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Hades

"Ellen?" Kael asked.

But I was already at the door of the room.

"Yes, Ellen. She is thirty minutes late." She had never been even a minute late before—even when I had her clothes discarded without her knowing.

I walked through the hall, Kael on my tail. As I made my way down to our room, my mind had already begun to make up scenarios.

Had it been another bomb? My stomach flipped. But there had been no alerts.

Another damn kidnapping. Had I not been clear enough with the Montegue? Maybe I should have had more than just three of their wineries burnt down.

I stalked down the corridor, the walls narrowing with each step as tension coiled around my spine. My senses sharpened, pulling in every sound, every flicker of movement.

But there was nothing.

She was not coming.

Kael’s footsteps echoed behind me. He knew better than to speak right away, but I could feel his gaze burning into my back.

My nails scraped against the wall as I passed, already half-shifted into claws. I clenched my fists, but the transformation didn’t recede. My teeth ached—fangs pushing through too quickly, too violently, until I could taste iron on my tongue.

"Hades," Kael’s voice was a low warning behind me.

I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

I could hear my own pulse roaring in my ears, drowning out everything else. I did not take the elevator. I sped up the stairs, and within seconds I was on our floor.

My eyes flickered toward our bedroom door at the end of the hall.

The air felt wrong.

I felt it.

I was not alone in this.

Cerberus bristled because he felt it too. He sniffed the air, taking in and assessing the scent like a hound dog.

Her scent was the first thing that hit me—but there was something else unmistakable even through the door. But all I caught was a faint trace, like a fading echo.

My vision blurred with crimson.

The door cracked off its hinges as I stormed inside, the splinters flying as if hurled by the force of my rage.

The scene hit me like a punch to the gut.

Ellen lay curled on the floor, gripping something tightly. Her chest rose and fell faintly, but her lips were parted as if struggling to catch her breath.

Kneeling over her, her ear hovering above Ellen’s mouth was a woman—Jules.

She gasped when she saw me, her wide eyes locking onto mine for half a second—enough for her to understand.

In the next breath, I had her by the throat.

A choked sound tore from her throat as her feet dangled inches above the ground.

"Get away from my wife!" I roared, the words cutting through the tension like a blade.

She clawed at my wrist, desperate, nails scraping against my skin but leaving no mark. I barely felt her struggle.

"Hades—Hades, wait!" Kael’s voice barely pierced through the fog in my mind, but I didn’t let go.

Cerberus raged beneath my skin. His snarl was a second heartbeat, thudding louder than my own pulse.

I tightened my grip. Her heart stammered against my palm, fragile and weak.

"I—I was just—" she rasped, words spilling out between gasps.

I bared my teeth. "I don’t care what you were doing. You fuckin’ dared!"

Her eyes darted to Ellen, filled to the brim with fear and desperation.

"She—she was like this when I came in."

Ellen stirred faintly, her lips parting as a soft, broken whisper escaped.

"Hades…"

The sound hit me harder than any blow ever could.

Jules was out of my hands before I even realized it, her body slamming against the wall with a force that rattled the entire room. She crumpled to the floor, unconscious, a smear of blood trailing from where her head had struck the plaster.

I didn’t care.

I was already kneeling beside Ellen, gathering her into my arms like she might slip away if I didn’t hold on tight enough.

"Red… wake up. Talk to me."

My voice dipped into something gentler, something that only existed for her. I brushed strands of her hair away from her face, tucking them behind her ear, but her skin felt cold—too cold.

Her eyes fluttered open, bloodshot and ringed with exhaustion. Dry streaks of tears marred her cheeks. She looked so small, so fragile, like the weight of breathing alone was too much for her.

I brushed my thumb against her temple, my heart lodging in my throat at the sight of her.

"Kael," I growled, not taking my eyes off her. "Get the physician. Now. And call security for that bitch."

Kael didn’t hesitate. I heard him rush out, but my focus stayed locked on Ellen.

Her gaze drifted, unfocused, as she lifted trembling fingers to my jaw.

"Tell me who did this," I demanded softly, leaning closer, searching her face for answers.

Her lips parted, but nothing came at first.

She swallowed with effort. "Promise me…"

I froze.

Her voice—so small.

I could feel the faint tremor in her body against mine.

"Promise me, Hades," she whispered, as if she wasn’t sure she’d get another chance to speak.

"Tell me," I muttered.

She opened her mouth, but only a strangled cry came out. Her eyes filled with tears again, and before I could blink, sobs racked her body.

The onesie was still in her grasp, her grip tightening on the clothing.

Confusion swirled in my head. I recalled her reaction to the onesie yesterday and how her mood had shifted so fast.

Did what was happening have something to do with the onesie she refused to let go of?

"Tell me, Red, and I will swear it to you," I vowed fiercely. "Please just fucking tell me."

But I was not getting through to her. She only continued to sob in my arms, her face flushing bright red as she cried.

I pressed my forehead to hers, tightening my grip, pulling her closer.

"I swear it, Red. Whatever you need. Just tell me," I whispered.

She paused for a moment, her voice as soft as a breeze.

"Don’t take off the onesie. Don’t leave me. Promise you won’t betray me."