The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus Book 4)
love scandals he’d heard about, the West Wind falling in love with a mortal guy didn’t seem very shocking. ‘I guess not. So … Cupid struck you with his arrow, and you fell in love.’
Favonius snorted. ‘You make it sound so simple. Alas, love is never simple. You see, the god Apollo also liked Hyacinthus. He claimed they were just friends. I don’t know. But one day I came across them together, playing a game of quoits –’
There was that weird word again. ‘Quoits?’
‘A game with those hoops,’ Nico explained, though his voice was brittle. ‘Like horseshoes.’
‘Sort of,’ Favonius said. ‘At any rate, I was jealous. Instead of confronting them and finding out the truth, I shifted the wind and sent a heavy metal ring right at Hyacinthus’s head and … well.’ The wind god sighed. ‘As Hyacinthus died, Apollo turned him into a flower, the hyacinth. I’m sure Apollo would’ve taken horrible vengeance on me, but Cupid offered me his protection. I’d done a terrible thing, but I’d been driven mad by love, so he spared me, on the condition that I work for him forever.’
CUPID.
The name echoed through the ruins again.
‘That would be my cue.’ Favonius stood. ‘Think long and hard about how you proceed, Nico di Angelo. You cannot lie to Cupid. If you let your anger rule you … well, your fate will be even sadder than mine.’
Jason felt like his brain was turning back into wind. He didn’t understand what Favonius was talking about or why Nico seemed so shaken, but he had no time to think about it. The wind god disappeared in a swirl of red and gold. The summer air suddenly felt oppressive. The ground shook, and Jason and Nico drew their swords.
So.
The voice rushed past Jason’s ear like a bullet. When he turned, no one was there.
You come to claim the sceptre.
Nico stood at his back, and for once Jason was glad to have the guy’s company.
‘Cupid,’ Jason called, ‘where are you?’
The voice laughed. It definitely didn’t
sound
like a cute baby angel’s. It sounded deep and rich, but also threatening – like a tremor before a major earthquake.
Where you least expect me
, Cupid answered.
As Love always is.
Something slammed into Jason and hurled him across the street. He toppled down a set of steps and sprawled on the floor of an excavated Roman basement.
I would think you’d know better,
Jason Grace.
Cupid’s voice whirled around him.
You’ve found true love, after all. Or do you still doubt yourself?
Nico scrambled down the steps. ‘You okay?’
Jason accepted his hand and got to his feet. ‘Yeah. Just sucker punched.’
Oh, did you expect me to play fair?
Cupid laughed.
I am the god of love. I am
never
fair.
This time, Jason’s senses were on high alert. He felt the air ripple just as an arrow materialized, racing towards Nico’s chest.
Jason intercepted it with his sword and deflected it sideways. The arrow exploded against the nearest wall, peppering them with limestone shrapnel.
They ran up the steps. Jason pulled Nico to one side asanother gust of wind toppled a column that would have crushed him flat.
‘Is this guy Love or Death?’ Jason growled.
Ask your friends
,
Cupid said.
Frank, Hazel and Percy met my counterpart, Thanatos. We are not so different. Except Death is sometimes kinder.
‘We just want the sceptre!’ Nico shouted. ‘We’re trying to stop Gaia. Are you on the gods’ side or not?’
A second arrow hit the ground between Nico’s feet and glowed white-hot. Nico stumbled back as the arrow burst into a geyser of flame.
Love is on every side
, Cupid said.
And no one’s side. Don’t ask what Love can do for you.
‘Great,’ Jason said. ‘Now he’s spouting greeting card messages.’
Movement behind him: Jason spun, slicing his sword through the air. His blade bit into something solid. He heard a grunt and he swung again, but the invisible god was gone. On the paving stones, a trail of golden
ichor shimmered – the blood of the gods.
Very good, Jason
, Cupid said.
At least you can sense my presence. Even a glancing hit at true love is more than most heroes manage.
‘So now I get the sceptre?’ Jason asked.
Cupid laughed.
Unfortunately, you could not wield it. Only a child of the Underworld can summon the dead legions. And only an officer of Rome can lead them.
‘But …’ Jason wavered. He
was
an officer. He was praetor. Then he remembered all his second thoughts about where he belonged. In New
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