Page 33 of Bride of Death (Netherworld Fae #1)

Morpheus

I whistle, calling for Pip to meet me outside on Serapina’s balcony.

It’s a massive space, one that boasts a fountain of bloody water and two small gardens crafted from stone. I suppose it’s beautiful on a surface level. But I understand the hidden context beneath. And due to that, I’m not all that keen on Hades’s exterior decorating choices.

Alas, the barrier spell Hades has implemented prevents me from entering Serapina’s suite. However, it doesn’t protect her rooftop terrace from my presence.

Could I break through it in an urgent situation? Yes. However, I would prefer not to alert my cousin of my intentions at the moment.

He can no doubt sense my nearness. However, numerous visits over the last year will have him wondering if it’s a new arrival or just a lingering presence in the air.

By the time he figures it out, I’ll be gone.

Pip floats out through the glass and does an excited little twirl upon seeing me.

I hold out the bag I’ve brought for him and set it on the balcony. “Can you make sure Serapina?—”

The door opens before I can finish speaking, a pair of pretty blue eyes instantly finding mine. She blinks, her lips curling down as she steps out onto the dark marble patio. The dueling moons above shine down upon her, illuminating her hair in a shimmer of golden waves.

“Uh, hi,” she says slowly, her gaze going to the item in my hand.

“Hi.” I set the bag on the floor. “There’s a lamp inside—the one you need for your plant,” I explain. “I was going to give it to Pip.”

“I see that,” she murmurs, glancing between me and the cloaked soul. “Um, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I reply.

She smiles shyly.

And when she doesn’t say anything, I ask, “Are you… all moved in, then?”

She snorts and shakes her head. “Yeah, by some bizarre magic, apparently I am.” Her nose wrinkles. “I told Maliki all I wanted was my plant and Pip, but he somehow moved it all up here.”

“I actually think Hades may have assisted with that,” I inform her softly. “I saw him leave your place a bit ago with his arms full of clothes.”

Sera stares at me. “What?”

I shrug. “Omegas are usually quite attached to their garments, you know, for nesting.”

Her eyes round. “He thinks I’m going to nest?”

“Well, once your Omega instincts come in, yes.” I frown at her. “You don’t think you’ll crave a nest?”

“I…” She blinks. “I haven’t considered it.”

“But you know what a nest is?” I press.

Her lips twist, and her gaze goes out to the Netherworld Kingdom below. “Alina has told me a little about it—how she makes a bed for her and her mates. And she told me it’s instinctual, but that’s really all she’s said.”

I nod, understanding. “Nesting is a very private affair for an Omega with her circle. She probably didn’t know how to share more details. It’ll also be unique for you. Because every Omega nests differently.”

Or, apparently, sometimes Omegas don’t nest at all, I think, a little perplexed by this development.

“Don’t you ever feel proprietary about your personal space?” I ask her, curious. “Specifically, your bed?”

She shrugs. “I’ve never really owned my own space until the hut, and I didn’t get to stay there long.”

“Do you miss it? Do you want to return there? Perhaps to grab your blankets?” Because I noticed Hades left her sheets behind. Maybe it was because they smelled like Serapina and Maliki—a scent that left me more than a little intrigued as to what they did in that bed.

Serapina frowns. “I miss what my home represents—freedom. But I understand now that I’ll never be free. How can I be when my soul is so evil?”

I take a step back, her question seeming to hit me right in the heart. “Your soul is not evil, Serapina Everheart. Do not ever say something like that again.”

Her gaze narrows. “My soul destroyed an entire realm. Wasn’t that the point of yesterday’s lesson?”

“The point was to share our history and teach you more about Mythos Fae,” I reply, moving toward her again. “Not to promote incorrect assessments regarding your soul’s virtue.”

“Okay, then how would you describe her actions?” she counters when I’m only a foot away from her.

I stare down into her pretty eyes, my palm itching to grab her nape.

Evil is such a horrible word. So unfair. So cruel .

But I suppose what little she knows would lead her to that assumption.

“I would describe Persephone’s actions as unknown,” I tell her honestly. “Hades believes she betrayed him. I think she was manipulated by her mother because he didn’t properly guard his mate.”

I don’t tell her this to paint him in a negative light. It’s merely the truth.

“Hades never desired a mate-circle because he refused to share his Persephone. But there’s a reason Mythos Fae Alphas form clusters around their Omegas—to protect them.” I give in to my need to touch her and reach up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

She shivers, the action one that delights me to no end.

So I let my touch linger, the backs of my fingers tracing her soft jawline as I add, “Omegas are our Goddesses. They create life. They bring light to our world. And they are literally the stars of our universe. But not all Alphas believed in worshipping our Goddesses. Some wished to enslave them instead.”

It’s a sad history.

But she needs to know the truth to understand Demeter. And perhaps it will help her understand Perephone, too.

“Come, let’s relax, and I’ll continue our lesson. If you’ll oblige me?”

Serapina’s blue eyes hold me captive as I await her decision. For I will never force this female to do anything she doesn’t desire. But I will absolutely do whatever it takes to win her affection.

“Okay,” she says. “But only because I want to learn more.”

I smile. “Of course.”

My hand drops from her face but reaches for her palm as I gently tug her over to a bench seated in a fake garden. It’s a cruel re-creation of one of Persephone’s favorite places in our home realm. Because instead of life, the plants are all made of rock.

They’re dead.

Cold.

Frozen in place with a moon that bathes them in dull yellow colors instead of vibrant pastels.

Yet Serapina looks upon the creation with wonder, her gaze flitting over the statues of fire lilies with open curiosity.

This is how I know she isn’t connected to Persephone’s memories.

Because if she were, there would be tears in her eyes right now, not stars.

I’ve seen Persephone in this very garden, not up close, but from afar, and I know how much she adored those flowers. She nursed them every day, showering them with life while I hovered in the mist, just out of reach.

She wasn’t mine to touch, thanks to Hades’s reluctance.

Oh, I could have interfered. I could have forced him to share.

But it would have broken Persephone’s heart to have her Alphas fight over her soul.

And so, I let them be, even though my heart shattered in the process.

Swallowing, I glance up at the sky and fight the urge to growl at the memories flooding my thoughts. My anger. My fear. My agony .

I knew what was brewing in the Mythos Fae Realm, as did Hades. Yet he never thought anyone would breach his infamous walls.

He was right, of course. No one overtook his perimeters. Because the enemy was already inside the gates .

I stretch my arm out on the bench behind Serapina as Pip dances around the flowers, his antics reminding me a bit of a puppy enjoying his time outside. It’s so innocent that I nearly smile.

But there’s nothing humorous about what I need to tell her.

“To understand the past, we need to revisit dynamics. Alphas are the protectors, therefore stronger than the rest. We’re powerful, right?”

She nods. “I’ve gathered that.”

I smile. “You’ve barely seen what we can do, but that’s because you’re an Omega, and Alphas know to temper their energy around your kind. I don’t want to call you fragile, as that’s not the correct term, but you are smaller and softer than my brethren.”

This should be rather evident to her already since she’s a foot shorter than me and weighs a fraction of what I do.

“It doesn’t matter if the Omega is male or female; they all possess a petite stature in comparison to that of an Alpha,” I explain.

“And, unfortunately, some Alphas feel that strength equals superiority. Therefore, they believe in taking what they want and forcing everyone else to pay homage in exchange for survival.”

That’s why the Mythos Fae Realm has self-destructed.

Without Omegas to soften the Alphas of our world, many have become feral versions of their former selves, thus joining the ranks of those who feel the need to dominate.

They’ve created camps where Betas serve to survive.

Others have created wastelands.

And some—like Hades and me—have found other kingdoms to live within.

But before I can explain that to her, I have to address the point of this discussion.

“Some of the Alphas who believed in their inherent superiority decided that Omegas were theirs to take and own, and essentially turned their mates into slaves.”

Serapina’s eyes widen, her discomfort causing my chest to ignite in a purr.

It’s an automatic reaction. I just want to soothe her.

Clearing my throat, I say, “Sorry, that’s a natural reaction to your distress.”

“It’s okay,” she says, leaning toward me. “I… I don’t mind. Though, I find it interesting you can speak while making that sound.”

My lips twitch. “Haven’t you heard a cat meow while purring?”

“Only once or twice,” she admits, her gaze going to Pip as he jumps off the terrace. “What are you?—”

The soul comes right back up and does a flip in the sky.

“I think he noticed your discomfort, too,” I say, amused. “He’s trying to make you smile.”

She blinks at Pip, then looks back at me. “I don’t mean to react. It’s just the notion of being a slave…”