It was the same city she’d glimpsed from Theron’s house, only closer and more real.
“Oh…my.” Something warmed in the center of Casey’s chest. A feeling like she’d finally come home.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Hades said at her side. “Tiyrns. The city of white. Created for a hero, wouldn’t you say?” Casey could only nod. “Be a pity to see it and all of Argolea disappear.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your sister, Isadora, is the only heir. By Argolean law, no one but a member of the royal family may rule the land. Your father, the king, is dying from old age. And she’s as sick as you are. If she passes without producing an heir, the rule of Argolea will fall to the Council of Elders, who believe the Argonauts do nothing but instill fear. Imagine, Acacia, what will happen when your sister is gone.”
Dread welled in Casey’s chest, and suddenly she understood why Hades had taken her to the Underworld. “They’ll be wiped out by Atalanta’s army.”
“Yes.”
She looked back over the valley, and what was left of her heart broke.
“There’s only one way to prevent that from happening,” Hades said beside her.
“How?”
“Search your soul and you’ll find your answer.”
She did. And knew.
The only way was for her sister to live. As if she’d heard it a thousand times, the prophecy Hades had spoken of earlier ran through her mind.
And as it did, she thought of Theron and why he’d been sent to find her. All of his gruff actions suddenly made sense. Except…when she remembered the way he’d looked at her when she was beneath him only hours ago…Something didn’t add up.
He’d brought her here yesterday, and still he hadn’t turned her over. And when he’d come home last night he’d seemed angry, but not at her. He’d been angry with her father.
It hit her then.
He’d changed his mind. Even before they’d made love. Even knowing his actions were possibly going to destroy his world, he wasn’t willing to let her die to save her sister. His fiancée.
“Answer me one thing,” she said softly, staring at the castle, knowing Hades was reading her thoughts but needing to put this one question into words. “Am I his soul mate?”
“Yes.”
She drew in a breath.
“Nasty gift from my brother’s vindictive wife. Hera knew if Theron ever found you, he wouldn’t let you fulfill your destiny.”
Her destiny. Casey nearly laughed at the irony. Either way she looked at it, she was destined to die. And that truly sucked, especially when she realized she’d finally found the one place she belonged, and the one person she belonged to. But life for her had never been easy. It made sense that death wouldn’t be either.
The only question left was how it would happen. On her terms or not.
She slanted a sideways look at the god beside her. “Am I to be tortured in Tartarus as well?”
His smile was actually warm, so at odds with everything else she sensed about him. “No. You’ll sail to the Isles of the Blessed.”
She looked back at the castle. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It’s not. It’s actually quite nice.”
“And if I go to her? My sister?”
“She will rule until her time is at an end.”
That didn’t sound so bad either.
“And what about Theron? What will happen to him?”
Hades shrugged. “The Argonaut’s fate is none of my concern.”
“Surely you know, though.”
A bored look crossed his face. “If you go to Isadora? Nothing. Things will be for him as they were before. If you decide to go back to the half-breed colony…” He lifted one shoulder, dropped it. “He may be punished for not following orders and bringing you back.”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “May be?”
His mischievous smile returned. “I’m not an oracle, Acacia.”
“You’re a god, though.”
“Yes, but even the greatest of gods cannot tell the future. Free will and all that crap, you know.”
Free will.
Casey looked out over the valley. Closed her eyes and tuned in to her senses. When not even a tingle ran over her back, she had her answer.
She opened her eyes and looked up at Hades. “Take me home.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
He felt like he’d taken forty thousand volts to the chest. Which he probably had.
Gritting his teeth, Theron scrambled to all fours and tried to push himself upright. The room spun. His head lolled on his shoulders. On a groan, he dropped down to the ground again and took several deep breaths before pushing up once more.
Stars fired off in his line of vision, but he kept going.
A roar tore out of him as he finally sat up and collapsed back against the wall. He was sweating already. Shaky. That fucking god…
Boots clomped outside on his deck seconds before he heard voices. Voices he recognized.
“In here!” he managed in a raspy voice.
The door to his bedroom flew open. Through hazy vision he saw Gryphon, Cerek and Phineus file into the room.