Page 60 of Bride of Death

I’m horrified by what Maliki told me about Persephone.

Terrified by what Hades intends to do to me.

And comforted by that hypnotic rumble.

“It’s an Alpha purr,” Morpheus replies. “Omegas are innately calmed by it.”

I shudder as the hum intensifies, his nearness making my knees weak.

Or maybe that’s Maliki’s hand rubbing up and down my arm.

He’s still shirtless. And Morpheus is wearing what appears to be a freshly pressed suit, suggesting he changed after the whole slug venom incident.

Regardless, their wardrobe choices are not helping my nerves. Nor is their close proximity.

Something about their nearness is making me… hot.

Only, that purr is calming me down, too.

It leaves me conflicted. Dizzy. Disoriented. And strangely secure.

I feel safe.

Which is insane given what I’ve learned tonight.WhoI’ve met.

Hades.

The figment from my dreams.

The only man to ever truly touch me. And it wasn’t even real. Just a series of dreams.

Dreams that I wonder now if he somehow manifested.

Or did he ask Morpheus to do it for him?I wonder, blinking.Is that why he doesn’t want me talking to the God of Dreams?

A chill runs down my spine, only to be chased away by the Alpha purr emanating all around me.

But the thought remains, the realization that I can’t trust anyone pulling me out of this false comfort. “Do you manipulate my dreams?” I ask Morpheus, my voice drowsier than I desire. But at least the question came out clearly.

“Manipulate?” Morpheus repeats, his silver eyebrows angling downward. “In what way?”

“To make me dream of Hades,” I say.

He scoffs. “I would never make you dream of Hades unless it was a fantasy about stabbing him.” His arms cross. “Did he accuse me of playing in your mind, Serapina? Because I can promise that if I had, you would have recognized more than just my name yesterday.”

Heat creeps up my neck at the insinuation in his tone. “Have you seen my dreams?” It’s a question I meant to think mentally, yet the words sort of trip out of my mouth.

Because if he’s watched my dreams, then he knows how intimate I’ve been with Hades in them.

Morpheus studies me for a moment, his blue-green eyes glinting in the low lighting of my home. “I’ve witnessed pieces of them, yes. I’m always aware when you dream because our souls are connected, similar to how you are linked to Hades. However, I try to respect your privacy by not prying and leaving the moment I’m pulled to you.”

I stare at him, unsure if I can believe anything he’s telling me.

But that purr makes me want to trust every word.

It’s a dangerous vibration, one that lulls me into an artificial state of comfort. I can see through it, yet I can’t seem to truly battle the need to simply relax. “Your Alpha purr is hypnotizing me, just like Maliki’s tattoos.”

Morpheus glances at the other man, his eyebrow lifting. “You’ve introduced her to your smoky tendrils? And you didn’t invite me to watch?” He tsks. “I thought we were friends, Maliki.”