I have never been favored by the gods. Far from it, thanks to Zeus.
Living as a cursed office clerk for the Order of Thieves, I just keep my head down and hope the capricious beings who rule from Olympus wonât notice me. Not an easy feat, given San Francisco is Zeusâ patron city, but I make do. I survive. Until the night I tangle with a different god.
The worst god. Hades.
For the first time ever, the ruthless, mercurial King of the Underworld has entered the Crucibleâthe deadly contest the gods hold to determine a new ruler to sit on the throne of Olympus. But instead of fighting their own battles, the gods name mortals to compete in their stead.
So why in the Underworld did Hades choose meâa sarcastic nobody with a curse on her shouldersâas his champion? And why does my heart trip every time he says Iâm his?
I donât know if Iâm a pawn, bait, or something else entirely to this dangerously tempting god. How can I, when he has more secrets than stars in the sky?
Because Hades is playing by his own rules ⌠and Death will win at any cost.
Why You Should Read This Book
Tropes
Trigger Warnings
The Games Gods Play
âIf you really meant that, you wouldnât kiss me for him. To show him. Youâd kiss me because you canât not kiss me. Because I am the only thing you can see.â
âI picked you because when we met, despite being afraid, you didnât back down or cower, even from a god. Especially from the god of death.â
âIf I could kill the god of death, I would.â
âShe is mine. And I protect whatâs mine.â
âShe can Medusa me, for all I care. At least then I can turn assholes like you to stone with a single glance.â
âYou can do this, LyraâŚbecause youâre mine.â
âTwenty-three years ago, when I was still in my motherâs womb, she and my father came here to make an offering and pray for blessings on the birth. Her water broke, and your brother apparently took offense at her defiling his sacred sanctuary. As punishment, he cursed her babyâme, as it happensâthat no one would ever love me. There. End of story.â
âA dark king and queen, ruling Olympus and the Underworld side by side. This could be interesting.â
âThis is all I was thinking about during that farce of a meeting. Tasting you again. Making you light up for me.â
âIâm warning you that nothing is ever as it seems with my brother. And when he wants something, he can be the most ruthless of us all.â
âA father who is looking down the barrel of being returned to the Overworld like a relic that no longer works. You need me to win to keep you here, living in the manner to which youâve grown accustomed.â
âI will never force you into something you donât want. But make no mistake, Lyra. I want you to be mine. Not a champion. Not a thief. Not a mortal. Mine. And no one elseâs.â
âI called Athena a mean word and the wittle, baby goddess got her feewings huwt.â
âFalling for me is dangerous.â
âI see the same person you saw in Persephone. A soft heart that cares too much. More than the world sees, because you make sure of it. Because the world should never know, or theyâll take advantage of you.â
âYou have your entire life to be an asshole, Chance. Why not take a night off?â
âAnd to answer your earlier questionâŚmaybe I enjoy gazing at you, my star.â
âSo, youâre the asshole who put Lyraâs life in jeopardy by making her play in these fucked-up games.â
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