Wicked Beauty (Dark Olympus Book 3)

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I dig my fingers into the fabric of my dress. It’s do that or punch my brother in his infuriatingly square jaw. No matter how satisfying it would be, I can’t risk injuring my hand. Not if I want to be Ares. Except how the fuck can I be Ares when Patroclus named me Ares’s wife? “You made me a prize to be won! Married off to a stranger! Without even talking to me.”

I managed to hold it together until the party wrapped up and a small group of us ended up in Perseus’s office—me, Perseus, Eris, and Callisto. Me, Zeus, Aphrodite, and Hera. Perseus sits behind his large desk, looking bored with my theatrics. Eris has one hip perched on the desk and is smiling in a way I really don’t like. I love my siblings. I do. But I can never forget that they’re focused on power and ambition before all else. They always have been, even before they became members of the Thirteen. It’s how we were raised, after all.

The only exception was Hercules, and look what happened to him.

Callisto stands in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, seeming to be totally checked out of the conversation. Or argument, more accurately.

Eris examines her nails. “It’s tradition for a wife to be part of Ares taking the title.”

Somehow, in all my preparation, I missed that little detail. I was so focused on what the trials could be that I never bothered to look into the rest. The last Ares had several wives over the course of his time holding the title. It never occurred to me that one of them was the result of him gaining the title itself. “That’s no excuse. You could have chosen someone else. You should have chosen anyone else. Why did it have to be me?”

Perseus steeples his hands before his mouth. “Because you’re a Kasios.”

I flinch. I didn’t ask to be born into this family. I didn’t ask for the consequences I’ve lived with my entire life. “So I’m going to be punished for having our father’s blood in my veins?”

“Stop being dramatic, Helen.”

I hate how patronizing he sounds right now. “No, fuck you. You don’t know what it’s like—”

He pushes slowly to his feet, cutting me off. “I don’t know what it’s like to… What exactly? Sacrifice in the name of the Thirteen? Marry a stranger for the sake of a greater good?” He doesn’t look at Callisto. “I’m not asking anything of you that I haven’t already done myself.”

“I didn’t ask for this,” I finally manage.

“Don’t be a child. You’re not special. None of us asked for this.” He turns for the door. “You were always going to be married off in a power match. You know this.”

Honestly, it’s a minor miracle that I’ve avoided it to this point. My father thought to break me before offering me up as a pawn to someone else, which is the only reason I haven’t had a ring shoved on my finger and been carted down the aisle. But I didn’t expect it from Perseus.

Silly me.

Of course my brother would never let a little thing like my happiness get in the way of his bottom line. Our father taught him too well. He taught all of us too well. Even Zeus, with his petty cruelty, protected Olympus in his own way. No one could protect Olympus from him, but at least we didn’t have to worry about outside enemies with him on the throne. “But—”

“The Thirteen are too fractured, and with the changeovers, that’s causing unrest. I will bring them all to heel, one by one, no matter what it takes. You will do your part by influencing Ares to my side. Exactly like you were taught to.”

The side effect of being destined for a political marriage? It wouldn’t stop being political the moment I said “I do.” I will be walking a tightrope between my spouse and my family, and gods know my family might not be perfect, but they still have my loyalty. No matter how much it kills me to do what’s required. Which means there’s only one answer available to me. “I understand.”

“Good.” He turns and pins me with a cold look. “You will be there tomorrow during the opening ceremony, and you will sit next to Athena in a pretty dress and inspire the candidates to greatness. They need to put on a show for the ages, and I need your help doing it. It’s your duty, Helen. You haven’t forgotten the price of the life we live, have you?”

Shame lances me and it’s everything I can do not to bow my shoulders. No matter how awful it’s been growing up as one of Zeus’s children, the fact remains that when it came to having my material needs met, I wanted for nothing. The best schools, the best clothing, a home in the upper city, moving through the circles of the rich and powerful. All of it was because of the family I was born into.

But, as my brother likes to remind me, there is a price to be paid.

Perseus is right in a way; he’s not asking me for anything he’s not willing to do himself. He married one of Demeter’s daughters, after all. No matter my bitching, even I can recognize that alliance as valuable, even if I don’t fully understand why it had to be Callisto. Of all of us, he’s most aware of the horrifying legacy we carry in our blood, of the sins our father committed while he was Zeus. Perseus is already going out of his way to ensure he follows a different path. He might aggravate me in the extreme, but I can respect that about him.

But…

I don’t want this responsibility. I didn’t choose this.

It doesn’t matter. I lift my chin, blinking past the burning in my eyes. I am a Kasios and Kasioses don’t cry. “I’ll do my duty.” What are my other options? Run? The idea is laughable. The only way out of Olympus is at Poseidon’s hand, and there’s no way he’ll help me. He doesn’t like me, but more than that, he knows how valuable I am to this whole plan. Helping me means alienating Zeus, Aphrodite, and the next Ares, all in one single action. Probably Demeter, too, though that one isn’t guaranteed. Perseus is too measured to do anything so reckless.

“Do I need to put one of Athena’s people on you?”

I draw myself up. “Absolutely not.”

“Fine. Don’t make me regret this decision.” He nods and then he’s gone, leaving me alone with Eris.

Eris pushes off the desk. She’s wearing a slinky gunmetal-silver gown and has her long dark hair pulled back in a complicated series of twists. “I know this isn’t ideal, but he’s right. A new Ares means we’re introducing a wild card into the Thirteen. We need you to pave the way to secure a new Zeus-Ares alliance.”

I love my sister. A lot. But that doesn’t change the fact that like everyone else in my family, she’s out for Olympus first, herself second, and everyone else dead last. Family might rank higher than the greater Olympian population, but not by much. She loves me. She’s just not one to let that get in the way of decisive action—and stirring the pot every chance she gets. “You could have chosen someone else. Anyone else.”

She shrugs, a small smile pulling at the edges of her lips. “You’ll come out on top, Helen. You always do.”

I tilt my head back and stare at the ceiling. “That was quite the backhanded compliment.” My voice is high and tight. I have too much control to throw a fit over this turn of events, but I want nothing more than to throw something at my sister’s smug face. “I’m very angry at you right now.”

“You’ll get over it. It’s dog-eat-dog in this city, especially among the Thirteen. You know that.”

“Yeah, well, I would have secured an airtight Zeus-Ares alliance if you’d let me become the next Ares.”

She jolts like I’ve surprised her. “You can’t really mean you considered stepping forward as a candidate. I thought you gave up that ridiculousness when we were still children.”

It shouldn’t hurt so much that my sister doesn’t take me seriously. Of everyone, I’d think she’d realize my ambitions go more than skin deep. Apparently I was wrong. “I never gave it up.”

She gives a tight smile. “Honey, I know you mean well, but look at the champions. Achilles, Hector, Atalanta, those two strangers. They’re huge and they practically sweat violence. That’s not even getting into the other thirty-odd people who put their names forward. You’re…” She hesitates. “You’re capable, but you’re no warrior, Helen. There’s no way you could win.”

Somehow, this is worse than the fact she hadn’t taken my ambitions seriously. She honestly doesn’t think I could do it. My chest tries to close, and only years of practice keep me from buckling. “I would have won.”

“I guess we’ll never know now.” Eris presses her lips together, looking almost apologetic in a way she wasn’t when she effectively sold me in marriage without asking first. “I’m sorry, Helen. Truly, I am. But you know how it goes. Olympus comes first. Sometimes that demands sacrifice.”

“Keep telling yourself that. You’re not sacrificing a single damn thing.” I’m so angry, I’m shaking. The temptation to let the rage out here, when it’s just family in this room, is almost too strong to ignore. It’s been many years since I brawled with Eris; the last time was when we were teenagers. It would feel so damn good to let off some of this horrible feeling inside me. The betrayal lies thick on my tongue, threatening to choke out everything else.

“Don’t make that face. It’s going to give you wrinkles. This will work out, Helen. Trust us.” She turns and strides out of the office. Eris always did like to leave arguments unfinished.

It’s so damn naive of me to believe my siblings would treat me differently than my father intended to. Helen Kasios, princess of Olympus, destined to marry someone who will bring more power to her family—as if they need it. “Damn it.” I force my hands to unclench the folds of my dress. “I wanted the title so fucking bad.”

“Why not do it anyway?” Callisto’s voice comes from the shadows, low and almost seductive.

I jolt and spin around, my heart racing. I’d completely forgotten she was in the room with us. She melts out of the shadows near the window where she’d been standing, near invisible. In her black dress with her dark hair, she looks like some creature of the night who wandered into this office by accident. I still can’t believe my brother married her. I understand wanting to settle Demeter and her significant power firmly on his side, but surely Eurydice would have been a better choice. She’s so much sweeter; marrying her would mean a much less tumultuous life.

Then again, Olympus would eat Eurydice alive if she became Hera.

“I can’t do it anyway. That’s not how things work.”

“Isn’t it?” Callisto examines her nails. “I’m a fan of asking for forgiveness instead of permission. That’s what your brother did, after all. Why not give him a taste of his own medicine?”

I stare. “You’re trying to cause trouble.”

“Olympus is nothing but trouble.” Something dangerous shifts through her tone. She’s not entirely wrong, but that doesn’t mean she’s right, either. Her mother, Demeter, won the title and brought her daughters into the city proper a little over ten years ago. In that time, Callisto has made her derision of everything connected with the Thirteen known. Before she married my brother, she didn’t show up for parties. She didn’t play the game. She was always willing to step to the line and fight, no matter the opponent.

Now that she’s officially become Hera, I don’t know what to make of her.

I cross my arms over my chest and try to calm my racing heart. No matter how dangerous she seems, she’s just a woman, and I’ve been playing this game longer than she’s been in the city proper. I inject some false cheer into my voice. “It’s really sweet that you’re trying to be a supportive sister-in-law, but I am not about to become a pawn in whatever game you and my brother have going on.”

Callisto gives me a long look, her hazel eyes downright predatory. “This has nothing to do with your brother.”

“Lovely. Now I have some snake oil I’d love to sell you. It’s great for the skin. Practically a fountain of youth.”

Her lips curve. “Regardless of my motivations, we’re talking about you. Is there some rule that says you can’t be both prize and champion?”

I consider her. Despite my better instincts, I’m thinking her words through. “I’d have to check, but probably not. They don’t have a rule against it because I doubt it would have occurred to anyone to even attempt it.” I hate to lend any strength to Eris’s doubt in me, but… “You’ve seen the people who stepped forward. That’s a lot to combat.”

Callisto shrugs. “If you were planning on making an attempt for Ares, you already intended to fight them and come out on top.”

She’s not wrong, but it still sounds like a trap. It’s just…I’m not sure I care. If I compete and win, I knock out two birds with one stone. I become Ares and successfully dodge being married to someone I don’t know. Despite myself, I picture Paris’s smarmy face leering at me as he stepped forward earlier. Or being married to that man. I dodged that fate once and I’m determined to do it again.

Still, one thing doesn’t add up. I carefully wrap up my growing excitement and inject coolness into my tone. “Again, what do you have to gain from suggesting I do this?”

Another shrug. “Maybe I have a thing against people being forced into marriages they didn’t choose. Maybe I want to live vicariously through you because I would have competed to be Ares if I weren’t already Hera. Maybe I want to stick it to my lovely husband in any way I can. My reasonings really don’t matter, do they?” Again, that predator’s smile. “You want to compete, Helen? Do it. All those fuckers who think you’re just a pretty prize to be won? Prove them wrong.”

It feels like she fired an arrow right into the very heart of me. I can’t trust this woman, sister-in-law or no. But…that doesn’t mean her idea is without merit. “You really hate my brother, don’t you?”

“I hate all of the Thirteen.”

“You are one of the Thirteen.” Even if Hera has become a weakened title since my father became Zeus. Over the course of his three wives—three Heras—he stripped the title of what influence it had until it became nothing more than an empty term for Zeus’s spouse.

“Yes. I am.”

The door opens and Perseus steps back into the room. His gaze jumps from me to his wife and back again. “There you are.”

Her smile is downright poisonous. “Just having some girl talk with Helen.”

He doesn’t comment on that, which is just as well. “It’s time to leave, Hera.”

“Of course, Zeus.” The words seem polite enough, but fury lurks in their edges. She turns to me. “Congratulations on your pending nuptials, Helen. I’m sure you’ll make a lovely piece of arm candy for the next Ares.”

I watch her stalk across the room toward my brother, and the small hairs at the back of my neck rise. This woman is more predator than most of the Thirteen, and I can’t shake the feeling that Perseus is going to greatly regret marrying her. For his part, he turns easily and places his hand at the small of her back. Always worried about appearances, my brother, even when no one else is here to witness the lie except me.

I follow them out of the office, and we take the elevator down to the parking garage. Only when we’ve walked well out of hearing range of the guard near the door does Perseus speak. “Do not, under any circumstances, take action to endanger this process. Promise me, Helen.”

Damn him for throwing this curveball at me and then demanding I promise good behavior. Damn his wife for using clever words to poke holes in my already shaky determination to do what my family asks of me. I shake my head slowly. “You know, you really do take after our father.”

He flinches, a barely perceptible movement that instantly has guilt surging through me. It was a low blow, and I did it intentionally to hurt him. I never mean to be a bitch, but sometimes the thorns inside me squeeze too tightly and horrible things burst from my lips. Words meant to strike to the very heart of a person.

Perseus nudges Callisto toward his SUV, and I wonder again that he touches her so easily, as if he’s not worried about losing a hand. Surely he sees the sharp look she sends in his direction every time he gets too close?

He waits for her to climb into the passenger seat before turning to me. “I deserved that, but it changes nothing. Promise me, Helen.”

“I promise,” I lie without hesitation. I don’t even feel guilty while doing it. It’s practically a love language in our family.

He searches my face, the cold thawing for the barest instant. “Whoever becomes Ares will treat you well. I’ll ensure it.”

I laugh bitterly. “How? Are you going to set up surveillance to ensure my spouse doesn’t abuse me? Please.”

“Yes.”

He’s…not joking. I stare. “And then what, Perseus? What will you do if you sentenced me to be married to a monster?”

“It won’t come to that. You’re too savvy, and most of the champions recognize that harming you would alienate a good portion of the Thirteen.”

Surely my ambitious, ruthless brother can’t be this naive. “Most, but not all.”

“The unknowns won’t win, Helen.”

No, they won’t. Because I’m going to. The resolution takes root in my chest, steadying me. I’m going to be Ares. Still, I can’t help pressing. I don’t know what I’m looking for. Reassurance. Comfort. Something. I’m a fool. “What if one of the unknowns wins? What if Paris wins?”

“They won’t harm you. If they do?” My brother turns for the SUV. “I’ll make you a widow.”