Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“I haven’t had much time to gather information.”
“Indulge me.” His tone brooks no argument.
I bite down a sigh. “All I have are theories and the guest list. Minos and his people are here, of course. Six members of the Thirteen, including myself, Hephaestus, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysus, and Aphrodite. Then there’s Pan, Adonis, Charon, Eurydice, and Atalanta. Information seems conflicting on if Hermes brought a plus-one or not, but if she did, I haven’t seen them.”
“Godsdamn it, Eris.” He speaks so softly, I choose not to respond. That statement wasn’t meant for me, after all, but for Zeus’s sister—formerly Eris, before she took the title of Aphrodite. Zeus doesn’t let Aphrodite’s presence here distract him for long. “And your theories?”
“Cassandra thinks it might be a matchmaking attempt. Everyone invited is publicly single—or was until recently.” I don’t know what’s going on with Aphrodite and Adonis. They seem to be in one of those on-again, off-again relationships, but they’re never messy in public. Sometimes they’re pictured together for weeks or months at a time and then they seem to be moving in different circles, only to gravitate back toward each other. Even before she took the title of Aphrodite, though, she had to know her brother would never agree to her marrying Adonis. He comes from a legacy family, but they’re far enough down the food chain that they won’t see a new member of the Thirteen in this generation at least, if ever again.
“I didn’t ask what Cassandra thinks. I ask what you think.”
I have to fight not to bristle at how dismissive of her theories he is. I might think there’s another component to this party, but that doesn’t mean Cassandra is wrong. Minos seems far too smart to only have one plan. He arrived in Olympus supposedly so his sons could compete to become Ares but didn’t miss a beat when they failed to do so, pivoting to leverage his information about a supposed enemy to ensure his place in the city.
Something he didn’t speak a word of until they lost.
“I suspect that the matchmaking might be a feint, the same way the Ares tournament was a feint.” I hesitate, but ultimately there’s no reason to keep it secret. “There’s one other thing.” I quickly recap my conversation with Minos in his office. “There’s something else going on here. He’s strangely focused on Cassandra and all but threatened her explicitly. And again last night, the Minotaur did the same. I don’t see how that fits in with the information we already know.”
“Find out what it is.”
I clench my jaw for three beats in an attempt to stuff my frustration down deep. It’s not Zeus’s fault. He’s difficult and abrupt to the point of rudeness, but he’s doing the best he can with the given situation. Knowing that doesn’t make dealing with him any easier, though. “That is what I’m here to do.”
“I’m aware.” He curses. “You know how important this is. We can’t afford to misstep.”
“I will call with any updates.”
“Apollo…” He hesitates. “Be careful.”
“I always am.” I hang up and drag my hand over my face. As frustrating as I often find my conversations with Zeus, this one was timely to remind me of what I’m really here for.
Unfortunately, continuing my seduction of Cassandra will have to wait.
The shower is still going, so I pull on some clothes and head downstairs in search of breakfast. Eating in our room will give us a chance to come up with a game plan for the day beyond make Cassandra come as many times as possible.
I bet there is another entrance to Minos’s office. This place used to belong to Hermes, after all. But that also means it will be cleverly hidden, and with the Minotaur roaming the halls, we’re likely to get caught searching. No, our best bet is going through the door itself, though we don’t have a good excuse to be in there, borderline exhibitionism or no.
We’ll have to try for the office today during one of the downtimes.
There are few people about. I catch sight of Aphrodite and Adonis through the window that looks out over the grounds. They walk down the path in the direction of the maze with their arms linked. She’s laughing at something he said. They make quite the striking couple, but they aren’t my problem right now.
As promised, there’s a breakfast spread waiting in the same room we dined in last night. I consider my options and then grab two plates. Cassandra doesn’t seem to eat heavy breakfasts, but I’m not entirely certain what she likes. I put a little bit of everything on her plate and then get to work on my own.
I’m just finishing up when Hephaestus and Artemis stride into the room. They give me nearly identical long looks and then veer around to the other side of the table, pointedly continuing their conversation and ignoring me.