. ‘You would suit one another. Let us unite our bloodlines. You desire power, do you not? This would grant you more.’
Eris considered her, unimpressed. ‘And what, precisely,do I gain? I already walk freely in this realm thanks to Hades being my father’s cousin. Marriage to Zagreus offers me nothing I do not already possess. And my bloodline surpasses his, so he would benefit fromme,not the other way around.’
‘He is the son of Hades,’ Persephone snapped, fury flashing in her eyes.
‘And I am the daughter of Zeus,’ Eris replied lightly. ‘The father of all gods. You’ll need a stronger lure than lineage if you wish me to marry my second cousin.’
‘Your children together would be the most powerful gods to ever exist.’
Eris rolled her eyes. ‘And why would I want children more powerful than myself?’ She shrugged, entirely unbothered. ‘Though I suppose I could always eat them and absorb their power.’ She laughed at Persephone’s pallor. ‘I’m only teasing,auntie.’
Eris turned upon Zagreus, who had remained silent throughout, his mismatched eyes fixed stubbornly on his mother. His hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides, tension etched into every line of him, and the sight delighted her. How she adored provoking others, pulling at their restraint until it frayed. Perhaps she should marry him, she mused, and set both families alight with war. That, at least, would be entertaining.
‘I’ll think about it,’ she said lightly.
‘There is nothing to think about,’ Zagreus replied, his jaw set like stone. ‘I will not marry you.’
‘Why not?’ Eris attempted to summon sadness to her face, but the effort felt foreign, awkward. She had never known such a thing, never learnt how to wear it. When he did not answer, she stepped closer, until her lips hovered just beside his ear. ‘Imagine what you could do with a little of my power.’
‘I don’t want it.’
‘Then what do you want?’ She caught his earlobe between her teeth and bit down hard enough to draw blood. Zagreus did not flinch, did not move, but she felt his gaze slide to her, those mesmerising eyes watching her with sharp awareness.
‘Zagreus is heir to the Underworld,’ Persephone said sharply.
Eris drew back at last, turning her attention to the queen. ‘No, he isn’t. Mal Blackburn is the heir.’
Persephone’s eyes burnt with fury.
‘And she cannot be killed,’ Eris added calmly.
Persephone’s lips thinned. ‘But she can be contained.’
Eris bit the inside of her cheek, pensive, the familiar itch of chaos stirring beneath her skin. Before she could press the matter further, the doors to the throne room creaked open and Thanatos stepped inside. He paused briefly at the sight of Eris and Zagreus together, surprise appearing momentarily across his face before it vanished behind his usual composed indifference. He moved towards the throne as though nothing were amiss.
‘I will think about it,’ Eris said again, dipping her head towards Persephone. ‘But before that… I have a favour to ask.’
‘What?’ Persephone looked as though she might physically shove Eris out of the Underworld if given the chance.
