Page 29 of A Kiss From Death (Oath of Vengeance #1)

“ Nightmare ,” Hade’s deep timbre travels all the way down my spine, turning my insides molten.

His large hands engulf my small ones, his broad chest pressing dangerously close to mine.

He appears calm and collected, but I catch the way his jaw grinds the smallest amount, giving away the anger brewing inside.

He’s holding himself back like he always does, ever the tomb of caged emotions.

“What did you do with my date? If you wanted a dance, you could have just asked,” I say calmly.

My legs are on the verge of giving out completely, and I know he can hear the volcano rumbling inside me, my heart bursting in places, unraveling me from within.

Surprisingly, I hide all of that from my voice and face.

“ Date ?” Hade scoffs the world like it’s an insult. “He is your competitor, nothing more. You would do well to remember that.”

Empress, this man is infuriating, but not in the way most would think.

I want to plow my fist right through his perfectly chiseled face, but even I know it would somehow make his beauty just look more lethal.

My head knows to stay far, far away from this monster, but my stupid, gullible heart wants the smallest sample.

Just a single taste . My head tells me this monster’s teeth would shred me to pieces, but my heart tells me the thought sounds enticing, enjoyable, even.

My body is at war with itself, a cluster of confusion, anger, lust, and intrigue. I’m burning from the inside out, a never-ending fire lit within me. My body breaks out in a cold sweat, Hade the sickness causing it. I try to fight the way my breaths turn ragged, but it’s no use.

“Are you feeling alright?” Hade’s knowing smirk shakes me out of my toxic trance, pushing me back to my confident exterior.

“I was having a lovely time, actually, until someone’s unsolicited opinions sucked all the fun right out of the air, yet again. I’ve caught my breath now, and I think I’m ready to get back to my fun.” I go to pull away, but Hade grips my hands tighter, refusing to let me go.

His eyebrows hitch up in a surprisingly playful manner. “Who am I to stop you from having a little fun? What did you have in mind?” Hade purrs the words, and my stomach does a summersault.

Traitorous bitch .

I want to say it sounds fun to slam my fist into his perfectly sculpted face, then go find Aeron again, but before I get the words out, a small man shuffles up to his side, whispering something in his ear before striding away.

Grunting to himself, he turns his attention back to me. “I have to go take care of something. Don’t let the giggle goop cloud your judgment, Nyxi .” With that, he’s swept away into the growing crowd, leaving me panting and maybe a touch disappointed.

Giggle goop ? He must be referring to the bubbling drink I downed earlier.

I know for sure his passive aggressive comment revolves around getting close to Aeron, but why the fuck does he even care?

It’s my life, not his. He isn’t the keeper of me.

He means nothing to me—or so I keep trying to convince myself.

And that goddamn name. It’s like he knows what it does to me, the way it perfectly rolls off his tongue like a taunt and a plea.

Each time, it slowly unravels one of the threads wrapped tightly around my heart .

This is not how I wanted my night to go. I planned to get dolled up, have a stress-free night, get nice and buzzed, and dance until my feet grew blisters from one too many spins. Sighing to myself, I decide I can still accomplish some of those things, and go on the hunt for more giggle goop.

The anger rising inside me combined with how tight Des cinched my corset has me searching for fresh air to clear my mind after snatching a new glass of bubbles.

Luckily, the ballroom is located on the very edge of the castle, meaning there’s a small door in the corner to sneak out while no one is looking.

Dodging a Scorch blowing fire from their mouth, I nearly get my eyebrows burnt to a crisp, but I make it just in time to squeeze by and out the door.

Cool air blows my hair off my shoulders, and I let out a deep sigh, taking my first full breath.

The night sky twinkles above me, serving me instant contentment.

I’ve always felt a connection to the night sky.

Its endless embrace centers me, a familiar pull towards a reliable friend.

It seems to hold all the answers to life.

As if agreeing with me, the stars twinkling above me appear to glow a little brighter.

I would like to think that’s Theo’s way of telling me he’s okay, that he’s watching me.

I look around the grounds of the castle as insects and small animals chirp in the distance. It’s peaceful out here. The castle sits at the top of a hill, towering over Lunaria, surrounded mostly by grassy slopes and gardens.

Picking up my dress so I don’t trip, I stride happily into the dreamy, dark night, looking for a place to be with my thoughts for a while. Making my way to the garden, I open the small metal gate with a loud, rusty creek and then pad inside, closing the gate behind me.

The garden feels intimate and cozy as I walk through the overgrown arch tangled with ivy and wisteria, adding bright purple pops of color.

Rows of flowers bloom from the dirt around me, creating an oasis of colors.

Little clouds bounce above each flower bush, raining down water on them.

I assume they are created by a Soak, popping up each night to keep the garden lush and thriving.

Sitting in the center of the garden is a small wishing well with a single bench next to it. Striding over, I decide this is the perfect spot to clear my mind and enjoy my glass of giggle goop .

The night slowly gets darker as the minutes and my drink trickle down.

Nothing could ruin the tranquility this garden has blessed me with.

Bringing my glass up to my lips, I freeze when I hear the faintest crunch in the distance.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention, alerting me I’m not alone anymore.

As I wrap my hand around the dagger strapped to my chest, a faint breath sends a chill down my spine. Whirling around, I fling the dagger out of its pouch, pressing it against the soft flesh of my intruder.

Staring back at me, the perfect depiction of calm, is one storm cloud gray eye and one maliciously dark black eye.

Hade .

“What do you intend to do to me with that sparkly little thing?” The deep cadence of his voice drags talons down my core.

“A blade is a blade,” I say nonchalantly. “They all cut and kill the same.” I hold my blade steady to the dip of his neck.

“And is that what you intend to do to me, Nightmare ? Cut and kill ?” he taunts, his voice a whisper.

I shrug, unbothered. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t slit your throat right here and be done with it. With you. ” My heart speeds up, and my fingers start to tingle with thrill.

“Is that what you want? To be done with me?” There’s madness swirling in his eyes now, a raging vortex of the unknown. He presses in closer, drawing the smallest bead of blood where my blade meets his skin.

I gasp just slightly, giving myself away. My voice wobbles when I add, “I could easily…without a second thought. ”

“Then do it,” he challenges me, calling my bluff. “Slay the villain in your story.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you saying you aren’t the villain in other stories? That you have a heart? That the graphic rumors of the ruthless Cardinal aren’t true? Hmm?”

Sadness and longing flicker in his eyes for a fraction of a second, but then his walls go back up like armor building around him.

He shuts me out and his emotions in. A sadistic smile grows across his face in its place, his mask firmly back in place.

It’s dizzying, attempting to track all the different sides to him.

“I never claimed to have a heart. I never have, or will I ever, need anyone in my life. Relying on others makes you weak .” He spits the words, stoking the fire erupting inside me.

Proving his point, a black tendril of magic appears out of thin air, wrapping tightly around my throat like a tentacle.

It swiftly drags me up off my feet, making my shoes slip off.

Slowly, as if taunting me, it moves me forward so my neck is now pressed against my own dagger still clutched tightly in my shaky hand, making my face tilt up to bare my throat.

Both of us are now pressed against each edge of the blade, noses and lips a breath apart.

I hate him down to his core. Hate the way he’s so cold and distant.

Hate his harsh words and even bolder actions.

Hate the way he toys with me like it’s a game.

But what I hate the most is the way he makes my body come alive.

The way it heats under his gaze. The way my breaths turn labored when he sucks all the air out of my lungs.

The way he makes me yearn for the feeling of living again.

The way he makes me crave the chaos he dishes out, like he’s a drug I’m violently hooked on.

I hate Hade, and I think he might hate me too.

I’m losing myself to that dark place of rage and heartache at the thought of betraying Theo.

I try to calm my chaotic breaths, but the more I try, the harder they seem to take off in a gallop, each time pressing a little more into the sharp blade resting just below my chin .

He zones in where the blade meets my skin. “Careful, or you’ll ruin that perfect, pretty skin of yours.”

Scoffing, I gain my composure. He’s baiting me, wanting to see the fire back in my eyes instead of the darkness starting to take over, dragging me back to this game with him—whatever this game even is.

“Trust me, my skin is far from perfect.” Pressing myself further into the dagger, I add, “And I like pain. It reminds me I’m alive.”