Page 129

Eve

I wiped at my eyes, breathless. "You’re telling me you can tear through enemies, run a pack, but this—" I waved at the onesie still half-hanging off him, "—is what defeats you?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously, but the color on his face didn’t fade. "I swear, if you say one more word—"

"Okay, okay!" I held up my hands in surrender, still grinning ear to ear. "Come here. Let me help before you rip it apart."

Reluctantly, he stepped closer, and I crouched to tug the leg of the onesie in the right place, guiding his arm into the correct sleeve. The whole time, his gaze stayed fixed stubbornly on the far wall, his jaw tight with embarrassment. I guess this was the real reason he was stalling.

"You look majestic. Like a fearsome… unicorn." I teased softly as I zipped him up.

His scowl deepened, but the redness remained stubborn on his cheeks.

"Say it," he deadpanned.

I blinked innocently. "Say what?"

"You’re dying to say something."

I dragged my gaze up and down, biting back a grin. "You are adorable."

His eye twitched but so did his lips as if he was not sure whether he liked the compliment or hated it. "You are having the time of your life, aren’t you?"

"Maybe."

Hades exhaled sharply, tugging at the fabric like it was suffocating him. "You’re lucky I love---"

I froze for a second, caught completely off guard by the words he seemed like he was about to say.

Hades seemed just as surprised, his expression flickering with something unreadable.

"I love this," he muttered.

I froze, the teasing smile faltering on my lips.

He caught it too—his eyes flickering with something unreadable, something just as startled as I felt.

Hades wasn’t one to fumble his words.

And yet…

"I love this," he muttered again, tugging the zipper a little too roughly as if that would bury the slip under layers of fabric.

I narrowed my eyes. "You sure about that?"

He didn’t meet my gaze, suddenly very interested in the loose thread on the onesie’s sleeve. "Soft fabric. Warmer than it looks."

A pitiful excuse.

I crossed my arms, leaning against the dresser with a smug grin. "Oh, I get it now. You love it so much you spent an hour in the shower, mentally preparing to embrace your true unicorn self."

Hades exhaled through his nose, shooting me a flat, unimpressed glare. The flush on his face, however, refused to budge.

"Say what you want, but I think this is a breakthrough for you," I continued, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face.

He ran a hand down his face, shaking his head. "I regret every life choice that led me to this moment."

"You’re just upset because you know I’m right."

Hades huffed, turning slightly to face the mirror on the far side of the room. He stared at his reflection for a long beat, lips pressed in a thin line.

I was about to say something else—another jab at his expense—but the way his shoulders dropped slightly, the subtle shift in his expression, stopped me.

He tugged at the fabric again, quieter this time. "I didn’t think I’d be standing here in a unicorn onesie today."

His voice had lost its edge, dipping into something softer.

I straightened a little, sensing the shift. "Well, life’s full of surprises."

Hades met my gaze in the mirror. "Yeah. It is."

I opened my mouth, ready to throw out another teasing remark, but the heaviness in his eyes pulled me back.

I needed to lighten the mood again.

"Hold on," I said, pushing off the dresser. "Where’s my phone? This needs to be documented."

His eyes sharpened immediately, the softness from before vanishing like smoke. "Ellen, don’t—"

But I was already moving, patting the nightstand.

Nothing.

I frowned, checking the edge of the bed, the dresser—anywhere I might’ve left it. But as the seconds passed, the realization slowly set in.

It wasn’t here.

My hand lowered, brushing over the smooth, empty surface of the nightstand.

Right.

I didn’t have a phone anymore.

I swallowed hard, forcing the memory down as it crept into the back of my mind—the explosion, the message from my sister.

Hades’ voice pulled me from the edge.

"Red?"

I blinked, plastering on a smile I didn’t quite feel. "Ah, I forgot. My phone’s gone."

He didn’t say anything right away, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Oh..."

"Yeah." I shrugged like it was nothing, but the weight settled in my chest. "Guess that means no unicorn pictures today."

I tried to make it sound lighthearted, but even I could hear the hollowness in my voice.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then, without a word, Hades slipped his hand into his pocket and held something out to me.

His phone.

"Take mine."

I stared at it. "What?"

He didn’t move, arm still extended. "Take the picture. If it makes you smile, do it."

I hesitated, eyeing the sleek black device as if it were some dangerous artifact. "You really think I’m going to trust you with those photos on your phone?"

His lips curved faintly. "What’s the worst I could do?"

"Delete it?"

He chuckled, but the phone remained between us.

I wanted to brush it off, to make another joke and let the moment pass. But there was something in his eyes—something patient and unspoken.

Slowly, I took the phone from his hand.

"Just this once," I mumbled, flicking to the camera. "But I’m not keeping these on your phone for long."

Hades arched a brow. "I can get you a new one, you know."

I snorted, raising the phone. "Not happening. I’m not about to owe you for something like that." I lied. I just could not imagine holding another bomb to my ear again. At least for the time being.

"You wouldn’t owe me anything."

His voice was soft, quieter than before.

But I brushed past it, focusing the camera on him. "Alright, unicorn. Say cheese."

He sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable, but not without tugging the hood lower in a poor attempt to hide.

I snapped the photo, biting my lip as I admired the image—the King of Lycans, draped in fluffy pink fabric, with a unicorn horn flopped over his forehead like a broken crown.

"Perfect," I murmured.

Hades leaned against the bedpost, watching me with an unreadable expression. "I hate you."

"Liar," I held up the phone triumphantly. "You can’t live without me.

His gaze lingered, something warm flickering behind the usual sharpness.

"Yeah," he said softly.

I lowered the phone, my heart doing something strange and unwelcome in my chest.

His eyes hadn’t left mine.

I swallowed, clearing my throat. "Alright, majestic unicorn. What now?"

Hades smirked. "We could go for round two in the shower. Reflect some more."

I groaned, launching a pillow at his face. "Absolutely not."