Free Wrath of Hades by Annie Rachel Cole

that I don’t want people getting hurt because of me, and Ethan, no more trying to protect me from everything. It’s not possible. I have to fight my battles.”
    Ethan growled.
    “And don’t growl at me either. I know. I know. It’s part of the alpha male thing.” Raven rolled her eyes at him. “But you’ve got to remember. I’m the supreme alpha!”
    Ethan growled again, but a smile covered his whole face.
    “I think—” Diane was cut off by her phone. She pulled it out of her pocket and flipped it open. “Hey, Ryan, any change?”
    Raven looked at Ethan and nodded her head toward the kitchen.
    “He’s awake that’s excellent.”
    Ethan nodded.
    “He is? Why?” Diane looked at Raven and shook her head. “You’re sure he wants to see her.”
    Raven frowned. When people wanted to see her, it was never for anything good.
    “Okay. We’ll see you in a little bit.” Diane closed the phone and turned to Raven. “That was Ryan.”
    “Is everything okay?” asked Raven.
    “Our friend is finally awake and he’s asking to see you,” said Diane.
    “For me? I don’t even know who your friend is. Why would he be asking for me?” The words flowed out of Raven’s mouth in almost one breath of air.
    “He knows you.”
    “But what does he want?” asked Raven. “Besides, who is he?”
    “I don’t know what he wants. All I know is Sam’s asking for you.” Diane put the phone back into her pocket.
    “Sam? That wouldn’t be Sam Westing, would it?” asked Ethan.
    “Sam Westing? The scary house, Sam Westing?” Raven’s eyes were as wide as saucers.
    “Why do all the kids think his house is so scary? I just don’t understand it.” Diane shook her head.
    “I can’t go.” Raven’s voice squeaked.
    “You have to. Sam was in a car accident. Now he’s asking for you. You have to go.” Diane put her hands on her hips.
    Raven shook her head. “I don’t have to go anywhere. Besides, you told me not to go outside. It was way too dangerous for me to do that.”
    “Yes, you have to go . Sam is the son of the Oracle, as in the Oracle of Delphi. He rarely asks for anything, but he’s asking specifically for you. You will show him some respect and go see him.”
    Raven sighed and rolled her eyes. “If I have to go, I’ll go.” For some silly reason, Sam Westing scared her.
    “Don’t worry. I’ll go with you.” Ethan hugged Raven.
    “You’re in a huggy mood today.” Raven tried pushing out of his arms.
    “I almost lost you. It’s not happening again,” said Ethan.
    “Isn’t it the other way around?” teased Raven. She hugged him back.
    “Does it matter?” he asked.
    “You two need to get your jackets and go get in the car. I think we should take someone else with us.” Diane put on her jacket and picked up her purse.
    “I’ll grab Billy and Pauline on the way out.” Ethan gave Raven a quick kiss on the cheek before he turned and headed to the kitchen.
    “Go get your jacket. I’ll wait for you in the kitchen,” said Diane.
    Raven ran upstairs to her room and grabbed her jacket and phone. She stopped in front of the mirror and glanced at her reflection. The very thought of Ethan caring for her, made her feel warm and tingly all over, so that even the thought of seeing Sam Westing didn’t seem so scary. But one thing did bother her. Ethan was kissing her everywhere but on her lips.
    She touched the pendant and ran back downstairs.

CHAPTER 5
     
     
    I’ve never thought of myself as pretty.
    For one, my skin is too pale. I can’t tan, but I burn really well even with layers sunscreen covering me, and believe me I layer on a lot of the stuff. My skin is just not a good combination with the Texas sun.
    And then there’s my black-blue hair. It’s too—too different. I can’t color it. I’ve tried a lot over the years. It just refuses to take the color. I can’t even cut it short either, because I end up looking like a poodle that stuck its paw in an electrical outlet. And