Page 24 of Bride of Death (Netherworld Fae #1)

Maliki walks over with the two plates, setting one in front of me and the other near his own seat. But rather than sit, he returns to the kitchen and starts up the coffee. As that’s not my machine, I assume he brought it from Tank’s place.

“I’m not sure,” Maliki replies while fixing a mug.

He doesn’t ask if I want one today. Instead, he brings me a glass of juice.

“Freshly squeezed oranges. Let me know if it’s too tart.

” He settles across from me and sips his coffee before adding, “Hades is under the impression that you remember everything.”

Yeah, I’ve gathered that, I think. Out loud, all I say is “I don’t.”

“I know,” Maliki murmurs. “But the fact that he thinks you do suggests you may acquire those memories someday.”

My stomach churns at that logical assertion. “I don’t want to remember.” The words are more for myself than for him.

But in the next beat, I retract the statement.

“Actually, no. I do want to remember. Because then I might be able to help somehow.” It’s… it’s an insane notion. Yet now that I’ve thought about it, I doubt I’ll ever let it go.

Persephone deserves to rot on a thorn for the rest of her existence.

However, if I can somehow fix what she’s done…

Is that really my responsibility, though? I wonder, my brow furrowing. Maybe not, but if I can help…

I swallow.

If I can help find those Omegas, I will.

It’s not about responsibility or answering for the sins of my soul. It’s simply the right thing to do. “How can I try to remember?”

“Best guess?” Maliki replies, his tone and expression telling me I’m not going to like his suggestion. “By embracing your Omega half.”

I stare at him. “Yeah, sure, okay. And how do I do that, again?” Because it’s not like I haven’t spent the last thirteen months waiting for something like that to happen to me. Given my links to Alina, and the fact that an Alpha kidnapped me for two years whilst claiming me to be her daughter?—

My eyes widen.

“Demeter.”

Maliki arches a brow. “What about her?”

“She claimed to be my mother.” I knew this already. But I just… I just remembered something else. Something I should have recalled before, yet it’s all so murky. “She called me Persephone.”

“Yeah…” He draws it out like he’s not following. Or maybe he doesn’t understand why this is a surprise to me.

“My time with her feels like a dream. I struggle to know what really happened. But she’s the one in Pandora’s Box—my supposed mother.”

He nods. “That’s my understanding, yes. Alpha Ares is guarding her.”

“And who is Ares?”

“Another Mythos Fae,” he answers vaguely. “Like Morpheus said, Alphas maintain their own worlds. Ares’s world is Pandora’s Box.”

“Oh.” My nose scrunches at the idea of being in charge of a prison-like universe.

Though, I suppose Hades owning the land of the dead isn’t much better.

Granted, I like the Netherworld Kingdom. A lot of the fae here are beings of death, yet they all seem friendly enough. Sometimes a little too friendly.

Shaking my head, I try to focus on eating because I need some energy to think through everything.

My memories. My dreams. My… my reality?

It’s all such a convoluted mix of truth and fiction.

Did Demeter call me Persephone in the garden? Or is that from a past life?

I can’t remember, but I can distinctly hear her saying it now in my head.

Closing my eyes, I force myself to concentrate on the flavors bursting across my tongue. I understand now why Maliki asked if I preferred savory or sweet. Because mine is cheesy with some sort of salty meat. Peeking through my lashes, I see that his crepe is stuffed full of fruit.

“Want to try a bite?” he asks, his voice soft.

“Yes,” I admit.

He cuts one off and offers it to me with his fork.

Rather than take it from him, I just lean in and accept the piece directly into my mouth.

His golden irises burn as he watches me, some foreign emotion darkening his features.

I swallow slowly, then groan at the taste as it finally registers. “Wow,” I say, surprised. “I don’t normally enjoy sweets in the morning, but that’s really good.”

“I know,” he answers, cocky as ever.

My lips twitch. Arrogance isn’t usually a trait I find endearing, but it seems appropriate on Maliki.

He offers me another bite without comment, and I accept it into my mouth like the last one.

Then I return to my own food, and we finish our meal in silence.

When we’re both done, I stand to clean up, but Maliki ushers me back to my seat and takes over my kitchen again. I watch him work and let his fluid movements distract me from thinking about everything I’ve learned.

For the most part, I’m successful in forgetting everything else.

At least until a shadow appears to my left.

A shadow that slowly turns into an ominous presence.

Hades .

His gaze finds mine, his cold, dark orbs conveying so much meaning that I nearly stop breathing.

Because I can see his hatred now.

And not only that, but I can understand it also.

He has every right to wish me dead. Persephone used him for his power and hurt so many others in the process.

I’m honestly lucky he hasn’t imprisoned me in Pandora’s Box next to Demeter.

It’s probably what my spirit deserves.

So why hasn’t he done that? I wonder, frowning at him.

“Why in all the realms would you want to marry me?” I ask him, so utterly confounded by that desire that I don’t even bother with formalities or greetings.

Just bluntly add, “My soul doesn’t deserve a nuptial event.

It deserves to be punished. So why would you make me your bride?

How could you possibly want me by your side? ”