Page 14 of Bride of Death (Netherworld Fae #1)

Twin blonde eyebrows lift. “Except I’m not one. I’m a human.”

“One who possesses an Omega’s soul, yes,” I agree.

She heaves a sigh, her irritation palpable. “So I keep hearing.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Hmm.” She looks at me. “Okay. So what happens next?”

My brow pinches downward. “Tonight?” I ask her.

“No. I mean with my supposed soul. Is it supposed to take over at some point? Turn me into an Omega? Give me all her previous memories?” She scowls. “Do I just die in the process?”

“I certainly hope not,” I reply. “Your sister didn’t.”

“My sister didn’t possess a specific soul like I apparently do,” she snaps. “One that makes Hades think I belong to him without ever actually talking to me.”

“Ah, yes, that. He’s stubborn. Which is probably the understatement of the millennia.”

“And I’m guessing he sent you here to talk to me?” she goes on like I haven’t spoken. “If that’s the case, tell him I’m not interested in fae who send messengers on their behalves. A real God would talk to me.”

I smile. “I agree entirely.”

“And a real God would—wait, what?” She blinks at me like she just remembered my presence. “You… you agree?”

“Absolutely. A real God would talk to his Omega. A God with, say, long silver hair, perhaps? Blue-green eyes. The kind of face one fantasizes about in the midnight hours?”

She glances over me, then gives me a skeptical look. “A real God named Morpheus?”

“Some call him quite dreamy, you know,” I murmur, amused.

“I bet they do,” she deadpans, her sassiness thrilling me. “But I’m not an Omega.”

“So you’ve claimed.”

“And you haven’t helped me at all,” she mutters back, causing one of my eyebrows to arch upward.

“Would you like me to help you, Serapina?”

“I’d just like someone to explain to me how and why Hades thinks I’m his Omega. He hasn’t even spoken to me. So is he just making assumptions because I’m Alina’s sister? Or is there more to it?”

“There’s more to it,” I tell her. “So much more to it.”

She sighs. “Of course there is. Too bad Hades won’t share his madness with me.”

“It’s not madness so much as obsession.” A dangerous one . But I don’t add that part out loud. Instead, I focus on what we were discussing before talking about real Gods. “As for Alina, would you say she’s changed?”

Serapina looks at me, obviously startled by my return to this topic. However, it’s with a purpose.

I don’t want her fearing her soul or what might happen when she embraces her inner Omega. But I also can’t fault her skepticism.

“Does she possess any memories of the past?” I press. “Any hints as to her soul’s previous life?”

She swallows and looks away. “I don’t know.”

“You’ve not talked to her about it?”

Serapina shakes her head. “Not really. Just… just about her link to creationism and power. But I’ve not wanted to pry.”

I nod, understanding a bit. “An Omega’s nest with her mates is sacred,” I murmur. “It’s instinctual for you to not ask a lot of questions. Though, I suspect your sister would guide you, if you desired it.”

I’ve not met Alina, but I know Omegas well. Familial relationships are intrinsically important to them. And while Serapina may not be related to her by blood, she likely still views her as part of her inner circle.

“That said, if you would like to learn more about Mythos Fae from someone else, I would be more than happy to share some history with you. I can even tell you about Persephone.”

Shadows creep into my vision while I speak, telling me Maliki has mastered his dream faster than I anticipated.

I nearly sigh. The assassin is as alluring as he is irritating.

My vision blacks out for a blink, surprising me.

It seems Maliki was quietly working his way out of his mossy trap, and now he’s on the attack.

Fine. I’ll wrap this up, I think at him, ensuring the words travel into his dream and echo through his mind.

His responding mental snarl informs me that the message has been received and rejected.

“You don’t need to decide now,” I say, focusing on Serapina while mentally wrangling Maliki. “But if you do want more information, then I’ll be here again tomorrow night. Same time. Exact same place. If you appear, I’ll know you’re interested.”

I take a step back and wince when Maliki lands a blow to my temple. It’s not real. It’s in my head. But it hurts nonetheless.

Gritting my teeth, I send a paralyzing spell through his dream and take a deep breath to settle my tone before speaking again.

“Oh, and please bring Pip. He’s quite enjoyable.” I just met the little soul earlier in the evening, but our brief introduction endeared him to me instantly. It was too bad he didn’t accompany her on this walk through the courtyard.

Alas, I don’t have time to tell her any of that.

So I just give her a little bow and conclude with “Until next time, little dreamer.”

It takes significant willpower to leave her, but Maliki isn’t giving me much of a choice. His persistence is admirable and infuriating.

I mist to his room and introduce my fist to his face just as he wakes up.

Then I teleport to the street outside. I know better than to fight an assassin in his home quarters.

Besides, Serapina lives next door. Can’t risk damaging her place.

Tucking my hands behind my back, I begin to pace.

And wait for Maliki to come out to play.

“Are you trying to get me killed?” he demands the moment he appears, his disheveled hair reminding me of a time when I entertained men in the bedroom.

Hmm.

I cock my head. “Definitely not,” I tell him, referring to his question more than the entertaining notion of sensual play. Serapina owns my heart and soul. If she wanted me to put on a show for her with Maliki… I wouldn’t be opposed.

“I’m actually quite fond of you, Maliki. There are not many souls ballsy enough to fight a Mythos Fae, let alone me.”

“You trapped me in a fucking dream.”

“I did.” No point in denying it. “Would you prefer a more amusing fantasy next time? Perhaps one involving a certain blonde Omega? Because that can be arranged, so long as I get to watch.”

Maliki takes a menacing step forward. However, I stand my ground.

He’s lethality incarnate, but I’m a God. And I’ve gone easy on him thus far.

“Careful, Ghost,” I murmur, using his infamous nickname. “I’m in a good mood. You don’t want to ruin it by picking a fight you can’t win.”

“I won’t exactly lose either,” he returns.

“Perhaps not,” I agree. “But I think we make better friends than enemies.”

“Then stay the fuck out of my head,” he tells me.

I smile. “I’m not one for making promises, particularly those I have no intention of keeping.”

His gold eyes flash.

Then he sighs and runs his fingers through his unruly strands. He’s dressed in sweatpants and nothing else. Not even shoes. “You realize I have to tell Hades about this, yeah?” he asks me, sounding resigned.

“Is that the part that truly annoys you?” I counter, curious. “More than me playing in your mind?”

The look he gives me is underlined in violent intent. “She’s not yours, Morpheus.”

“Not yet, no,” I agree. “But she’s not exactly Hades’s yet either, is she?”

Maliki doesn’t reply.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he agreed with me. Hades has sent him here to do all the hard work of wooing the Omega, and Maliki isn’t even allowed to taste her.

“For the record, I would share her with you, if that’s what she desired,” I inform him. “Because unlike your master, I believe in mate-circles, not single pairings.”

Maliki grunts. “He’s not my master.”

“Those are the words you choose to focus on?” I ask, amused. “So be it, then, little pet. But don’t worry about reporting back to Hades. I’ll talk to him myself.”

Since Maliki doesn’t appear to be in the mood to play, I’ll go pick a fight with a true rival.

“Hades needs to know that I’m done waiting,” I tell Maliki. “See you soon.”