Page 45 of Bride of Death

Hopefully, he’s uncomfortable.

Though, I doubt it’s anything like that fucking seaweed moss Morpheus threw me into.

“Maliki,” Hades says calmly.

I grunt. I told him to leave. Not my fault he chose to stay.

“I’m not going to chastise you,” he adds.

I snort. Because I don’t give a Styx, not with the electric currents traveling up my arms. It’s like getting zapped by eels. Coupled with the leftover knife-prick sensations, I’m just living the dream over here.

Fucking literally.

After several moments of silence—whereby I stalk back and forth while Hades watches—he finally says, “I have something that can help remove the rest of Morpheus’s spell. Would you like it?”

I slowly pause, then rotate toward him. “Is there a reason you didn’t lead with that upon arrival?”

“I was enjoying this edgy side of you. It’s not every day a Netherworld Fae talks to me like I’m an equal.”

My gaze narrows at his term.Netherworld Faeencompasses all of the kingdom, including Death Fae and Corpse Fae. It’s a locational term more than a species term.

And he knows full well I’m a combination of several breeds. At least on my father’s side.

“I’m not yourordinaryNetherworld Fae,” I tell him.

He smiles. “No, you’re not. You’re quite extraordinary, Maliki.” He holds up his hand. “Here.”

I stare as he reveals a plain gold coin in his palm. “Am I supposed to eat that?”

A mirthless chuckle leaves him. “No. Just set it on your wrist.”

My gaze narrows. “This feels like a trap.”

“Because you know me well. But I promise this will dispel Morpheus’s touch and keep him from bothering you again.”

I study him for a long moment.

“It’s not like you to turn down a daring opportunity,” he murmurs.

He’s not wrong. But I’m not exactly feeling like my usual self right now.

Though, maybe this is the pick-me-up that I need.

Or perhaps it’ll make it worse.

Styx it, I think, grabbing the coin.

Energy instantly hums across my skin, canceling out the residual irritation left behind by Morpheus’s mindfuck.

Only it comes at a clear price as the gold coin dissolves into my skin, just like my tattoos often do when I use them to manifest shadows.

My jaw ticks as my blood heats, Hades’s presence surrounding me in an invisible fog that I can sense with every fiber of my being.

I sigh as I look into his fathomless dark eyes. “Do I even want to know what you just did to me?”

He shrugs. “Probably not.”

I shake my head. “How much is this going to cost me?”