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“Simple. I know something about him that he doesn’t want getting out, and he has to pay me to keep quiet.”
“That’s what blackmail is,” I forced through gritted teeth.
“Is it? Huh.” He shrugged. “Then yeah, I am blackmailing him. You mortals have funny words for things. What does extortion have to do with mail? And why would the color of it matter?”
It was everything I could do not to punch in that smirk. “Is everything a joke to you? What’s wrong with you, Barba? We’ve been here two whole days and you’re making people’s lives a misery. Omiros gave you all the money he had. What do you expect him to do?”
“I expect him to get creative.” He shook the coin purse at me. “I did.”
“Give it to me now.”
He laughed. “Look around you, half-mortal. Where do you think you are? Commands are nothing without power.” His forehead pressed against mine. “What’s your power, Aella Vanda? Is it the ability to make me give you this money?”
I held still, face blank. I couldn’t be certain, but there was less mocking in that question and more... something else.
“Didn’t think so.” His tone tightened my jaw. “Want to know what my power can do? It’ll make you turn around and walk away, forgetting what you saw.” He stepped around, circling me. “All I have to do is tell you Trixie listened to your conversation in the bathroom this morning and told me everything.”
Roaring sounded in my ears.No, please no.
“You and Alexander Damien?” His laugh grated on my ears. “Never in a century would I have thought the golden boy had it in him. Consorting not just with a half-mortal, but a Sisyphean at that?
“He’s right, you know. His father would be none too pleased if he found out about the two of you or that you’re bothworking to spring a monster trap.” He hummed, shaking his head. “Still trying to figure out what that means, but you could save me the trouble and tell me.”
My glare answered that question.
“Will you kill him now?” Selene demanded. “By now, if you claim you do not want him dead as much as me, you’re lying.”
“No? Oh well.” He balanced such a perfect tone of menace and amusement. “Doesn’t much matter. I’m sure Trixie will find out soon enough. What does matter is that I have business in this academy, and myHell Boysand I are going to carry out that business with no interference from you or your secret lover. I know this because I have the power of your secrets, my darling.”
He halted in front of me—smiling, though gods knew why. “Now I’ve shown you mine. You show me yours.”
I tipped my chin. “There’s nothing for me to show,” I said lightly. “My kisses calm people. They don’t make them into better people. I don’t have the power to force you to give up the money.”
Sebastian brushed past me to leave.
“But I bet the headmaster does.”
He ground to a halt.
“Since Trixie was listening—fuck her, by the way—she heard Alexander tell me the story of Lysandros and what Headmaster Drakos did to make sure there was never a repeat. Titans aren’t supposed to talk to Sisypheans, so what’s he going to say when I tell him you’re blackmailing one?”
Slowly, stiffly, he turned. Sebastian wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Theron and Nitsa said something strange at the placement. Rumors about you having a power that lets you hide from spies. But it’s not your spies that are the problem. It’s the council’s,”I said. “I assume they keep a close eye on every demigod with ‘powers that can topple kingdoms.’”
His eyes narrowed, but his lips didn’t move.
“There are only five children of Hades in Olympia, and my friends didn’t know a thing about four of them until you all walked through the gates. I’ve been wondering about you like you’ve been wondering about me,” I said, drawing closer. “Mostly, I’m curious to know why someone who’s figured out a way to hide from the law would suddenly voluntarily surrender for military service?”
Sebastian lifted his shoulders as his mouth turned down. “I want to do my duty. I hate monsters as much as the next demigod.”
“He lies, but you know this. You’re doing well, girl. Now, deliver the killing blow.”
I tried to push her voice out of my head. “We both know that’s not it. You’re here for a reason.” I pointed at the coin purse. “Hard to make money when you’re living in a cave, drinking your own urine and enjoying the company of fleas.”
“I imagine so. You must tell me all about it sometime.”
“Oooh,” I crowed, chuckling. “Someone’s losing their fake smirky,my darlingact. How ironic that you don’t like your secrets picked at.”
