Page 53 of Wild Hunt
Chapter 28
Hades
As the guard led us through the winding streets of a city that looked like it had never left the middle ages, I found myself torn between irritation and wonder. This was far more elaborate than the subconscious world I’d expected to wake up in, and while I wasn’t crazy about the company, there was part of me that was relieved I wasn’t alone.
Of courseshehad to be here, too. I’d known what I was getting into when I brought her back, but no matter how much I berated myself, I couldn’t quite regret it.
The orc led us to a black stone building that looked like an old English castle, watchtowers and all. The front hall was so vast that our footsteps echoed and it was furnished with every manner of finery, but it was the portrait hanging above the great hearth in the center of the room that drew my attention.
It was Kore, seated in an uncharacteristically demure position with her hands in her lap and a jagged black crown set with blood red jewels on her head. Her hair was a soft shade of brown rather than the unnatural lilac she dyed it to be, but it was unmistakably her. I’d know those eyes anywhere.
“What the hell,” she muttered under her breath on our way past the portrait.
I decided to hold my tongue for the time being, curious where this would all lead. The orc led us to another huge room filled with packed bookshelves and luxurious furnishings. It looked more like a Victorian drawing room than the Aether the guard claimed it to be.
“Wait here,” the orc ordered, standing at the door. “The Lord will be in shortly.”
“Can’t wait to meet him,” Loki said dryly. “He sounds charming.”
The guard scowled like he didn’t know what to make of the sarcasm and left without a word. For a moment, the room was silent, but I couldn’t let it last long.
“Well, I guess now we know whose dream we’re in.”
Loki snickered and Kore glared at me. Fenrir was pacing around the room, sniffing everything.
“I hope you’re not implyingIbrought us here,” Kore said, folding her arms.
“Who else?” I scoffed. “Princess?”
Her face grew red with irritation, but she didn’t have a snappy comeback like she usually did. “Let’s just find a way out of here.”
“Of course you’d be in a hurry to get back,” I challenged. “Wouldn’t want to miss your little speech.”
Her expression went blank, but not for long. “Excuse me?”
“That’s right,” I said with a shrug. “I know all about your little plan to humiliate the Academy.”
“What plan?” Loki asked, looking between us. Even Fenrir had turned his attention toward her.
“Tell them,” I challenged, smirking.
Her gaze burned with hatred as she watched me. “Who told you?”
I didn’t answer right away. I wanted to draw it out a little. See how she reacted when she thought there was a chance her precious Dionysus had betrayed her.
Maybe I would let her keep thinking that, as a matter of fact. That way, I could make use of Daphne for longer.
Before I had the chance to respond, the door opened and I turned around, expecting to see the orc again. The sight of the regal god standing before me with pale skin and eyes as red as blood made all other thoughts flee my mind.
Dread filled me for the first time in my adult life as I found myself face to face with the one being even my father feared to encounter. I had never seen Ares in person, but the jagged scar running across his left eye and down his face from when he’d fought my father and been banished to the Aether was unmistakable.
For a moment, we all just stared at him in silence, but his eyes were fixed on Kore and her alone. It felt like forever that he stayed there, just watching her, but when he finally spoke, his gaze softened with more tenderness than I had ever imagined possible for the god of war and chaos.
“My dear Persephone,” he said in a heartfelt tone as he stretched his arms out to her. “Welcome home.”
The End.
