“Why?” I ask. His lips flatten, and I raise my hands. “It’s an honest question. Allying with Zai worked today. It worked.”
“You got lucky.”
I snort. “I picked the right ally, Hades. And growing up the way I did, I know what to look for. Thieves are, by nature and training, untrustworthy, backstabbing, and conniving. So just because I didn’t run this decision by your committee of dictatorness doesn’t mean I wasn’t smart about it.”
Hades stares at me, jaw working like he’s trying to figure out how to deal with me. Which I’m guessing doesn’t happen often to him. When he finally speaks, it’s softer. “Lyra, I swear if you don’t take this seriously—”
“If Zai hadn’t figured out the answer in time, then I’d have climbed down.” Hopefully without mishap. Which reminds me. “The others—”
“All made it safely down the worst part of the mountain. They’re still walking the rest of the way. And the one champion who fell survived.”
I blow out a breath of relief. “Amir.”
“Can’t be healed, since he’s not a Mind virtue, but is being looked at.”
I nod. “That’s good—”
He grunts. “Your stubborn insistence on saving everyone around you—”
“Maybe not Dex,” I mutter out the side of my mouth.
“What?”
What does he mean, what? Hasn’t he been paying attention? “Dex Soto. Athena’s champion. Took a swipe at me with my own relic. Tried to kill me on the road into town yesterday—”
“He did what?” His voice descends to something fiery.
I ignore the interruption. “He’s on my Save Last list.”
Hades stares at me with the kind of incredulity usually reserved for Felix and sometimes the other pledges. Only with them, it’s…belittling. With Hades, it feels like I won a small point. “You’re making lists now?” he asks slowly.
“I always make lists.”
“Like who to save last? Not who not to save at all?”
I shrug.
“You should know that Athena’s blessing gave Dex Soto foreknowledge,” he says. “I suspected it in the last challenge when he started climbing so fast, but this time he was dressed and ready.”
“So was Rima.”
He shrugs. “Trust me. Dex is getting information on the Labors early. I’m not sure how early, though.”
“Kim Dae-hyeon has a necklace that glowed when he asked the Fates a question,” I add, since we’re cataloging threats.
He nods, then says, “That’s not your only problem. I think you’re going to need to add some more names to your list.”
My heart falters a little. “Why?”
“You didn’t see those champions’ faces when Zai flew you away. You made more enemies today than the ones you already had.”
Well…hells. This is where my curse is going to start kicking in hard, then. “What was I supposed to do? Go it alone for every challenge?”
“You have me—”
A swirl of smoke like a tornado suddenly fills the room behind Hades, and when it dissipates, a massive black dog with three heads is standing in its place. Three heads filled with giant, razor-sharp teeth.
41
Hades’ Pet
I swallow back my scream when the dog doesn’t immediately attack.
And it’s a good thing this place has high ceilings, because the beast is at least fifteen feet tall at the middle head. His coat is smooth and shiny and shows every ridge of his muscled body. He wears black spiked armor around his neck and shoulders, strapped under his chest, and more goes up each snout and over the crown of each head. All of his ears stand straight up, tall and pointed and alert.
“Oh my gods,” I whisper, shuffling my feet to stand closer to Hades. “Is that—”
“Cerberus.” Hades doesn’t sound too happy. “What are you doing here, mutt?”
I elbow Hades. “Don’t call him a mutt.”
He delivers a glare that dares me to try that again. “He’s my dog. I call him what I want.”
Cerberus growls.
I freeze. “Is he going to eat me?”
