Page 55 of Tender Cruelty
“I…see.” My mother’s tone is all sweet honey, nearly hiding the poison beneath. It’s a testament to her stress that it’s even showing up at all.
“Poseidon told you to post sentries to ensure no one could surprise us from the mountains.” His tone is low and dangerous. “I would like you to explain to me how these people have been coming and going without you knowing about it.”
My mother frowns, but not even I can be certain if she’s lying or not when she says, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Because there were no fucking sentries!” he roars. “You wouldn’t have noticed anything, and now we have no way of sifting them from Olympian civilians without causing a full panic. There are no cameras in this encampment, and creating a smaller, more organized version of the camp on this table isn’t going to tell you which of those people out there are our citizens and which are the enemy’s.” He holds out his hand to me. “It’s not safe for you to be here, Ca—Hera. We’re going back to the city immediately.”
True to form, my mother doesn’t panic. She taps her fingers to her lips and surveys her table. “I don’t think it’s wise for you to leave. You’ll be exposed on the road back. Better to stay here while we figure this out.”
“We’ll be safer in the city.” Perseus shakes his head sharply. “Once we’ve questioned the other three, I’ll send along a report with all the information we acquire.”
“That’s not necessary with this captive in front of us. We’llquestion her and we’ll find them.” She twists to face me. “But my point remains. We have Eros and plenty of guards here. Stay. Please.”
I’m still processing my mother sayingpleasewhen my husband cuts in. “I am more than capable of seeing to my wife’s safety.” Each word is so cold it’s a wonder they don’t crack in the tension between all of us.
I step closer to him and lower my voice. “She might be right. It’s not a good idea to leave in the midst of all this.Youshould be here overseeing the search—and you should let people see you doing it. It would do a lot to restore the people’s faith in you.”
“I know.” He says it so simply that I’m sure I mishear him. In the moment of my confusion, he takes my hand and pulls me close, wrapping one arm around my waist as he angles us toward the doorway. “But gaining goodwill from the people won’t matter the slightest bit if something happens to you. Your trio of guard dogs aren’t here to watch your back, and I don’t trust any of my people enough to send you with them alone. We’re returning to the city where I can establish your safety before we do anything else.”
While I will be left behind to chew my fingernails ragged and worry about all the people I love.
All the people I love…
I shove the thought—the possibility—down deep and lock it away behind dozens of chains. It’s the hormones, the parasite, the stress of the situation. I love my sisters. I love my mother. I tolerate my brothers-in-law. There is no scenario where loving my husband ends in anything other than tragedy.
Zeus has to die. He’s brought nothing but terror and pain tothis city. And Perseus has proven he won’t relinquish the identity of Zeus, even if it kills him.
Even if it kills my heart in the process.
I’m reeling so much from the loss I can see barreling toward me that I don’t realize Perseus has stopped until I run into his back. “Perseus?”
He’s so tense he’s practically vibrating. “Let us pass.”
I shift sideways enough to see that the guards watching the doorway have entered the tent and now block our exit. Neither of them look atus, though. Their gazes are trained over our shoulders…at my mother.
“No,” I whisper. I turn slowly to face her, my heart not wanting to understand what my brain has already comprehended. “Tell me you didn’t.”
My mother is just as poised as ever, sympathy practically oozing from her immaculate pores. She smiles sadly as she moves to the blond stranger and pulls out a tiny knife to cut away the zip ties. “I’m sorry, honey, but the writing is on the wall. You know I’ll always do what’s best for you—and this city. Even if it hurts a little in the process.”
“Mother,please.” My voice breaks on the last word. “Don’t do this.”
“It’s already done.” She motions to the guards. “Take them.”
27
Hera
Even as the guards move to apprehend us, there’s a part of me that still doesn’t want to believe it’s come to this. My mother—my fierce, ambitious mother—has always done what she feels necessary to ensure the longevity of our family. It’s why she was so committed to one of her daughters marrying a Zeus, the better to weld our lineage to a legacy title. Two, honestly, since Persephone married Hades. If she could have found a way to snag Poseidon in the mix, no doubt she wouldn’t have hesitated.
To betray Zeus now? To betraymenow?
Perseus steps between me and the guards. “If you touch her, I’ll kill you myself.”
My mother sighs. “No one is going to harm my daughter.You, on the other hand, are a different story.” She glances at the blond Perseus brought in. “Are you well, Antigone?”
The blond smirks. “Yeah. He was as gentle as a lamb.”
Mother nods and motions to the guard again. “Subdue him, please.”
