Page 71 of Flame and Fury

“Okay, let’s all take a deep breath and listen to what else Wren has to say.” Lark holds her hands out. Her calm voice cuts through the tension between me and Atlas.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell Atlas I’m sorry. I know he has nothing to do with his dad’s behavior, and I shouldn’t use that against him. But one look at the glare he’s aiming toward me, and I tuck that shit away real fast.

“I’m going alone.” I throw out into the room. Just like my earlier statement. It’s met with a whole lot of intense responses.

“The hell you are.” Atlas grips the back of his chair, his fingers clasping so hard I’m afraid they’re going to spear through the fabric.

“I don’t need you to hold my hand.” It’s hard to look commanding when you’re holding a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but I do my best.

“Do you even know how to get in contact with him?” Atlas asks.

“Do you?” I snap right back at him.

Atlas’s shoulders sag. An unhappy sound comes from Nico on the couch. I turn and give him my attention, too annoyed to look at Atlas right now.

“What is it?”

Niko’s eyes dart over to Atlas before he gives me his full attention. “It’s probably a terrible idea.”

“Why don’t you tell us, and we can decide if it’s a terrible idea or not.” I try to keep my tone coaxing, but I’m sure I’m failing.

“It’s too risky,” Atlas barks from his corner of the room, shaking his head. So, he knows what Nico’s talking about.

“Can someone please just spit it out?” Estella groans, rubbing her temples in small circles. “All of this back-and-forth is giving me motion sickness.”

“Ares made a comment when he let us go.”

This has my attention. I was disappointed to hear that Ares was the one who bought Atlas from the auction. I didn’t realize he had Nico as well. I should’ve assumed as much since they came to find us at Nathaniel’s house together.

“What did he say?”

“He heavily implied that when the time came, we had an ally in him.” Nico slowly spits it out, reluctantly sharing.

“We have no idea how he meant that. And that doesn’t mean he wasn’t lying. He’s a god of war, he lives for stirring up trouble. He wants turmoil. We can’t trust him.” The tendon in Atlas’s neck is popping.

The conversations I’ve had with Ares over the last month flip through my mind. Yes, he likes conflict, but that doesn’t mean he’s picked a side. Has he been plotting this whole time? Somehow, he maneuvered things so that I would become his champion. How deep does he have his finger stuck into all this madness?

“I want to talk to Hades. Ares will know how to get in touch with him. Do you know how we can contact him?”

Atlas drags his hand through his hair. The strands are still damp from his shower. He doesn’t look tired, but there is a weariness behind his eyes that speaks so many more truths than he would want others to see.

“I’ll set it up. But I’m coming with you.”

“We should all go,” Lark says. Nico nods, but Estella sort of bobbles her head while cringing. I don’t think she’s too thrilled about that idea.

“I really appreciate the offer, but I think it would be a lot easier if we weren’t trying to hide so many people. Can they stay here?” I turn and look at Atlas.

“They can stay here or meet up with the rest of the Underground in Chicago. I’m sure there are lots of things they could help with there. But I’ll leave it to you three to decide.”

Nico and Lark both open their mouths like they’re about to argue. Whether it’s the look on Atlas’s face or my own, they both stay quiet, if somewhat irritated.

“How do we get in touch with Ares?”

In the end, we don’t have to set up an altar and sacrifice a chicken to call on Ares. It’s all a little mundane. Atlas pulls out a phone and presses a button before holding it up to his ear.

“I’d like to meet up with you.” His body is stiff and I’m afraid for the phone clenched tightly in his hand. One accidental twitch and the damn thing will shatter into pieces.

I can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but the way Atlas’s mouth pinches has me imagining Ares’s comments. I’m sure he’s taunting Atlas. Or just being an asshole.

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