The Iron Queen (Daughters of Zeus) by Kaitlin Bevis Read Free Book Online Page B

Really looked at me in that way that felt like she was looking through me and weighing my every thought and intention. Whatever she saw must have terrified her because the blood drained from her face.
    “Okay,” she whispered, visibly shaken. “I’ll help reset the rules when you ask me to.”
    I nodded and turned to leave, then paused when I remembered the flash of jealousy in her eyes when she’d asked if I loved Persephone. I’d seen that look before. So had Minthe and Laurel, two women I’d once cared for who Hera turned into plants so even their souls would remain out of my reach.
    “I assume this goes without saying, but if you or any of yours so much as look in my wife’s direction with ill intent, I will end your existence.”
    “Haha,” she said dryly, but I heard the fear in her voice.
    “You think I’m kidding? Aren’t you curious why Thanatos didn’t end up here after going after Persephone?” I turned, met her eyes, and let her mull that over.
    “I’ll bite. Why?”
    “I shattered his soul.”

Chapter XII
     
    Persephone
     
    “You were saying?” If Zeus’ stifled yawn were any indication, he was bored. The metal folding chair he’d summoned looked completely out of place in his misty palace. He straddled it, one arm dangling over the back.
    “I—” The words wouldn’t come. I tried again. “I—”
    “What did I tell you about stalling?” Zeus raised his hand, electricity flickering between his fingers.
    “No!” I screamed as the lightning hit me again. My flesh sizzled and cooked like bacon. A bright light seared my eyes and then pain, immeasurable pain, as my body knit itself back together.
    “I—” I tried again, desperate, but the words wouldn’t come. Frustrated tears sizzled on my face. This wasn’t fair. I was ready for this to end! I was willing to give up everything! Why couldn’t I swear fealty to him?
    My mind flashed back to when I’d almost charmed Hades into swearing fealty to me. That was when I figured out that Zeus had been controlling me.
    “I won’t do it!” I’d screamed to Aphrodite back when I thought she might be Zeus in disguise. “ I won’t be used against him. Never. I will never charm him! I will never act with the intention of hurting him! You can’t make me!”
    Laughter bubbled up in my throat, high pitched and hysterical, bitter with the taste of tears. This was just too good. I’d been tortured for months because of a promise I made to Thanatos, but it was all worth it now because that same stupid divine technicality was going to keep Zeus from winning. Here I’d always thought of the inability to lie as a weakness. Now it was my weapon.
    I couldn’t swear fealty to Zeus because I couldn’t betray Hades! Relief flowed through me in joyous waves. Giving Zeus access to the Underworld would cause more harm to Hades than anything else I could ever do. No matter what Zeus did to me, I couldn’t swear.
    Oh gods, it didn’t matter what Zeus did to me. He’d never stop. Oh gods. This was never going to end. The relief turned to dread and settled in my stomach like a rock. I was never getting out of this. Hades would have come for me by now if he knew where to find me, and as much as I balked at the fact that I needed to be rescued, I couldn’t escape on my own. Without the ability to swear fealty, I had no way out.
    But maybe that was a good thing. Zeus didn’t know I couldn’t swear, so he’d waste time trying to get me to crack. “I will never tell Zeus why.” Whispering the soft oath beneath my breath bound me to it for better or worse. If he learned why I couldn’t swear fealty to him, he’d find another way to gain access to my realms. Maybe I couldn’t fight Zeus, but I could buy time for those who could. Hades…
    This was bigger than me, bigger than Hades. This was about everyone who lived in Mom’s realm and the Underworld. Every single being who would ever or had ever lived. Zeus was insane, and it was my