Page 43 of Bride of Death

I mist to his room and introduce my fist to his face just as he wakes up.

Then I teleport to the street outside. I know better than to fight an assassin in his home quarters.

Besides, Serapina lives next door. Can’t risk damaging her place.

Tucking my hands behind my back, I begin to pace.

And wait for Maliki to come out to play.

“Are you trying to get me killed?” he demands the moment he appears, his disheveled hair reminding me of a time when I entertained men in the bedroom.

Hmm.

I cock my head. “Definitely not,” I tell him, referring to his question more than the entertaining notion of sensual play. Serapina owns my heart and soul. If she wanted me to put on a show for her with Maliki… I wouldn’t be opposed.

“I’m actually quite fond of you, Maliki. There are not many souls ballsy enough to fight a Mythos Fae, let alone me.”

“You trapped me in a fucking dream.”

“I did.” No point in denying it. “Would you prefer a more amusing fantasy next time? Perhaps one involving a certain blonde Omega? Because that can be arranged, so long as I get to watch.”

Maliki takes a menacing step forward. However, I stand my ground.

He’s lethality incarnate, but I’m a God. And I’ve gone easy on him thus far.

“Careful, Ghost,” I murmur, using his infamous nickname. “I’m in a good mood. You don’t want to ruin it by picking a fight you can’t win.”

“I won’t exactly lose either,” he returns.

“Perhaps not,” I agree. “But I think we make better friends than enemies.”

“Then stay the fuck out of my head,” he tells me.

I smile. “I’m not one for making promises, particularly those I have no intention of keeping.”

His gold eyes flash.

Then he sighs and runs his fingers through his unruly strands. He’s dressed in sweatpants and nothing else. Not even shoes. “You realize I have to tell Hades about this, yeah?” he asks me, sounding resigned.

“Is that the part that truly annoys you?” I counter, curious. “More than me playing in your mind?”

The look he gives me is underlined in violent intent. “She’s not yours, Morpheus.”

“Not yet, no,” I agree. “But she’s not exactly Hades’s yet either, is she?”

Maliki doesn’t reply.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he agreed with me. Hades has sent him here to do all the hard work of wooing the Omega, and Maliki isn’t even allowed to taste her.

“For the record, I would share her with you, if that’s what she desired,” I inform him. “Because unlike your master, I believe in mate-circles, not single pairings.”

Maliki grunts. “He’s not my master.”

“Those are the words you choose to focus on?” I ask, amused. “So be it, then, little pet. But don’t worry about reporting back to Hades. I’ll talk to him myself.”

Since Maliki doesn’t appear to be in the mood to play, I’ll go pick a fight with a true rival.

“Hades needs to know that I’m done waiting,” I tell Maliki. “See you soon.”