Monster Song (My Beautiful Monsters #2) - J.B. Trepagnier Page 0,2

Like all monsters, demigods trying to prove themselves hunted my father. He taught me everything I know, but they killed him when I was only fifteen years old.

I was the only minotaur alive after that, and I was captured and thrown into the labyrinth before I could ever fall in love. I met my death there before I could ever have a child or experience love. It never really happened in the Underworld either. I devoted myself to protecting Persephone from her mother.

It was hitting me now. River was someone I could love. She didn’t shy away from me when she saw my monster. In fact, she seemed rather attracted to him. She didn’t judge any of us. I knew I had competition, but I thought we were all going to have to get used to her leaving with her father when this was over. Maybe Hell could use a minotaur.

I finally snapped back to attention and started paying attention to the conversation. First and foremost, I had a job, and that was to save my queen. River’s father was here to meet her and give her answers, but he also promised his help.

“Solron is dying for Bael to let her out and play. She’s a shadow demon, and she will probably end up being a queen of Hell. You say he has your wife in a temple? Is it well lit? I know nothing about your temples. We find that sort of thing odd in Hell.”

“I’ve seen the temple,” Demos said. “It’s old school, like the Greeks used to build, aside from the stained glass window in the back. That was just pure vanity. There’s no electricity. Just natural light, candled, an enormous statue of Demeter, and a whole lot of pink gauze. I thought we could break through the stained glass window.”

“And your queen could get killed. It’s not needed,” Barbatos said. “All you need is a shadow demon, and we have one that likes to go out and play. Now, her methods might be a little twisted for the Underworld, but—”

“I like her already. Let’s invite her,” Pavlina said.

Tryphon just sipped his wine.

“One of the Olympians cursed an innocent woman with snakes for hair and a gaze that turns anything to stone. We’re familiar with twisted.”

Barbatos just laughed.

“Yes, I’ve read some literature about the Olympians and their curses. It’s a little passive-aggressive if you ask me. Solron will get creative and draw it out until you are begging her to kill you. All she needs is a shadow to get into that temple. She’s an expert assassin, and she and Bael torture people for foreplay. She can take out anyone around Persephone and get her out safely with another shadow. Once Persephone is safe, we can attack the temple without risking your queen.”

“Well, let’s do that,” River said. “Persephone is safe, and we can send Demeter to the pits of Tartarus.”

“Easy, River. It’s not that simple. There are seven kings of Hell, but they all look to Bael for answers. Solron wants to do this. She loves this kind of thing. Bael isn’t sure he wants to risk our people for a realm we’ve never had any type of alliance with before. He allowed me to come because you’re involved. My legions follow me. For what it’s worth, most of Hell wants to help, and he usually gives Solron what she wants. Almost everyone knows we stopped that uprising with help. We helped the Fae when they needed it, and we should extend that to the Underworld too.”

“So, what now?” I asked.

“I suggest we sleep on it,” Barbatos said. “Bael is holding council meetings and intends to decide in a week.”

That was fine for Bael, but Demeter could check in on River at any time to find out why she hadn’t used that knife on Hades. It would have been pretty obvious she hadn’t if she was still alive. And they could call us to fight at any minute.

Chapter 3

River

M

y father kissed my hand as we got up from the table. I don’t know what I was expecting. I was way too old to be tucked into bed, but maybe we could have a nightcap where I got to know him a little better. All I learned over this dinner was that he was royalty, and he stole my mom’s pet Hellhound she bought from some rogue demon. I learned very little about Hell politics except for the fact that one of their kings was willing to