Sitting on a bench in the gardens by herself. Crying. All because foolish gods had made her feel lesser than them.
She shouldn’t have come. Her mother was right.
Kore sighed and glanced down at her feet. With horror, she realized she’d accidently caused flowers to grow around her in a bright circle. They glowed gold, showering sparks of yellow pollen that drifted around her in the slight breeze.
Zeus would be so angry. She’d ruined his garden.
Chapter 4
Hades hated his family.
Gods, they were all the worst. He took another sip of nectar and wished it got him drunk faster. This was already his fourth cup, but it wasn’t enough. Never would be enough. If he could only have one drink and blackout, that would be the best circumstance.
Contrary to Hermes’ warning, Hades arrived at the party late. Even then, he still stayed in the shadows so no one would notice.
They were uncomfortable around him, anyway. The wraith that crawled out of the Underworld. His skin was too pale, namely because he never saw the sun. His hands were too dirty. The smell of the grave followed him no matter where he went.
So they said at least.
He noticed nothing different about himself than when he’d first been pulled from his mother. If they noticed a difference, then what they pointed out was merely details they hadn’t seen about him all those centuries ago. And he wouldn’t put that past them. The Olympians weren’t all that observant.
As his brother often did, Hermes appeared out of nowhere and threw an arm over his shoulder. “I thought you were going to mingle in this party.”
“I thought you were going to leave me alone because you’re trying to improve your reputation,” Hades shot back.
“Alas, I think I have ruined my reputation long before you.” Hermes sipped at his own glass of nectar and gestured with it. “Did you see Artemis was here with a nymph?”
“Sadly, I missed the show.” Not sadly at all. He didn’t care who the huntress brought to a family event. The drama was not something Hades missed.
“Mhmm, a nymph. Of all things. She hasn’t learned who is good company, obviously.”
“Hermes, are you trying to bait me?” Hades lifted a dark brow.
“Bait you? Into doing what?” Hermes removed his arm carefully. “I’m not sure why you would ever think I’d try to do that to you, of all people, brother.”
Hades wasn’t an idiot. He knew how much the Olympians enjoyed their games, especially when they’d all been dipping into the nectar and ambrosia. He’d tried none of the glistening fruit this visit, but he was certain Hermes had already had his fair share.
Sighing, he turned and faced Hermes. He’d had too much to drink already to put up with his meddling. “What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing at all, Hades. Nothing at all.” Hermes tipped his drink back all the way and finished his nectar. “I just think it might be nice if someone checked on the little nymph. Make sure she wasn’t harmed too badly in the altercation.”
“Altercation?” What had his family done now? They weren’t usually so rough with Zeus’s entertainment, but he’d seen them do worse. They were Olympians, after all. If they wanted to rip a nymph apart for sport, they would.
Yes, they would have hurt the nymph if given the chance. And he couldn’t let that go without at least comforting the poor girl.
He heaved a great sigh and set his drink down. “Fine. Where did she run off to?”
Hermes clapped his hands, although the goblet got in the way and his rings struck it with a dull thud. “I knew you’d be the knight in shining armor!”
“The what?”
His brother waved a hand next to his right ear. “Just something an Oracle told me once. Hasn’t happened yet. She ran off into the gardens. You know how nymphs are.”
Of course, she’d hidden in the only place that felt like a forest. Nymphs always wanted to hide in greenery and had yet to realize the Olympians were especially good at finding their kind. Zeus in particular, considering this was his palace. Zeus loved a hiding nymph.
This time the sound that erupted from his chest sounded suspiciously like a growl. “Keep the others busy, would you?”
Hermes pressed his fist to his heart. “On my honor.”
“I need more than that, you dolt. We all know you have little honor to spare.”
He didn’t wait to hear whatever nonsense Hermes came up with next. Hades struck out for the gardens, weaving through his siblings and ignoring their whispered words.
“Hades is here?”
“I didn’t think Zeus let him out of the Underworld anymore.”
“Do you think he brought one of the dead with him? I’ve always wanted to see a mortal spirit. Supposedly, they still have their wounds from when they died.”
He wasn’t a spectacle for them to stare at while he tried to save the poor nymph they’d likely broken. Just because they were gods didn’t mean they had any right to be such fools.
Hades found her on a bench in the garden, and he realized immediately why the gods had pestered her. Even though she was in a simple peplos and himation, she was stunning.
Her curls were streaked with dark threads, like freshly rained upon loam. Her skin was a glistening caramel, like the treats the humans so loved. The closer Hades walked, the more he realized her skin wasn’t just bronzed. It was dusted with fine spots, like an egg in a nest.
Freckles, he remembered the humans calling them. They were stains from the sun, and he wanted to touch his fingers to them and count each individual one. Each mark was a kiss from her time under the warm rays he so rarely saw.
Would they taste like glistening drops of sunlight?
Hades shook himself from such thoughts. If he continued down that path, then he was no better than his siblings. And he wasn’t the monster. He’d promised himself he would never become like them.
Clearing his throat, he stayed a few paces behind her so he didn’t frighten the poor thing any more than she likely already was.
And then she turned around.
Gods, how she glowed. Her eyes were like the rays of the sun filtering through emerald green leaves, and he remembered what the scent of a summer wind smelled like. He could feel it stroking against his skin and leaving goosebumps in its wake.
This was no nymph. She was more than that, and he had no idea where she’d come from.
She swiped away a few pearlescent drops of tears and sniffed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone was in the gardens.”
“I wasn’t.” He took a step forward, then hesitated. “I didn’t intend to come out here at all but I thought... Well, I thought I ought to check on you.”
The woman frowned. Little lines appeared on her forehead and they were the prettiest marks he’d ever seen. She showed her emotions like a mortal. He hadn’t realized until now how frustrating looking at his siblings had become when they hardly even moved at all. Like statues in their ancient apathy.
“Why?” she asked.
He didn’t have an answer for the question. Hermes had sent him, but he would have come without the other god asking if he’d known what had happened.
He shrugged. “I was told my siblings were cruel to you. And that is unkind of them.”