Page 2 of Bride of Death

“Alphas form circles for a reason,” he tells me as he steps around the table and into my personal space. “I suggest you remember that.”

I arch a brow. “Are you threatening me?”

“Not yet,” he replies, a lethal note underlining his tone. “But I will if you let this progress.” A book appears in his palm, one I recognize as the Netherworld Fae Registry. He slams it against my chest. “Page four thousand and seven. Read it.”

My eyebrows come down. “Why?”

His vibrant gaze captures and holds mine. “Because if you don’t fix it, I will.” He takes a step back. “You have forty-five days, Hades.” He vanishes before I can reply, his essence leaving a permanent aroma in my space, like he’s marked my fucking office.

Thatis a threat. Just as much as his words.Forty-five days.

“To do what?” I ask the space he just occupied.

Part of me wants to magic the book back to where it belongs in the heart of the Netherworld Village. However, my interest is piqued.

“Fucking Morpheus,” I ground out as I walk over to my desk to set the book down.

I return to the bar to grab my drink, fully aware that I’m going to need it, and take it over to my chair. It faces a slate of mahogany stone, the texture similar to wood yet hard as rock. A unique craftsmanship, one I brought with me from my home realm.

Settling, I stare at the ominous text. The pages are encased in a silky, leatherlike black fabric—netherite. It’s a quality binding, one I’m very familiar with, as I created it.

Smoothing my hand over the skull etched into the front, I find the book’s hard edge and carefully flip it open to reveal the fiery scrawls littering the magically enhanced pages.

Numbers appear at the bottom, sifting before my eyes without actually turning the papers. The book knows what I want—page four thousand seven.

My cousin’s desire becomes clear as the script appears, the red letters revealing a name we both know very well.

Serapina Everheart.

“Lie,” I mutter. But my eyes linger on her false name for only a second before scanning the details scrawling across the page. She’s listed her next of kin asAlina Everheart, which is also false. They’re not related by blood. However, I skip over it and home in on the next line.

A line that has my heart stopping in my chest.

And my blood running cold.

Mate Status: Single.

A growl vibrates my chest and echoes out into my office.

“Single?” I repeat aloud, my voice deep and guttural andfurious. “You arenotfucking single.”

I suddenly understand my cousin’s threat. He’s giving me forty-five days tofix this.

“Fuck.”

I’ve given Persephone time to grow into her accommodations and allow her soul a chance to come out to play. She’s an Omega and I’m her Alpha. It’s only a matter of time before she goes into heat and calls for me.

However, it’s been over a year since she arrived in my domain, and nothing has happened.

Nothing exceptthis.

An entry into the Netherworld Fae Registry.

One whereby she’s marked herself assingle.

Because she wants to join the Netherworld Kingdom ranks.

My jaw clenches. “And do what, my darling soulmate?” I wonder out loud, my gaze scanning the page once more. “Live in the Netherworld Village?” I huff a humorless laugh. “You have to be joking, love.” That’s no place for a Goddess—myGoddess.