Page 13 of Bride of Death

Hades knows better than to leave me up to my own devices for too long. And this babysitting assignment has far surpassed our usual arrangements.

Forcing me to watch his betrothed without being allowed to touch is a fresh form of torture. I meant what I told her about his possessive side—he’ll kill anyone who even looks at her wrong. Including me.

Which makes the task of watching her very fucking difficult.

“You’re going to make me retrieve her myself,” Hades finally says.

“Am I?” I ask, feigning innocence. “I suppose it’s that or you give me permission to use force—which will very likely require me to touch her.”

His jaw clenches, understanding flickering in the dark depths of his intense eyes. “I see. That’s why the semantics matter.”

“Semantics always matter,” I counter. “But in this case, yes. I’m not about to test the limits of our arrangement.”

“I would never kill you, Maliki.” Soft words. An ominous promise.

“There are fates worse than death, Hades.” And I’m all too familiar with those fates. Many of those tortured destinies are ones I’ve crafted myself, and I have no wish to experience those outcomes from the opposite side.

He exhales slowly and finally releases me from the intensity of his gaze, his focus shifting to the Netherworld Kingdom below. “I need her in my palace.”

“Then perhaps you shouldn’t have let her leave in the first place.” It’s a chastisement, one that very few fae would ever dream to say to a God like Hades. But I’m not most fae. And our arrangement is far from ordinary.

“I wanted to see what she would do,” he murmurs.

“That’s been your excuse for the last year,” I point out.

“It’s not an excuse. It’s a reason.” There’s a subtle bite to his tone, one that tells me I’m treading on thin ice with my commentary.

But I don’t fucking care.

This has gone on long enough.

“Have you considered that perhaps she’s telling the truth?” I ask him. “That she doesn’t remember anything at all?”

He doesn’t answer me, though a flicker of black flames dances along his fingertips as he continues to study the world below.

“Do you find it troubling that she hasn’t gone into heat yet?” I press.

He told me last year that a few weeks in his presence should trigger her Omega soul to take over, which would likely result in a long-overdue estrous cycle.

The only reason he informed me of this was because he needed someone he could trust to guard him while he took care of his mate.

However, that event has yet to happen.

And from what I’ve witnessed in Sera, it won’t be anytime soon.

Her petite stature may physically mark her as an Omega, but she lacks the timidness and submissive tendencies that Hades once remarked on.

Well, the submissive part remains to be seen. I’m certain I could make her kneel under the right circumstances.

“I find a lot of things about this situation troubling,” Hades tells me, his voice low, like he’s afraid his words may carry, thus revealing his weakness. “I sense Persephone with every breath, yet I don’t recognize her human shell. It’s so fragile.Toofragile.”

“You’re worried she’ll die and her soul will move on to another host,” I translate.

“Among other things, yes. But sometimes the best way to light a fire is to ignite a spark.” He looks at me again. “You spoke to her tonight?”

His question takes me aback just a bit, as it’s not one I expected him to ask. “Yes.”

“So you’ve officially met, then?” he presses.