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
âFalling for me is dangerous.â
âYou can do this, LyraâŚbecause youâre mine.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
âSeems to me that love can calm storms, end wars, make fools of smart people, and bridge the gap between life and death. Doesnât that make it the most powerful?â
âIâm not someone you thank, Lyra. Iâm someone you fear.â
âYou have your entire life to be an asshole, Chance. Why not take a night off?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
âThis kiss will mark you as mine.â
âA dark king and queen, ruling Olympus and the Underworld side by side. This could be interesting.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
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
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
âI canât give you a future, Lyra. I canât care for you the way mortals need. Itâs not in me. But I want you.â
âSo, youâre the asshole who put Lyraâs life in jeopardy by making her play in these fucked-up games.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
âAnd to answer your earlier questionâŚmaybe I enjoy gazing at you, my star.â
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