3 Ariadne

3

Ariadne

Now

From the moment I agreed to my bargain with Hades—giving him all the information I have in exchange for sanctuary and an abortion—I knew I was damned. I didn't expect the Olympians to keep their word. What motivation did they have to protect the enemy? My only value is in being a captive, but my father will happily watch me burn once he finds out I walked into enemy arms willingly.

There is no forgiveness when it comes to Minos.

However, I didn't expect the care taken by Eurydice and the others in the wake of my abortion. They have no reason to show me kindness, and even as I attempted to keep my guard up, it faltered. I'm so tired. I feel like I've been running and resisting for years, even though it's only been a few weeks. When I made my deal with Eurydice, I didn't expect to survive it.

I still might not.

That thought should fill me with determination to fight, but I hold no power here. I don't think I ever have.

My current circumstances only drive that point home. I'm sitting in a room with two of the Thirteen facing off over my future. Neither of them asked my opinion, because they don't care. I'm a pawn to be moved at their whim. A political prisoner who handed myself over willingly.

Aphrodite is a petite person with medium-brown skin and short black hair, with the kind of features that would be perfectly at home on a magazine cover. They pace back and forth, every movement rife with fury.

The source of their anger sits next to me, the very picture of studied apathy. Hera is a stunning white woman with long brown hair and the kind of energy that I would actively avoid if I had a choice. She's dangerous in a way that reminds me of Asterion.

But I can't think about him now. I've done what I had to do, and in the process, I cut off any chance of us having a future together. Now we're on opposite sides of the coming war, and I have no one to blame but myself. I miss him like I'd miss a limb. I didn't expect that. Our chance of being together was always nonexistent, but that doesn't seem to matter to my heart. It's a foolish organ, wishing on stars.

Gods help me, but I'd do it all again without a second thought.

"This isn't the plan, Hera." Aphrodite spins to face us, their dark eyes furious. "I have a list of acceptable suitors, just like Hades asked of me. Every single one of them would put her safely in the countryside. That was the agreement."

"Consider the agreement changed." Hera examines her long nails, black with golden tips and sharp enough to impale someone. "I expect you, of all people, to understand exactly how vital a weapon marriage is when it comes to political adversaries. Ariadne is the daughter of our enemy. What better way to showcase the fact that she's on our side now than to marry her to someone beloved by the people?"

Perhaps I should care more about who they intended to marry me off to, but I can't work up the energy. Too much is happening in too short a time, and I haven't had the opportunity to process any of it. From the moment I saw that positive pregnancy test, there was no going back. It's bad enough that Asterion and I betrayed my father in that maze. But to bring a baby— Asterion's baby—into the world to be just another pawn my father uses to ensure we do what he wants? Less than a pawn. A prisoner . Unthinkable.

Marrying someone that the Olympians choose will likely mean children, but I can't think about that right now. I can't think about anything. It's all I can do to put one foot in front of the other and not scream my despair to the skies.

Aphrodite looks like they want to throw something at Hera's head. "It doesn't matter what your ambitions are—and don't think I mistake this for anything other than a power grab. He'll never agree to it."

"He already has." Hera drops her unimpressed act and narrows her eyes at Aphrodite. "Let's stop wasting time and do away with all your petty protests. The only reason you're upset is because I arranged this, not you."

"No, I am—"

"Which is why you're going to be the one to announce it. You're Aphrodite, after all. Marriages are your bread and butter. It only makes sense that you would be the one to arrange this coup. Marrying off Dionysus, who has managed to dodge past every single Aphrodite's attempts for the last decade, impossible to ignore. Even with the constant assassination attempts, it will get people talking."

Aphrodite props their hands on their hips. "Why would you let me take credit?"

"I have my reasons." Hera pushes slowly to her feet. I tense without meaning to, responding to the threat I can't unsee. She shoots me an amused look before returning her attention to Aphrodite. "It's as simple as this: I give you this win and you owe me. A favor of my choosing at a time that I determine."

It's brilliantly done. I've studied Olympus politics along with the rest of my family for years now. There's been more changeover of titles in the last six months than there has been in the last decade. This Aphrodite is a new addition, although they worked for the last two people who held the title. They're looking to make a splash. Arranging a marriage with one of the most beloved members of the Thirteen—a man who swore he'd live and die a bachelor—would do exactly that. What's an open-ended favor when it comes to securing their position so fully?

This moment also showcases exactly how dangerous the new Hera is. The last three people to hold her title were little more than placeholders, spouses to the previous Zeus. He killed two of them, and it wasn't for lack of trying with the third. He should've finished the job. Now, all of Olympus will pay the price for his failure.

Circe is coming for them, and she will have no mercy.

Aphrodite only considers Hera for a moment before they nod. "Fine. An open-ended favor. Consider it done."

"Lovely. It's been a pleasure doing business with you." She turns to me, and although there is no mercy in her hazel eyes, they're not unkind. "Dionysus is a mess, but he's not a bad man. My sister is keeping her word to you—and so is Hades. You'll be safe with your new husband, and he won't expect the marital privileges that others might."

Marital privileges. She means sex. The thought makes my stomach twist. I've already betrayed Asterion in a thousand different ways, so what's one more? When I agreed to marry someone of Olympus's choosing, I knew sex would be part of the bargain. Children, too. Both so often are included with these types of things. That was a problem for a future me who might not even survive long enough to deal with it.

But if Hera is telling the truth… If Dionysus won't expect that of me… Even though I know better, a tiny kernel of hope takes root in my chest. I drag in a deep breath. "Thank you."

"We'll be seeing each other again very soon, Ariadne." From her, it sounds like a threat.

Aphrodite and I are silent for several seconds after she leaves the room. They finally curse softly under their breath. "She's a menace."

"I think I like her." I don't mean to say it out loud, but once I do, there's no taking it back. She scares the shit out of me, but most people do these days. I'm used to it. I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. "What happens now?"

Their phone pings, a jaunty, merry tune. Their perfect brows draw together as they read the text message. "Apparently, your betrothed is here to see you."

Fear flickers through me, and I don't think I do a good job of hiding it. It's just as well that Aphrodite seems distracted. I clear my throat. "Oh. Great."

I don't have time to do more before a white man with messy dark hair and a truly impressive dark mustache walks through the door. I didn't talk to Dionysus much during the party my father hosted ten weeks ago, but to the best of my knowledge, he was drunk the entire time. When his guest, Pan, was attacked and hospitalized, Dionysus didn't leave the party with him. Aside from that, all I know is what the rest of Olympus knows. He was given his title roughly a decade ago in the last great shift of the Thirteen, and he specializes in alcohol, drugs, and any number of things best left unsaid. He also keeps secrets just as well as Hermes does, which is saying something.

He looks like he hasn't slept since I've seen him last. He's lost weight, and he was already rather thin to begin with. His eyes are sunken, his features standing out from exhaustion. He barely gives me a glance as he crosses the room and drops into the seat next to me. "My assistant sent over the prenup. I expect you'll have some thoughts on it, Aphrodite. Let's make this quick."

They flip through their phone, their frown deepening. "This is highway robbery. You can't seriously mean to agree to this. I know you play the fool, but no one is actually that foolish."

At first I think they're talking to me, and I open my mouth to tell them I'm in no position to argue with anything. I'm not marrying for money, and I have no other choice in partners. I'm certainly not bringing a dowry to this union. I've already given away my only bargaining chip—information.

But Dionysus is the one to answer. "If we're both going to be forced into this union, the least I can do is ensure that it's even."

Aphrodite curses again and hands their phone to me. "You might as well read it over. I don't expect you to protest."

As contracts go, it's a simple one. A single page of text. My horror grows as I read through it and then go back to the beginning and start again. Aphrodite is right. This is a disaster. Or a trap. Either way, I can't agree to it. "This is too much. You're giving me a house?"

"Two houses, actually. One in the city proper, and one out in the country. I expect there will be events that will require both of us to be in attendance, but you might as well be comfortable in your own space. Just like I will be comfortable in mine."

This can't be real. My life has been relatively privileged, but I learned at a very young age that nothing good happens in a vacuum. Everyone has an angle they're playing, something they want from you in exchange for their generosity . "You're specifying that sex is off the table."

He raises his brows. "You have a problem with that?"

"No, of course not." I flush. "I just didn't expect to see it in the contract itself." A contract that, if violated, results in a massive amount of money being deposited into the victim's account—and the termination of the marriage. If this contract is binding—and all signs point to it being binding—he's not bluffing. Which means Hera was telling the truth when she said I wouldn't be expected to participate in marital privileges .

"Of course, I don't expect you to go without if that's something you require. Should you want to take a lover, all I ask is that you communicate with me so we can ensure a unified front for the public."

I understand how important it is to go into a negotiation from a position of strength, but I feel like the ground is crumbling beneath my feet. Nothing about this is what I expected, and certainly not from a member of the Thirteen. To hear my father—to hear Circe—speak of it, they are the worst of the worst. People completely corrupted by the power they wield. Monsters willing to crush anyone who gets in their way. By all rights, they should have thrown me into a cell and forgotten about me for the next several decades.

They should've killed me. My death would hurt my father. I'm not foolish enough to think it would stop his plans; things have gone too far to stop now.

"Reread the contract all you want, but ultimately you don't have much choice." Aphrodite still sounds pissed about Hera backing them into a corner.

They're right, though. This contract could have required any number of things from me and I would still agree to it. I'm out of options. "How do I sign this?"

"Give me two minutes to print it out." They grab the phone from my hands and walk out of the room, leaving me and Dionysus in awkward silence. He doesn't seem keen to break it, so I stay still with my hands clasped and wait for the other shoe to drop.

Aphrodite returns with the contract and an expensive fountain pen and passes both to me. The pen feels strange in my hand. I sign my name on the dotted line before I can think better of it. Maybe after this, I can rest. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I've been in a state of panic, rushing through the motions with no thought for the long-term future. I am tired. Really, really tired.

Dionysus gives me a long look, but he accepts the pen from me and signs his name as well. Aphrodite snatches the contract from the table as if they think one of us will set it aflame. They glance over our signatures and nod. "While I understand that you plan to live in separate residences, you know how this works, Dionysus. I need you together up until the wedding, at least."

He looks like he wants to argue but finally shrugs. "Very well." He stands and extends a hand, his fingers covered in rings. "Shall we?"

No choice. No choice. No choice. I was never going to be happy. I've known that from a very young age. Ultimately, this man seems preferable to anyone my father would've chosen. He might not be who I would choose, but… No use thinking about that now. I just hope whatever fondness Asterion had for me is enough to keep him from hunting me down and cutting out my heart.

At this point, I'd almost welcome it.

At least then maybe I would stop hurting from the loss of him.