The god of wine and parties disappears in a silent blink.
I’m not the only one who turns in place, looking the cave over. A kilometer isn’t far, but it’s rough terrain. Carrying only two bottles won’t win us anything, either. That little, almost casual slip in about nighttime makes me think faster is better, but if I’m going to lose this damned curse, I need to win soon. And this one seems easy enough to try.
“First things first,” Dex interrupts my debating.
I tense, able to guess what’s coming. Sure enough, he stares directly at me, and the rest of the champions either stare with him or glance between us in question. Only Zai scoots over to stand beside me.
“We can all agree that Hades can’t be king, yeah?” Dex asks the group, never looking away from me.
Some nod. Some don’t.
I tilt my head. “He can hear and see you. You know that, right?”
Based on the way Dex’s dark eyes narrow, as well as a few others’—Amir, Dae, Samuel, and Neve—I already know that threat was the wrong way to go.
“What do you want?” I ask Dex directly. “I can promise to not win.” Never mind about losing the curse. I’m used to it anyway, and I can’t do much without it if I’m dead.
“We don’t believe that,” Dae says, running a hand through his glossy black hair. “Rima said—”
Rima cuts him off, pink tingeing the naturally warm, brown skin on her cheeks. “That you’re dangerous,” she says.
I peer at her more closely. The way she did that felt…suspicious. Like she didn’t want him to say something in particular.
She does offer me a small wince, which might be an apology. “Hades has already shown he’ll break rules to help you. That axe isn’t mortal. It—”
“Was the relic that came to me over ten years ago when I hit a certain level as a thief,” I tell them. “All thieves get one eventually.” Of course, I never made it to actual thief, but they don’t need to know that.
They glance between one another, doubt etched into their features.
“And the vest, before you ask, is also mine from before.” Granted, Boone brought it to me after I was named Hades’ champion, and it’s for any pledges, not me in particular, but that’s just quibbling. “I’m not the only one who brought mortal tools into this.”
Other than the backpack I think Dae lost, I’m actually not sure that’s true. But they could have, and that’s the point.
“Lies,” Neve hisses, shoving her red hair over one shoulder. “They are cheating, and we all know it. For sure.”
Fuck. This went sideways fast.
“Side with us,” Dex announces to the others. “We take Lyra out of the equation tonight, and that eliminates Hades from the Labors. It’s the only way.”
I take a jerking step back, already looking for which way to run.
Samuel clears his throat. “I don’t condone killing—”
“I didn’t say we have to kill her,” Dex says.
“Well, that’s a relief,” I mutter.
“Not helping,” Zai whispers at me.
Dex ignores us both. “As long as she’s too injured to compete, she’s out. She can’t get healing unless she wins the Labor.”
They stare at me, and I hold my breath.
They’re really thinking about it. All of them.
Should I be running right about now?
Desperation surges, raw and sharp, as my eyes dart from one champion to the next, and I wonder who will attack first.
49
To Run, Or Not To Run
“I have a tip about Aphrodite’s Labor,” I blurt out.
Dex scowls. So does Neve. “More lies,” she snaps.
I shake my head and look straight at Dex. “She told me the day you tried to attack me on the road.”
Doubt flits across his features, there and then gone behind a reinforced scowl. “I don’t believe you.”
I shrug. “Anyone who doesn’t hurt me…or any other champion…during this Labor, I’ll tell you the tip after we’re all out of the cave.”
Dex’s hands form fists at his sides, but it’s Rima who speaks. “If any of you help Lyra, we’ll assume you’re on her side.”
I see the way Dae reaches over to squeeze Rima’s arm and the subtle nod she gives him in return.
