Page 58 of Bride of Death

I’m an Alpha.

She’s an Omega.

Therefore, shewillsubmit.

Her nostrils flare, her eyes widening in a way that confirms everything I know about her. She claims not to be an Omega, but it’s written into her every reaction. The way she inhales, the shudder that follows, the dilation of her pupils, and the sweet scent strengthening with every passing second.

“You’re mine to own,” I whisper to her. “Mine to claim. Mine to knot.Mine.”

“You’re a monster,” she breathes.

“I am,” I agree. “But I’m your monster,wife.”

And I’ll do anything you desire of me except let you go,I think, my gaze holding hers as I consider the words I long to say out loud yet can’t.I’ll even forgive you, darling. In fact, part of me already has.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be going out of my way to try to re-create what we once had.

Every detail of the nuptials has been completed with her in mind. I want to remind her of our love, of the day we first spoke our vows, and show her how an Alpha cares for his Omega.

Even an Omega who destroyed her Alpha’s heart.

I love you,I long to tell her.I love you more than you’ll ever comprehend. And I hate you for what you’ve done. But I’ll help you fix it… if you’ll let me.

My palm itches to caress her cheek, to pull her into a kiss and forgive her with my tongue.

But instead of giving in to my urge, I simply say, “I’ll see you next week, Persephone. At our nuptials.”

Then I disappear.

And ignore the startled gasp that chases me all the way back to my palace.

I have a wedding to plan.

One where I will win my mate back.

Even if I have to fucking crawl.

Chapter 14

Sera

It takesme a moment to remember how to breathe.

Hades’s aura, hispresence, was so intense, it was suffocating.

So unlike the male from my dreams, the one that holds me and kisses me in places I’ve never experienced before.

How is this possible?I swallow.How do I even begin to reconcile my fantasies with the reality that is Hades?

“Sera,” Maliki murmurs, reminding me that he’s still here. That he witnessed everything. That he was eatingpopcornwhile Hades dominated me with his existence alone.

But as I look at the assassin now, I don’t see his popcorn anywhere. Nor do I see any traces of amusement in his features.

“Are you all right?” The soft words sound genuine. Caring, even.

However, everything I know about Maliki makes him untrustworthy in this experience. He’s here to force me to marry Hades. To escort me.Whatever.

He works for the monster that just threatened to punish me for my soul’s betrayal. “I don’t even know what Persephone did to make him so angry,” I whisper, more to myself than to Maliki. “I don’t understand what’s happening. Why does he hate me so much? I don’t…I don’t even know him.”