Page 93 of Bride of Death

If only I was a little soul,I muse.Instead, I’m paired with an evil one determined to ruin my existence.

Yay me.

Chapter 24

Maliki

Home sweet home.

Except there’s nothing sweet about it.

Not with Sera feeling forced to be here and her little spirit pet glancing around nervously.

Styx, how did everything escalate so quickly?

I don’t even mean coming here—that part at least makes sense. Sera should never have left in the first place.

No, I’m thinking about my whatever-this-is with Sera.

I almost kissed her earlier.

Fuck, I almost did a lot more than kiss her. I wanted to devour her. When she made those comments about being mytask, I wanted to show her just how I handle my business.

It was a stark need, one that physically hurt me to tame.

Death it.I need to finish this job and shadow off somewhere to try to find my head.

Except I won’t be able to.

Because the notion of leaving Sera here to face Hades alone makes me want to break something.

He’s been such a colossal dick to her. I’ve never really seen him interact with women. I always assumed it was out of loyaltyto Persephone. Now I’m thinking it’s because he has no idea how to talk to a female.

Clearly, all those times he watched me fuck taught him absolutely nothing.

I mean, yes, I’m not exactly a gentle lover. But I always ensure my bedmates are satisfied, and that includes emotionally if that’s what the woman requires.

Styx. Who am I kidding? I’ve never stuck around long enough to cuddle. But the women I fuck typically don’t want that anyway.

Sera is different, though.

Last nightwas different.

I fell asleep with her. I… I held her for nearly twelve hours. And it felt so fucking right.

Just like having her up against the wall.

I meant every word I said to her about this assignment and how I want to taste her.

Shadows, do I want to taste her.

I close my eyes and nearly miss a step up the grand stairs of Death’s Palace.

I really need to focus and stop thinking about Sera’s mouth.

Instead, I take in her other features and study her expression. Most visitors gawk at the obsidian decor and fiery chandeliers. But not her.

Because she’s seen it already.