Page 2 of Deadly Games
Ares watched him through narrow eyes and even Hades seemed wary under the intensity of that gaze. “There is a magical link between you,” he said, looking between the two of us. I could see the wheels turning and wasn’t sure I liked where this was going. Hell, I didn’t like where we already were, but I doubted Ares was going to snitch on such menial drama. He had bigger issues to contend with, like the fact that he and his army were stuck in Nowhereland. His eyes widened and something about the shock in them worried me more than his anger had. “He brought you back…”
“What?” I choked out in a less than convincing voice. “I don’t…”
“Death,” Ares remarked, reaching out to brush his fingers across my cheeks. His touch was light but cold, sending a chill deep into my veins. “It clings to you.”
I stepped back instinctively and looked over at Hades. The confusion on his face told me he was out of ideas and excuses, too.
“You did this?” Ares asked, turning back to my unwanted fiancé.
Hades didn’t answer for a moment, but he finally overcame his hesitation and said, “Yes.”
“I see,” Ares murmured, studying him closely. I couldn’t read his expression, but I think I was nervous for Hades, and that wasn’t a position I liked being in. Hell, when it came to Hades, the positions Ididlike were far more of a concern. “That’s quite remarkable for one so young. Tell me,” he said, turning back to me. “Who hurt you?”
I was reluctant to answer, but refusing seemed like a bad idea. “A siren,” I admitted.
“A siren?” He raised an eyebrow and his voice took on a different tone. Disappointment. I’d heard it in my mom’s often enough, but coming from him, it just pissed me off.
“She got in a cheap shot, okay?” I grumbled. “The point is, whatever you’re sensing, it’s probably just that. Hades isn’t my consort and the other two sure aren’t.”
Fenrir made a discontented growling sound, reassuring me that his human side was at least somewhat present.
“You’re mistaken,” said Ares. “If that were true, they wouldn’t be here.”
For the first time ever, neither Hades nor Loki seemed quick to speak. I decided it was up to me. “What do you mean?”
“I drew you to this realm through a portal,” Ares answered patiently. “Do you remember?”
I thought back to the eerie swirling void and shivered. “Yeah, I remember. What does that have to do with it?”
“Only those with the blessing of the Ether may pass through that portal,” he explained. “As my daughter, you are automatically granted safe passage.”
“And those who aren’t authorized?” I asked warily.
“Dissolution,” said Ares.
I grimaced. I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but it didn’t sound pretty. “Then how did they make it through with me?”
“Only closely linked beings may pass under another’s protection,” Ares said, watching the others with a cold, calculating gaze. “Consorts, thralls, blood servants… the list is short. But perhaps it’s one of the others.”
“No. No, I’m good with consorts,” Loki said quickly. “Consorts is good.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t understand. Isn’t that like, a formal agreement? I sure as hell never chose them.”
Hades gave me a frosty glare, as if he wanted this any more than I did.
“As I said, it is a bond of destiny, not one of choice,” said Ares. “The decision was made for you all before your births.”
We looked at each other and even Fenrir seemed confused. “You’re saying we’re what, soulmates?” Hades finally asked in a flat tone. He was the only person who could be standing in front of Ares himself and still act bored. I had to admit, I admired his dedication to the careless bad boy schtick.
“If you wish to call it that,” Ares said, not a hint of hesitation in his voice.
I was starting to get lightheaded, but passing out was the last damn thing I needed to do right now.
“You’re kidding,” Loki snorted. When the god of war showed no sign of amusement, he croaked, “Right?”
A look of confusion suddenly came into Ares’ crimson eyes and he turned to me. “Where is the fourth?”
“What?” I asked, caught off guard by the question. To be fair, I was still kind of reeling from the whole soulmates thing.
