Page 12 of Definitely Dead (Happily Ever Afterlife #1)

Chapter twelve

N aked, wet, cold, and exhausted, Tyr stepped through the stone archway with his mate by his side, Sunne’s hand clasped inside his own.

The rain ceased immediately, and the relentless whispers quieted, a hush settling over them as they emerged into the vast, overgrown field. There were no stars in that part of the Underworld, no ethereal clouds. Only stillness. Only a last breath of hope before the descent into madness.

In the center of the meadow, Hades had carved out an area among the waist-high weeds, a glass of port in one hand and a heavy, leather-bound book in the other. Dressed in a silk robe of deep sapphire, he lounged in a winged-back chair, the picture of ease and eccentricity.

He glanced up as they approached, his dark eyes reflecting the ambient light. Smooth, graceful, he rose, the chair, book, and wine vanishing as if they had never existed.

Tyr squeezed Sunne’s hand. “Just so you know, he can hear our thoughts.”

“Great,” Sunne sent back, his body tensing. “No pressure or anything.”

“Took you long enough,” the god said as if they had just arrived late for an important meeting. His gaze flickered to Tyr, and he looked almost disappointed. “I told you not to get lost.”

“I wasn’t lost.”

“Wait.” Sunne looked back and forth between them. “How long were we in there?”

Hades shrugged. “Three days, give or take.”

Tyr understood Sunne’s gasp of disbelief. To them, no more than a few hours had passed, even if it had felt like a lifetime.

Hades’ attention settled on Sunne, sharp, calculating. “So, you’re the one causing all this trouble.”

It took everything in Tyr to choke back his growl. Threatening the King of the Underworld wouldn’t do them any favors. Still, his fingers curled at his side, his hand forming into a fist as he fought the urge to teach the god some manners.

Of course, his reaction didn’t go unnoticed, and Hades smirked, his expression filled with challenge.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Sunne explained, tripping over the words in his rush to get them out. “I didn’t mean to cross the river. I kind of got soul-napped, and well, I guess you already knew that.”

“You’re referring to the troublesome little witch.” Hades bobbed his head slowly. “Unfortunately, thanks to your enterprising mate, he’s not here to accept the punishment for his misdeeds.”

Sunne shook his head quickly. “You make the laws,” he argued. “Aster just exploited the loopholes. So, if you think about it, this is kind of your fault.”

Torn between amusement and dismay, Tyr closed his eyes and groaned. “Maybe you should stop talking now.”

“Right.” Sunne shuffled closer to his side and hid behind his arm. “Good idea.”

Too bad he couldn’t seem to help himself, and in the next heartbeat, he blurted into the silence, “Are you going to smite us now?”

“Tempting,” Hades mused. “But no. Not today.”

“Thank you,” Sunne breathed. “You are kind and merciful. A legend among—”

“Don’t be a kiss-ass,” Hades interrupted. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“Yep. Got it. Shutting up now.”

Turning to Tyr, Hades shook back the sleeves of his robe and clasped his hands together, templing his index fingers “And you. You had one rule. Just one.”

And, for his mate, he’d break it again without a second thought.

Knowing nothing he could say in his defense would matter, he stood there silently, stoically, awaiting Hades’ verdict, and ultimately, his judgment. Even if the god banished him to the mortal world, he knew the way back. It might not be pretty, but nothing would keep him from Sunne.

“I had an inkling you’d feel that way,” Hades said, plucking the thought from his mind. “Which is why I’m not banishing you to the mortal world. I’m banishing you from ever returning to it.”

“Done.” It wasn’t like he had anything waiting for him back there anyway.

“What? No.” Releasing his hand, Sunne stepped forward, his voice trembling but his spine straight. “He’ll be dead. That’s what you’re saying.”

Hades dropped his hands and shrugged one shoulder. “Essentially, yes. And no more crossing the river.”

“No.” Sunne shook his head. “That’s not fair. He didn’t—”

“Enough, lelien .” Taking his mate by the shoulders, he turned him, waiting for the male to meet his gaze. “I knew the risks when I crossed, and I’m prepared to accept the consequences.”

The mortal world had lost its appeal the moment he’d met his little ray of sunshine. What could it possibly offer him without Sunne by his side?

“But you can’t go back to the village either. What about Rune and Sindri? What about Orrin?”

Yeah, that part stung, but it wasn’t like he would never see them again. Even immortals eventually met their end. In the meantime, while he waited, he had everything he needed right there in his arms.

“We’ll meet them again,” he promised. “Besides—” He glanced up, smirking at the god over Sunne’s shoulder. “Orrin is very much allowed to cross the river.”

“Clever bastard,” Hades muttered under his breath.

Sunne frowned and spun around, head cocked and hands resting on his hips. “This seems a little too easy. What’s the catch?”

He was smart to question it. With the gods, there was always something lurking in the fine print.

“No scales. No judgment.”

And no Glade. No eternal sunshine in the Underworld’s version of heaven.

“Then where do we go?” Tyr asked.

“You stay here.”

“In this fucking field?” Sunne demanded, his lip curling with revulsion.

To everyone’s surprise, Hades chuckled at the outburst. Hell, even he looked a little startled by his reaction.

“No, not the field. Just…in between.”

“In between what?”

Sensing the god was reaching the end of his tolerance, Tyr pulled Sunne back and tucked him against his side. “We accept. Thank you.”

“Good answer.” Then Hades swept his arm out to the side, manifesting a glowing emerald trail that led across the field and disappeared into the night. “Follow the path. It’ll take you where you need to go.”

Yep, definitely time for them to leave. Tyr gave Sunne a gentle push to get him walking, but they made it only a few steps before Hades called them back.

“If you break the rules again, I will erase you.”

Tyr clapped a hand over Sunne’s mouth when he started to speak and dipped his head in understanding. “Let it go,” he told his mate. “It’s not worth it.”

Sunne glared back at him. “Fine.”

Still, he didn’t remove his hand until Hades had disappeared, leaving them alone in the meadow.

They walked in silence, following the illuminated path out of the field and through more woods. Understandably, Sunne clutched his hand as they navigated the trees, jumping every time the wind kicked up or a branch cracked in the distance.

Beyond the forest, they descended into a lush valley filled with wildflowers, and as they crested the hill on the other side, the first light of morning broke over the horizon. It wasn’t really the sun, but that didn’t matter. Tyr still lifted his face to the golden rays, soaking in their warmth.

“Maybe you should shift,” Sunne suggested as they trudged down another hill toward what looked like a quiet, sleepy hamlet. “You’re naked.”

Otherlings in general didn’t have a lot of hangups when it came to modesty, and shifters had even fewer boundaries than the rest. In fact, he had forgotten about his nudity until Sunne had brought it up.

“I think a tank-sized bear wandering through town might cause more of a stir than my naked ass.”

“Good point.” Unzipping his jacket, he shrugged it off and tied it around Tyr’s waist by the sleeves. “I guess that will have to do.”

He honestly didn’t see why it mattered, but it made Sunne happy, so he just smiled and took his hand as they continued toward the village.

Eventually, the dirt path and plush grass gave way to brick-paved streets lined with enchanted trees and streetlamps made of glowing orbs inside brass lanterns. The buildings were simple but well designed, constructed largely of clay and smooth stone…and maybe a touch of magic.

Carved signs hung from the awnings, pride evident in the care and craftsmanship of each one. They passed a cafe, the scent of freshly brewed coffee spilling from the open windows, and a bakery that smelled of cinnamon and yeast.

“Cinnamon rolls!” Sunne exclaimed, tilting his head back and inhaling deeply. “I need a shower and about three days of sleep, but we are definitely coming back.”

Tyr grinned. Hades called this a punishment?

They continued down the wide lane, still following the emerald path, and Sunne pointed out every shop, his excitement growing with each new discovery.

An apothecary. A florist. A small grocer. A barber. A blacksmith. The town really seemed to have everything.

“No way!” Sunne gasped. “A bookstore? Are you kidding me?” He chewed his bottom lip and peeked up at Tyr through his lashes. “Do you think they’re hiring?”

Tyr caressed his hair, brushing it back from his face, and pressed a kiss to his temple. “It doesn’t hurt to ask.”

And he’d make sure the owner had a reason to say yes.

Past the shops, the lanterns, and the quiet coziness, they stepped onto another dirt lane, this one narrower and only slightly worn. The grass curved lazily over the edges, and tufts of Kelly green grew down the center of the trail.

In a quiet hollow on the edge of the forest, their journey ended, the glowing path leading them to…absolutely nothing. Just another open field set against the backdrop of rolling hills.

“I hate him,” Sunne grumbled. “I hate him so much.”

Tyr sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. Sadly, it didn’t even surprise him. Hades could be a royal dick, and sending them on a trek to nowhere would definitely fit his idea of a punchline.

“Come on.” He placed a hand on his mate’s shoulder in comfort and solidarity. “Maybe there’s somewhere we can stay in the village.”

“Yeah, I—wait.” Lifting his arm, Sunne pointed toward the hills. “Look.”

The air shimmered and sparkled, like a spray of golden fireworks, and a small cabin materialized in the middle of the field, complete with a wide porch and a set of wooden steps. Warm, orange light glowed from the windows, beckoning them closer, and tendrils of smoke curled skyward from the stone chimney.

“Wow,” Sunne breathed. “Is this ours?”

“It would appear so.” Taking his mate’s hand, he pulled him along the path toward their new home. “Let’s check it out.”

It wasn’t large or lavish, but it had a charm all its own, and it fit Sunne perfectly. Decorated in rich colors of gold and teal with a leather sofa and matching chairs situated around a cozy fireplace, it radiated warmth and safety. Large windows with cream-colored drapes provided a beautiful view of the forest and the hills, while also opening the space to an abundance of natural light.

A teak bookcase took up one of the corners, the shelves only half-filled, leaving plenty of room for Sunne to add his own treasures from the bookstore. Beside it, a soft cotton throw had been draped over the back of a wooden rocking chair in front of a recessed window.

The kitchen was small but functional, and the cabinets and pantry already contained all the necessities. A round table with two place settings occupied an area in front of the back door, a natural separation between the two spaces.

The cabin contained only one bedroom, just big enough for a king-sized bed and a couple of matching nightstands, though the walk-in closet was a nice touch. The attached bathroom boasted stone tiles and oil-bronzed fixtures, with a massive clawfoot tub perched beneath the window.

Sunne, however, rushed right past it without so much as a glance, going directly to the shower to turn on the faucet. Hot water sprayed from the showerhead, the steam instantly fogging the glass enclosure.

“I take it back,” he muttered as he stripped out of his dirty, wrinkled clothes. “I love Hades. He’s amazing. I will never say another bad word about him.”

Removing the jacket from his waist, Tyr followed his mate, groaning when he stepped under the heated spray. Together they washed the dirt away, using soap from unmarked bottles that smelled of sandalwood and amber, sharing soft kisses as they scrubbed each other clean.

Closing his eyes, Sunne hummed a song under his breath that Tyr didn’t recognize, and he wore a strange smile, as if he knew a secret but wouldn’t tell.

“You seem happy.”

“I died. Switched bodies with a murderer. Almost got eaten by a zombie wolf in a haunted forest.” He opened his eyes and stared up at Tyr, his expression filled with quiet reverence. “And I’m still here. With you. That seems like a pretty good reason to be happy.”

“Well, when you put it that way…”

Pushing him against the tiles, Tyr claimed his lips in a soft kiss, a whisper of devotion that held the promise of things to come. He bent, gripping Sunne’s pert backside, kneading the globes as he lifted him from the floor to anchor him against the wall.

His mate moaned when their erections pressed together, a strangled sound filled with need and hunger. Then he wrapped his arms around Tyr’s neck, dragging him closer to slant their mouths together in a blistering kiss that sent a shiver of desire racing through him.

They ate at each other in a clash of tongues and teeth, propelling the quiet moment into a frenzy of urgency and desperation. Hands grasped and fingers clutched, every touch deliberate and filled with tension.

The hot water cascaded over them, creating a delicious slide as they undulated together, hands gliding over slick skin, mapping, searching, relearning. Steam filled the enclosure, swirling around them in thick clouds, cocooning them from the rest of the world in this one perfect moment of time.

“Need you,” Sunne panted, reaching between them to palm his swollen shaft. “Now, Tyr. Right now.”

Tyr fumbled on the shelf to his left, searching for the small bottle of gel he’d seen tucked among the soaps and creams. He’d definitely have to thank Hades for that later.

Finding it easily, he popped the lid open and upended the glass bottle, spilling the contents into his palm. With a shaking hand he slicked his cock from base to tip before pressing the crown to Sunne’s clenching hole.

Then he sank into his mate, inch by glorious inch, growling as the tight heat enveloped him. The velvet walls contracted in rhythmic waves, wrapping around his length and pulling him deeper.

Hooking his arms behind Sunne’s knees, he pushed his legs wider, spreading him open as he grinded against him, pulling a choked moan from the male that echoed off the tiles. He started slow, a gentle but steady rhythm, giving Sunne time to adjust before increasing his pace. Their mouths collided again, their tongues thrusting and dueling as he drove into his mate, hammering him against the wall with every hard snap of his hips.

“Close,” Sunne panted, a warning or a plea, Tyr couldn’t tell. “More. I need more.”

Instinct took over, and a growl reverberated in his chest. Tangling his fingers in Sunne’s wet hair, he jerked his head to the side, exposing the side of his neck. His upper lip pulled back over elongated canines, his gaze locked on the pale mating mark that scarred his mate’s skin.

A primal, possessive need overwhelmed him, a desire to reclaim what already belonged to him, to reestablish their bond after everything they had been through. He struck hard and fast, embedding his fangs in the delicate skin as he plunged into Sunne’s welcoming heat, pushing them both higher until they teetered on the precipice.

Sunne screamed, the sound raw, powerful, as if purging the past twenty-four hours from his heart and mind. His fingers scrabbled for purchase against Tyr’s slick shoulders, and a shudder ripped through him. Muscles tight, voice strained, he tumbled over the edge, his release painting the space between them.

Extracting his canines, Tyr followed with a deafening roar, pumping hard and fast, his heart thundering in his chest as he spilled himself into his mate’s clenching depths.

Spent, sated, and utterly at peace, he slumped against him, his breath ragged against the side of Sunne’s neck. “Gods, I can’t get enough of you.”

“I know what you mean,” Sunne answered, clinging to him. “I love you, Tyr. More than anything.”

He lifted his head to brush their lips together. “I love you, too, lelien . I’d fight a zombie wolf for you anytime.”

Their laughter ended in mutual groans when Tyr’s flagging erection slipped from its sheath. Still, they held to each other, unwilling to let go, savoring the reward of a hard-won battle.

They had walked through fire and emerged on the other side. They hadn’t just survived either. They had built something better and stronger from the ashes. And this moment, wrapped in softness and maybe a hint of teeth, was proof of what he’d already known.

Death wasn’t the end.

For him and Sunne, it was just the beginning.