Page 110 of Bride of Death

Chewing on my lip, I consider changing. There are a lot of other options in the closet. There’s no reason I need to wear this specific gown, right?

The fact that Hades picked it out for me should actually make menotwant to wear it. However, Morpheus’s words fueled something inside me that forced me to at least try the dress on.

And now I’m regretting it.

“Yeah, I’m totally going to change,” I tell my reflection.

“Why? Does the gown not fit?” a deep voice asks, making me jump backward and right into a hard, masculine wall.

Spinning around, I gape at Hades’s large presence in my closet. “Where?” I sputter out. “How?” I clear my throat. “Do you not know how to knock?” I demand.

He frowns down at me. “I did.”

“What?”

“I knocked on your door, and when you didn’t answer, I came looking for you.” He glances over his shoulder. “Well, first I met Pip.ThenI came looking for you.”

My eyes widen, the shoes dropping to the ground with a loud thud—one that rivals my racing pulse. “Pip.” I rush around Hades, my heart in my throat. “Pip!”

He floats into view, his blue eyes large as he looks around for whatever has me so concerned.

“You’re okay,” I whisper, falling to my knees in relief. “Oh, fae, you’re… you’re still here.”

My little friend creeps closer and lowers himself into my view.

If I could hug him, I would.

“I thought you might be gone,” I tell him, recalling what Maliki said about the pits. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you… because of me.”

“Why would something happen to him?” Hades asks, a note of irritation in his tone. “Has someone threatened your familiar?”

I blink at Pip, then slowly look back at Hades. “My familiar?”

“Yes. Or he’s something to you, anyway. That’s why my wards let him through. You’re bonded.” He shrugs. “Familiaris the best term for now. But tell me why you thought he was gone.”

I stare at him and swallow. “I… You said you met him. I thought you may have hurt him.” Fae, I sound ridiculous. Like a weakling.

I hate this.

I don’t want to be meek.

But I feel so lost.

Morpheus helped put some things into perspective. Perhaps Persephone’s intentions came from a good place, so she’s not as evil as I once believed. However, she still caused so much pain.

And the only way to right those wrongs is to remember what really happened.

Which means embracing my Omega soul.

I only wish I knew how to do that. And I really wish I knew how to make Hades stop hating me.

Because the Hades in my dreams…

My shoulders fall. I don’t even want to compare them now.

The reality is nothing like my fantasies.

Pip glides away as Hades approaches. I can’t hear him, but I can feel him, his aura so dark and angry that everyone can probably sense his presence.