Page 85 of Bride of Death

“Thank you,” I reply, swallowing. “And thank you for being here for…” The words trail off as I suddenly recallwhyhe’s here.

“It’s also my concern because you tasked me with convincing her to marry you.”

That’s what he said to Hades.

I press my palm to Maliki’s chest and nudge him back. “That’s why you’ve been so nice to me—because of your job.” I shake my head, a humorless laugh falling from my lips. “To convince me to marry Hades.”

Stars, I… I almost thought this was something else.

He’s an attractive fae. Thorns, he’s more than attractive. He’s one of the sexiest men I’ve ever seen.

And he held me all night.

It’s only natural for me to feel interested in him. But it’s one-sided.

“I’m sorry,” I say, laughing again at my own expense. “I… I don’t even know what we’re doing here. I’m just a task that needs to be finished. So I… I guess we need to… wrap this up.” Because I’m supposed to be packing.

Yet I have nothing of worth to take with me except the flowerpot and Pip.

I don’t even want my clothes. They were given to me by Alina.

In fact, nothing here is mine. Not even my own choices.

I was brought to this kingdom by my sister and her mates. For my protection. But now I suspect it was so much more than that.

Orcus has to know the truth about my soul. He’s Hades’s brother. Surely they’ve spoken.

So does Alina know?

No. She… she would tell me, right?

Unless she was trying to protect me.

“Ugh.” Of course she was protecting me. That’s what she’s done our entire lives. Why would it be any different now?

This whole experience with my independence was just some idiotic experiment.

And now I have to go right back to where I was a month ago.

A very bratty, very frustrated part of me longs to scream.

But what good would that do?

“Sera,” Maliki says, and something in his tone suggests it’s not the first time he’s said my name.

He’s still touching my chin, too, which I realize now as he forces me to meet his gaze. His other hand burns on my hip as he holds me against the wall.

“You are the most infuriating assignment Hades has ever given to me.”

I wince, his words a slap to the face. I definitely don’t want to hear this. “You?—

“No, Sera, let me finish,” he says, his thumb sliding up to press against my lips. “I’ve been tasked with watching you for nearly a year. At first, it was fine. You stayed in the palace, and I barely saw you. But once you moved here, I spent every day getting to know you. Which makes me sound like a stalker.”

“It’s—

“Not done, trouble,” he murmurs, cutting me off again. “I’ve never hated a task as much as this one.”

I wince again, my eyes closing.