39

39

Can I Really Trust This?

Zai lands us gently, like stepping off a stair, as if he’s been flying with Hermes’ sandals his entire life. But, despite starting to wheeze, he doesn’t put me down right away.

“Thank you,” I say again. “Hopefully I’ll be able to pull more weight on the next one.”

Zai’s dark eyes—lighter up close, with golden brown streaks that shoot out from his pupils—remain serious. “You did great. I’m a Mind champion, and you’re…”

I guess he realizes who he’s saying this to, because a tinge of red sneaks up his neck.

“Exactly,” I say dryly. “Nothing. I’m nothing.”

He shakes his head. “Hades is a king as well as a god, and unlike Zeus, no one ever tries to take that title away from him. He is not nothing, so you are not nothing.”

Zai is trying to be kind, so I don’t snap his head off for basing my value on something I have no control over. “I guess we both fill gaps,” I say instead.

“Exactly.” He sets me down on my feet, although I sense the move is reluctant. Like he’s not quite ready to let go of me. Then his gaze lowers, brows coming together. “Did Poseidon find you last night?”

Bloody hells. The cut on my neck. I shrug. “Yeah, but I handled it.”

“How?” he asks, then reaches out to rub a soft thumb across the spot just below the cut on my neck. I swallow, suddenly aware I’m standing close to a good-looking man—and we’re both in our pajamas.

“We should probably get dressed,” I say, glancing over my shoulder at Hades’ house. I’m surprised he’s not out here already, upset I’ve lost another challenge.

When I turn back, Zai is turning a little red again. “Um—can we meet later today?” He coughs, rubbing his chest. “We should probably talk strategy and other possible allies.”

I nod with enthusiasm. Dex and his unholy alliance almost killed us both. “Sure.”

“We could meet at Hermes’ house or maybe…here.” His gaze shifts past me with a look of trepidation.

A choice between Hermes or Hades breathing over our shoulders? No thanks. “How about the bar in town? Or is that too public?”

Zai considers that, then shakes his head. “There are private rooms upstairs.”

“That’ll work. I’ll meet you outside Hermes’ gates, and we can walk together. Around noon? We can eat lunch there.”

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.