Page 96 of Bride of Death

“Right. Greek mythology probably wasn’t taught in your backward schools.” I sigh. “Look, just… just come in with me. They’re going to jump, and Ossa is probably going to try to take my head off, but it’ll be fine. Watch me and you’ll see.”

Her brow furrows. “You want me to watch the beast take your head off?”

“I saidtry. Very important word in that sentence. Now stop being a coward and walk with me.” I step back through the threshold and wait.

Sera’s indignant little huff precedes her entry, followed by a muttered “Coward. Yeah, okay, I’ll watch them kill you.”

I chuckle at her cute little comeback, then spread my arms in anticipation of getting mauled by Howl and Mort.

Except they don’t jump on me at all.

Instead, I find them sitting patiently, their three heads trained on Sera. She stares back at them, her body locked in a position that suggests her mind is trying to decide if she should fight or flee. “Don’t run,” I warn her again.

“Easy for you to say,” she mutters.

Ossa cocks her head.

“Don’t,” I say, my voice sharp as I focus on the troublesome one of the trio.

Naturally, she ignores me.

But she doesn’t snarl at Sera. She… I frown.Is that a wolfy grin?I marvel, my jaw basically falling to the floor as Ossa’s tongue lolls off to the side of her now-open mouth.

Howl gives a little yip, causing Ossa to snap at him like she’s saying “Shut up.” He lowers his head, and she resumes her smile.

Sera stares at the three-headed creature, her brow furrowing. “They’re not trying to take your head off.”

“No, they’re… being strangely calm.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen them sit like this for anyone other than Hades. And he usually has to issue a stern word to accomplish it.

Movement out of the corner of my eye has me turning to watch Pip float cautiously through the threshold.

Ossa instantly bends her head and growls, causing Sera to glance at the source of her agitation. Seeing Pip, she instantly steps in front of the soul, her shoulder nearly touching his cloak.

He backpedals into the wall so fast that it has Howl and Mort instantly taking notice, their stares guarded. But it wasn’t the three-headed wolf-dog Pip was trying to escape; it was Sera’s nearness.

Definitely an ally, I think, smiling as he cautiously returns and keeps a safe distance from his human. He obviously has some practice with ensuring he doesn’t accidentally touch her.

“Please don’t attack him,” Sera says softly when Ossa growls again. “And, um, please don’t attack me.”

Ossa stares at her with a confused expression. Then her tongue lolls again, and she begins to pant.

I blink. “I have never seen her act like this before.”

Upon hearing my voice, Ossa returns to her usual mode and snarls at me.

And promptly looks back at Sera… to begin panting again.

Howl and Mort both exchange a glance, look at Ossa, and instantly follow suit, giving all three heads an adorable puppy façade that I know is absolutely false.

Pip peeks out from behind Sera, then cautiously drifts closer.

Which is when it dawns on me that the little soul had no problem crossing the threshold.

Well, I’ll be damned,I think.

The magic is specifically programmed to only allow certain individuals and their familiars, something I know because Fleur is allowed to fly through these halls—because of her connection to me.

Pip automatically being granted entry means he’s somehow tied to Sera.