Page 56 of The King of Spring

“Love,” Zeus echoes.

“Love,” Hades agrees. “I love Kore.” She pauses to draw in a shuddering breath. “He’s the piece that makes sense. Without him life continues—as is the curse of all gods—but the days are empty. Art is meaningless, joy perishes, and each breath torments me with continued existence.”

Zeus puts his face into his hands, releasing another sigh. “Take him, Hades. Damn Demeter. Take Kore with you, if he chooses to go.”

She doesn’t appear surprised, and Zeus recalls the years when his sister knew his mind better than anyone. Him included.

“What of my punishment?” Hades asks, and Zeus knows his sister as well as she knows him. Any torment Zeus issues won’t match Hades' self-inflicted misery.

“Let’s call it even,” Zeus replies after a stretch of charged silence.

Hades frowns. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.” He shoots her his most charming grin. “Your punishment will find you without my help.”

“What does that mean?” Hades demands, her eyebrows climbing up her forehead in an amusing display of surprise.

“Nothing,” Zeus laughs before clutching his side. Laughing deeply makes his ribs ache, and he waves Hades away with an irritated expression. “Stop making me laugh.”

“I didn’t. You’re an idiot who laughs at everything.”

Zeus shakes his head, a smile resting on his mouth, “We’ll be okay, won’t we, Hades?”

“We’re always okay, Zeus.” Hades pats his head. The same way she did when he rescued her from the darkness of Kronos' stomach. A sign of gratitude and love. “No matter how stupid, you’re my favorite brother.”

In their solitude, he doesn’t have to pretend to be offended by her words.

“Go home, Hades,” Zeus commands her with another soft expression. “Take your consort, before he wrecks more shit.”

It’s Hades' turn to laugh, and because she’s the better of the two of them she doesn’t grasp her side.

“Do you want him to release Demeter?” Hades asks, and Zeus groans.

“I forgot he torched her and threw her in a plant net.”

Hades rolls her eyes.

Zeus narrows his gaze at her. “Listen, I was getting my ass kicked. I didn’t have time to memorize everything going on out there.”

“You’d fail an open-note test if you had to take one,” Hades mutters.

Zeus pretends he misses the words.

“Go home, Hades,” he repeats more forcefully this time.

She starts back down the stairs, giving him a dismissive wave as she makes her way out of the throne room. Pausing at the door, Hades closes her eyes.

“Tell Hera I’m sorry.”

As the heavy door closes behind her, Zeus slumps in his seat. His head bangs against the sturdy back, and he releases a low groan. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”

44

Kore

Hades doesn’t acknowledge him as she begins rounding up her army. She wears her crown, guiding her people, and Kore feels hurt. But he respects Haden’s actions.

The Underworld comes first, that was the lesson cracked over his head during his months in Hades' realm. Ruling is about the benefit of others, not the benefit of self, and he’s still shocked she decided he was worth disregarding that rule for.

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