Page 30 of Bride of Death (Netherworld Fae #1)

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 my task , 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 loyalty to 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 night was 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.

Pip hovers by her side looking anxious but alert, his protective glances reminding me a bit of a guard dog.

How did this thing escape my notice? I wonder.

He must have hidden in the in-between whenever I was near.

But he’s corporeal now and obviously watching out for Sera.

An ally, I decide.

Then I remember how he almost burned down her kitchen, all the comments about Pip suddenly making sense.

Okay, so he’s an ally with a penchant for chaos.

Yeah, I can work with that.

I just have to convince Hades to let Sera keep him.

That’ll be a fun task. He’ll probably make me promise him something in return.

Fine.

Pip clearly makes Sera happy. That’s worth more than whatever favor Hades will extract from me.

Once we reach the top landing, she tries to turn left, no doubt heading toward her old room. “Other way,” I say, causing her to pause.

She gives me a puzzled look.

“Your new accommodations are in Hades’s quarters,” I explain.

She swallows. “Oh.”

“If it’s any consolation, my rooms are also in his part of the palace,” I tell her.

Sera’s expression brightens a little, the reaction one that has my chest warming. She likes that I’ll be close by. I can’t admit it aloud, but I like it, too.

Except that also means I’ll be near her when she’s with Hades.

And that… that sends a cold bolt of reality through my veins.

Fuck .

She’s not mine. I know that. I’ve known that. I don’t even want a mate, either. It’s not all that conducive to my lifestyle or my choice of occupation.

Yet there’s something about Sera that makes me desire something new.

That desire is one I can’t explore. I don’t even want to define it. So I kill the instinct to investigate the something that my desire leads to and instead focus on giving Sera a proper tour.

“There’s an enchantment down this hall that reroutes uninvited guests to a different part of the palace.” I look at her. “Hades is very particular about who he allows into his private rooms.”

She nods. “I’m familiar with some of the magic in the palace, but only what Alina and her mates have shared with me.”

“The enchantments they probably told you about are likely exclusive to Orcus’s wing. Hades’s quarters are a completely different beast when it comes to protection charms. There are magical adornments everywhere and deadly consequences when it comes to any potential tampering.”

I don’t add that all of this is a result of trust issues. I think she already understands that part, along with the cause for said trust issues.

“Which means Pip may or may not be allowed through,” I add, glancing at the little ghost. “If we get separated, I’ll talk to Hades and fix it, okay?”

The soul looks at me with widened flames in his hollowed eyes.

“Trust me,” I add, causing Sera to look between us.

Her lips curl a little when Pip nods.

I almost stop to stare. Because fuck, she’s beautiful.

I’ve known this since I first laid eyes on her. Yet the attraction feels more potent now. More real .

I should not have pinned her against that wall .

It’s fucking with my head.

Giving myself a mental shake, I continue until we reach a specific set of columns. There’s nothing noteworthy about them; the entire corridor is decorated in these skull-adorned pillars. But this is where the enchantment lives. I recognize it, as I’ve lived here for a very long time.

However, I impart some wisdom to Sera so she can find it more easily until she memorizes the path, too.

“This is exactly nine pillars in from the stairwell,” I tell her.

“That number doesn’t really mean anything except that I used to count every time I went back to my room.

Because this is where the divide occurs. ”

Her nose scrunches. “Do I need to do something special to go the right way?”

I shake my head. “No, you’re already precoded with access based on your aura.” That’s not exactly how it works, but it’s the best way for me to explain it. “So the second you pass these pillars, you’ll automatically be in Hades’s wing.”

She frowns. “Then the pillars being set number nine doesn’t really matter, right?”

I cock my head, considering. “No, it… still matters.”

“Why?”

“Because the first thing that’s going to greet you when you pass through these pillars is probably going to be growling and have three heads.”

Her eyes widen. “ What ?”

“It’s fine. They won’t hurt you. Just try not to run, though, okay? Howl, in particular, is really fond of chasing.”

“Howl?” she repeats, sounding incredulous.

I just nod, then step through the enchantment and sigh when Ossa growls at me. “Hello to you, too, princess,” I drawl.

She bares her teeth.

Meanwhile, Howl and Mort yip excitedly and force their big body to move right for me.

Only, they freeze when Sera tentatively moves through the threshold.

Her eyes round upon seeing the three-headed beast, and she promptly backs up and out of view.

I follow her and see Pip waiting nervously on the other side.

It’s a strange sensation, slipping between the barrier, which I guess is more of a veil , but I do it anyway so I can see and hear Sera. “They won’t hurt you,” I repeat gently. “They’re basically Hades’s familiar. And he can’t harm you, so they won’t either.”

The look she gives me is filled with disbelief. “What in the thorns is that thing?”

My lips twitch at her use of thorns in that sentence. She’s fucking adorable.

“It’s a dog,” I tell her.

“That thing is not a dog. It’s a wolf beast!”

I shrug. “Okay, I can agree with that description. But at least you know where the Cerberus legends come from now.”

She blinks at me. “Cerberus?”

“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 said try . 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 facade 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.

I note that as something to mention to Hades. It gives even more reason for him to allow the little soul to stay.

Unless, of course, being a soul makes him capable of flying through wards. But I doubt it. Otherwise, we would have stray souls all over this part of this palace. Hades is a damn magnet for them, thanks to his ties to the death world.

Clearing my throat, I say, “Shall we continue, then?”

Ossa growls in response, making me shake my head.

“We’ve been over this, little beast. You don’t scare me.”

She snarls again.

I roll my eyes. “Nice to see you again, too.”

Ossa humphs in response.

“Can she understand you?” Sera asks slowly.

“Yep,” I drawl. “All three of them can, but Ossa is the leader of the pack. And she happens to hate me.”

The alpha-like female snaps at me, confirming my commentary.

“Meanwhile, Mort and Howl love me.”

Both heads look my way and give me toothy grins but almost immediately go back to studying Sera.

Pip circles the beast while they’re occupied, his head cocked. When Ossa notices him, she gives a little sniff but otherwise ignores his presence.

Because Sera asked them not to attack him, I realize, fascinated. She’s tamed Hades’s pet just by walking through the enchantment.

I nearly laugh.

But I’m too engrossed in the situation to let my amusement show.

Instead, I start to walk by the seated beast and smirk when Ossa doesn’t even acknowledge my presence. Normally, I would be covered in dog drool by now from Mort and Howl and have at least one puncture wound from Ossa.

However, my sweater—which I grabbed before we left—and jeans are perfectly intact.

Excellent.

I continue down the hall as Sera skirts around the three-headed beast to follow me.

When I glance back, it’s to find her nervously checking over her shoulder as the dogs trail behind her, their stances suddenly guarded.

They’re protecting her, I marvel, still utterly captivated by this development. Their behavior, coupled with Pip’s ability to pass through the ward, has me floored. Hades is going to hate all of this .

Which just adds even more enjoyment to the situation.

Unlike Sera, Hades doesn’t deserve to feel happiness. He needs to fucking grovel.

And I plan to tell him that as soon as I see him again.