Page 145

Eve

The knocks on the door startled me. It was noon; no one ever came at noon. I got up to answer it, trying to swallow my trepidation. No one knew about the memory card, I was sure. I would receive a phone soon and find out what I needed to see before promptly destroying it.

The door swung open to reveal familiar hazel eyes and a signature warm smile. "Hello, princess," Lia greeted.

For a moment, I could only stare, my mouth agape. I threw my arms around Lia without thinking. Her body tensed beneath my touch, and I felt the hesitation in her stillness.

Just as I started to pull away, afraid I’d crossed a line, Lia’s arms wrapped around me, firm but gentle.

"It’s good to see you too," she whispered.

I held on for a moment longer before stepping back. Lia’s smile hadn’t faded, but there was something unreadable in her eyes.

"Come inside," I said softly, stepping aside to let her in.

We took the positions we used to take back when she was here every day. It felt familiar and nostalgic in a sense. There was no awkwardness as she jumped straight into a conversation.

"I heard you have been doing well," she all but gushed. "You’ve even picked up self-defense."

I couldn’t help but smile sheepishly. "Yeah, it’s been a rollercoaster."

She nodded. "You even made a friend."

My stomach tried not to turn at the mention of Jules. I kept my smile in place. "I have come a long way."

"You have," she whispered. "You really have. I am so proud of you."

Heat flooded my face. "Thank you," I murmured. "I could not have done it without you."

"Don’t downplay it," Lia interrupted gently. "You did this, princess. I just nudged you in the right direction."

Her gaze softened, and for a brief moment, the weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying lifted. I missed her.

I shifted in my seat, fiddling with the corner of my sleeve. "It’s been hard," I admitted quietly.

Lia leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "I know," she said. "But you never stopped moving forward."

I glanced at her, wondering if she truly understood how much her words meant.

"Jules…" I hesitated. "She’s been a good friend. I didn’t expect that."

Lia’s expression remained unreadable, but she nodded as if she knew more than she let on. "Sometimes the right people show up when you least expect them."

Silence settled between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind that felt full—like nothing needed to be said for it to make sense.

"Are you staying long?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual, but the hint of hope betrayed me.

Lia’s eyes flickered with something fleeting before she smiled. "For a little while."

I nodded, pretending that answer didn’t feel heavier than it should.

"That’s good," I said softly, as if saying it aloud would make it true. The question that had plagued me for a while, before the usual issues in my life had distracted me, came back to the forefront. "Why did you stop coming?"

I watched as her expression fell, and the unease at the base of my stomach grew.

"His Majesty thought you needed space," Lia said softly, her voice careful but firm.

I frowned, the words settling uneasily in my chest. "Space for what?"

Her gaze didn’t waver this time. "For real life. For things that mattered beyond me, princess."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Lia continued before I could speak.

"I was only supposed to help stabilize you. That was the plan."

My hands curled into fists in my lap, frustration rising before I could stop it. "Stabilize me?" I repeated, the word leaving a bitter taste. I guess I was a loose cannon back then. A shiver ran down my spine when I recalled that cold blade on my wrist.

I swallowed painfully. "I understand."

She smiled before reaching out and clasping my trembling hand. "Of course, you do," she replied. "You always do. Princess, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"What happened on Wednesday?" she asked.

"The date?" I asked, the lump in my throat hardening.

"You said you saw your ex-fiancé?" she asked. "James?"

"I thought I did," I chuckled nervously, trying to sound casual.

But she frowned. "Hades was worried, princess. And His Majesty rarely ever cares, not to mention worrying. Are you sure it was not more than that?" Her voice was soft as it always was, but there was something in her eyes that made me want to reel back.

Suddenly, I felt even more nervous, and my eyes darted from one corner of the room to another. "I guess I was seeing things," I said lamely. I laughed again.

But when my eyes met her gaze, my stomach dropped. Her face had turned ghostly pale, her eyes wide.

"Princess, I know you had a mental breakdown not too long ago, and now... hallucinations..." Her voice turned grave.

"I am alright. I am improving..."

"You were hollowed," she whispered. "Princess."

My mouth snapped closed, a chill washing over my whole body that I had to fight to suppress.

"You are not wolfless. You used to have a wolf, but it was ripped out of you. I know, and I have known for a long time."

They were not supposed to know. I could explain being wolfless, but hollowed? How could I explain that I had been injected with wolfbane for five years without blowing my cover?

"You are mistaken."

"Wolfbane was found in your bloodstream."

My heart lodged in my throat. Hades had my blood tested for wolfbane—because of course, he had.

She pursed her lips. "You are the blessed twin."

Lia’s words sliced through the fragile calm I’d been clinging to.

"You’re the blessed twin, princess," she said softly, her gaze steady but heavy with unspoken things. "Your wolf should never have been suppressed so easily. No ordinary means could have hollowed you out like this."

I froze, every muscle locking in place. "I told you—"

She cut me off, her voice unwavering. "I’ve spent enough time with you to know the difference between losing a wolf and having it ripped away."

I gripped the armrest, nails digging into the fabric as I tried to steady the rising tremor in my hands.

"I wasn’t tortured," I lied, forcing my tone to stay level. "I would remember if I—"

Lia’s eyes darkened. "Would you?" she asked quietly. "Prolonged exposure to wolfbane breaks memories. It fractures the mind to protect itself."

My throat tightened, but I said nothing.

"You’re not supposed to," she continued. "But now, it’s been set in motion."

"What?"

"Your deterioration, princess."

The world beneath me tilted. I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

Lia moved closer to me. "That is why I am here, princess. The hollowing is killing you. It will start mentally and then become physical."

***

Hello,

I want to preface this message by saying a big thank you to all of you who have stuck around this long. I am so honored that you deemed Hades and Eve’s story worthy of your hard-earned money. Your support and comments have truly changed my life.

I know life can be chaotic, and the fact that you take the time to read and feel alongside these characters humbles me.

You’ve turned something deeply personal into something shared, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.

To be honest, I never imagined there would be so many of you.

I’m fully aware that my writing isn’t perfect, nor is it free of typos (there are definitely more than a few).

With that said, I want to wholeheartedly apologize for dragging the story out for so long.

I’m truly sorry. I guess I got so caught up in writing a sweeping, emotional romance that I lost sight of the bigger picture.

I focused on the small, intimate moments between Hades and Eve while the plot itself stood still.

I raised the stakes and kept you in suspense, but I made you wait too long for the payoff.

In my effort to craft a love story that felt deep and real, I overlooked the balance needed for the other tropes and twists.

I realize now that this may have wasted not only your time but also the money you generously spent to support me. For that, I’m truly sorry. You deserve better pacing, and I’m working to correct that moving forward.

Please know that every word I’ve written comes from a place of passion and love for this story, but I understand that passion alone isn’t enough. Your experience as readers matters deeply to me, and I never want you to feel like I’ve taken your support for granted.

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and for continuing to believe in Hades, Eve, and me. I promise to bring this story to a satisfying close in a way that honors your investment and the time you’ve spent with these characters.

Moving forward, I’ll be focusing on progressing the plot, and I have so much lore, action, and exciting events planned.

I’ll also aim to publish two chapters at a time to help speed things along.

The chapters may be shorter (around 1000 words instead of 1500), as it’s easier for me to consistently write 2000 words per day instead of 3000.

If you have any other concerns with the story—whether it’s timing, setting, character nuance, sex scenes, subplots, or anything else—please feel free to let me know in the comments. Your feedback means everything to me, and I want to make sure I do right by you and this story.

With gratitude and love,

Lilac??