Page 9 of Bride of Death (Netherworld Fae #1)

Maliki

Sera simply continues to stare at me.

Apparently, I shouldn’t have referred to myself as an assassin. But it’s not like my profession is a secret. I’ve also told her several times that I’m here to protect her, not hurt her.

Though, I certainly wouldn’t mind reddening her skin a bit. Preferably with clamps. And maybe a little wax play.

Hmm. That’s a dangerous thought path to follow.

Of course, it’s difficult not to consider it after seeing her in that towel and freshly wet from her shower.

Her skin still possessed a hint of pink from the heat of the fire, too, telling me exactly what she would look like after being fucked in my bed.

I thought clothes would help with the attraction.

They didn’t.

This female is alluring, witty, and a tiny bit rebellious. All traits I adore. Except she’s also very much off-limits.

Which marks her as forbidden desire.

I nearly growl in annoyance. Hades told me I could seduce her, but I know him too well to accept that offer. He’ll use it against me in the end.

And as I told Sera, I very much enjoy living.

Thus, I have to ignore the temptation and do my job instead.

Which includes seeing to Sera’s needs—like her hunger. “I can still hear your stomach rumbling, little mystery,” I tell her. “Please eat.” Because if I have to feed her, I’ll have to touch her. And I’m not sure I can do that without also enjoying it.

Naturally, she continues to ignore me and stare.

“All right.” I push my plate to the side and fold my arms on the table. “Yes, I’m an assassin. But I only kill those who have done something to deserve their fates. And you rejecting the God of Death is certainly not worthy of my lethal skills.”

Although, what her soul supposedly did about two thousand years ago might qualify for my brand of punishment.

But I opt not to voice that knowledge out loud.

As far as I’m concerned, Sera is an innocent. Her soul, however, still requires judgment. That obviously complicates the situation, especially since Sera and her soul should join during her first Omega heat.

If that ever happens , I think, recalling what Hades said about the timing of her estrous cycle. It should have already occurred. However, nothing about Sera seems to be going according to plan.

Including right now.

Because she still isn’t fucking eating.

“Sera,” I say in the softest tone I can muster. “Do you know how precious Omegas are to their Alphas?”

Her brow furrows a little, telling me the words have broken through some sort of barrier. “I’ve seen how Orcus treats Alina.”

I nod. “Then you understand why I won’t hurt you.”

“Because you’re an Alpha?” she asks in a whisper.

A chuckle taunts my chest, one that escapes in a low rumble as I reply, “No. Styx , no. I’m a combination of a lot of fae, making me an abomination by many standards. But I don’t have any Mythos Fae inside me.”

Her brow crinkles. “Oh.”

“What I’m trying to say is, Hades is an Alpha. And he’s not just any Alpha. He’s one who claims to be fated to your Omega soul. And I work for him. So, I can’t touch you. I’m also duty-bound to protect you.”

She swallows, seemingly unconvinced.

“Consider it from another perspective, mystery,” I suggest. “I’m an assassin, and I happen to be very good at my job. Which means you’ve never been safer than you are right now. Because I will kill anyone who even looks at you the wrong way.”

Her pretty blue eyes widen. “What? Why?”

I just stare at her. “I’ve already explained that.

” Leaning back in my chair, I add, “I’ve been guarding you for nearly a year as well.

When you first arrived, I was stuck in a hellish interrogation—I pissed off the Hell Fae King by opening an illegal portal, one that led to your old world, actually. Alas, that’s a story for another day.”

And one I don’t feel like elaborating on right now, so I don’t.

“But shortly after my release, Hades assigned me to your protective detail, and I’ve been guarding you ever since.” I leave the table to start some coffee. The caffeine doesn’t do anything for me; I just enjoy the taste.

When I turn around, I find Sera still watching me. However, the fork is in her hand again. Good .

Rather than comment on it—I don’t want to scare her off of eating—I continue sharing some history.

“I mostly just hung out in the palace and ensured no one entered that shouldn’t be there. I didn’t want to intrude on your space. But when you chose to move to the village, I was forced to get closer to you. So I spoke to Tank about renting his place.”

It took about a week to work out the details, which left me a little uneasy, as I had to complete perimeter sweeps around the village while she slept each night. Once I moved in, though, things were easier because I was close enough to hear her scream then.

Not that she ever did.

Until this morning, anyway.

I tell her all that, not leaving any details out, and even inform her that I’ve spent most nights at Death’s Den, guarding her from the shadows.

“You probably think I’m some sort of creepy stalker, and I guess I am. But I’ve done my best not to violate your privacy. The only reason I showed myself at the bar last night was because Hades asked me to escort you back to the palace. Otherwise, I would have just remained in the shadows.”

And I would have had a nice little chat with Jack after he left, I think, not wanting to add that part aloud.

Because I’ve had a lot of chats over the last month.

This female is a fucking magnet for flirtatious trouble.

I pause to focus on my coffee—the grinder is a piece of styx rocks, making me want to throw it out the bloody window. Alas, it’s not my grinder. It’s Tank’s. Though if I have to stay here much longer, I may just buy him a new one as a welcome-home gift.

Once the machine finishes its job of pulverizing the beans, I take out a filter and get the coffee machine ready.

Such a menial thing to do.

But while I possess many intriguing talents, manifestation magic isn’t one of them.

Sighing, I turn back toward my little guest and grin when I find the fork in her mouth. “That’s my good girl,” I praise her. “Your stomach will thank me later by being quiet, I assume.”

Her cheeks pinken, causing my smile to widen. She really is stunning. Why Hades chooses to stay away from her is a mystery.

Well, not really.

He thinks she’s guilty of betraying him two thousand years ago. And he believes she knows all about that betrayal, too.

I saunter back over to my chair and collapse into it, my gaze on Sera. “Hades told me you were taken by a crazy Alpha in your old world. Is that true?” I know it is, but I’m trying to give her an option as to whether or not she wants to talk about it.

Her lips thin, her gaze seeming to blink into a faraway stare before coming back to me. “I’m not sure if she was crazy or not, and honestly, it all feels like a dream to me. But yes, it’s true, I guess. Only, she kind of saved me, too.”

“Saved you?” I echo.

“From Monsters Night,” she explains.

“Ah, yes, that.” I’m familiar with the infamous mating game from her dimension, the one where monsters roam the streets once a year to claim their brides.

Hades once said the annual event reminded him of Halloween. I’m still not quite sure why. Sure, some of the monsters look like they belong in a costume contest, but that’s really the only similarity.

“That’s how your sister met her mates,” I add, causing Sera to nod. “She seems rather pleased by that development.”

“She’s lucky,” Sera tells me. “Her mates respect her and cherish her.”

“Just as Hades will do with you,” I say, then wonder if I’ve just lied.

Because he’s talked about breaking her on several occasions.

He needs the memories inside her soul. And the only way to free them is to force Sera to merge with the Omega inside her.

Or however that’ll work, anyway.

Fortunately, I’m saved from dwelling on it because the coffee maker signals that it’s done. At least the machine works properly , I think as I go to pour myself a cup.

I offer Sera one, but she scrunches her nose and declines.

So instead I say, “Tell me what questions you have.” There’s a lot of information I can share. However, I don’t want to overwhelm her.

Which I’ve clearly already done.

Because she says nothing as I start cleaning up the kitchen. I sip my coffee as I work, then head back to the table to claim my empty plate. Hers is mostly clear, causing me to ask, “Are you finished?”

She nods so I take the dish to the sink.

“Why you?” she inquires, causing my brow to furrow.

I glance back at her. “What do you mean?”

“Why are you here telling me that I’m engaged and not Hades?

Why has he avoided me for the last thirteen months?

I mean, I lived in his palace for a year.

If we’re supposedly betrothed, why didn’t he come talk to me?

Or, I don’t know, introduce himself? Or tell me he thinks I’m Persephone, or whatever else he could have said. ”

She’s doing that thing again where she spews questions at me. I don’t comment on it, though. Instead, I try to answer her thoroughly.

But without giving away too much.

Because telling her Hades both loves and hates her… will probably be a bit too much right now.

“As I mentioned, he asked me to convince you to accept the nuptials. He seems to think I’m good with women.”

Which I very much am in sexual circumstances.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply here.

However, I don’t comment on that.

Instead, I continue by saying, “He hasn’t come to you himself because he’s convinced you already know him and remember everything.”

“I don’t,” she interjects. “I don’t remember him at all.”

“And yet, I know you recognized the name Persephone,” I point out. Because I saw the way she reacted to it last night when I called her that. So some part of her knows something.

Her paling complexion now confirms it.

Only, her words that follow are not what I expect. “I hear that name in my dreams.”

I blink at her. “Your dreams?”