Hot as Hades by Alisha Rai

you do. Way more than me.”
    “That’s because you have no conscience.”
    “I do too. For instance, it’s always bothered me that I cheated.”
    “What?”
    Zeus leaned back and propped his ankle on his knee, utterly relaxed. “All those eons ago. I cheated. When we drew lots for who got what kingdom, I fixed it so you would get the Underworld.”
    Hades stared at his brother. Ordinarily, he would have blown up at this revelation of trickery and all of its implications, but his heart was too heavy. Zeus had always known the best times to deliver bad news. “Why would you do that?”
    “Because it was the most important.”
    “What?”
    “Look, there’s my place, the sky, but I’m a pretty hands-off kind of guy. The mortals on Earth are all there for such a short time, so I don’t have to really do anything but keep the others up in the clouds happy and in line. I knew I’d do well in the sky. I knew Poseidon wouldn’t be able to handle anything more demanding than fish or maybe a mermaid, so I made sure he got the water.”
    Hades opened his mouth, but then closed it again. The last time Poseidon had talked to him, he’d kept calling him bruh . He was well suited for the easy, aqueous lifestyle.
    “But then there was the Underworld. This is where the mortal’s eternal soul goes, man. It required someone who was just and decent and hardworking. You were the only one of us who showed a glimmer of any potential. So I made sure you got it.”
    “Don’t flatter me.”
    “I’m not, damn it. Do you think I like feeling like I’m lacking in something? Seriously?” Zeus looked sober for the first time that Hades could ever recall. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with you and Persephone. I guess I had hoped that over the years you’d gotten so desperate… Well, never mind. I figure you’ll be firming up your world now so I won’t be able to pierce it again.”
    “Yes.” Now that Zeus had come through physically, it would be easier to see where the weakness in his defenses existed. Though he didn’t want to do a thing. He wanted to rip down all the barriers so anyone could come in, so Persephone would find her way back. That previous territoriality was gone, as if it had never existed.
    But he wasn’t the only one who resided here, and he had a whole kingdom of souls to protect and keep safe. So the barrier would stay up, bigger and badder than before, particularly from his meddling little brother.
    As if he was reading his thoughts, Zeus sighed. “Very well. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go get Persephone.”
    Hades couldn’t speak as Zeus left, his heart too heavy to allow anything as mundane as words to leave it.
     
    Persephone couldn’t seem to stop crying, though she knew that there was little her tears could actually accomplish.
    She’d materialized a suitcase, but all she had put in so far was the black rose Hades had given her from Tartarus, still as fresh and velvety as the day he’d conjured it. She cradled it to her cheek. How could she leave him?
    Sure, there were things she didn’t love about the Underworld itself. She missed her meadow, and sunshine, and fresh air. But it wasn’t all bad here…because here had Hades.
    She allowed the rose to soak in her tears and finally, with a sigh, got to her feet. She ignored the suitcase and her open closet—she could materialize any garment she wished, thanks to Hades. She drifted to her dresser and placed the rose on it, prepared to leave it behind as well.
    “Don’t cry.”
    She sniffed and turned to find Zeus in the door. Lines of distress marred his otherwise boyishly handsome face. She’d always liked this male, particularly when he’d allowed the rumor to spread that she was his daughter, giving her some extra protection when she’d been a powerless goddess. She didn’t need that protection now. “Is it time, then?”
    “It is.” Zeus hesitated. “I need to get something off my chest. Especially since you’ll learn