Page 19 of Love and Death (Tempting the Fates #4)

HAZEL

I promised myself that I would only rest for a moment, only close my aching eyes for the briefest of respites, and yet—

When I next breathe in, the room is no longer dark. Early morning light, or at least this realm’s simulacrum of it, pours in through the window, pooling in warm puddles across the floor.

I lurch upright, clutching at the blankets in frantic confusion, only to find the tear-stained book still here and the room still empty.

No one has returned.

At least Florence had been right about one thing, the corset was flexible. I had hoped it might help keep me awake, but I hadn’t even noticed it as sleep carried me through a dreamless night.

I scramble from the bed, once again tucking the book into its hiding spot, and nearly slip on the stone floor in my hurry to get to the door.

It’s still locked .

The stairway beyond as quiet as ever.

Sighing, I step back and make my way into the next room. I splash some of the steaming water over my face, working the salty crust of dried tears from my skin and eyes and smoothing out a few stray hairs as I turn toward the mirror.

If it weren’t for the slight swollenness of my lips and redness tinging my eyes, I’d almost believe Florence was just here.

I could almost believe that she was coming back. That I hadn’t sent her to …

Gods, who knows what end.

Tears sting the backs of my eyes, threatening me once again, but I choke them back. Swallowing the ache in my throat, I close my eyes and take a deep breath in before slowly exhaling.

I have to think clearly. I have to be ready for Hade—

A loud clang in the stairwell startles me out of my moment of calm. My eyes fly open, fear clutching at my chest as I hurry to the open archway to listen.

I hardly dare to breathe, my ears straining to hear over the pounding of my heart.

There’s a long, agonizing moment of silence, and then … footsteps.

Someone’s coming.

Someone’s returned.

Cautiously, I step toward the door, the dagger’s press suddenly all too obvious against my thigh. I take a few soft, steadying breaths as the thundering in my ears only grows louder at the thought .

Another long hush follows, and then I hear what sounds like a pained grunt.

Confused, I listen as what I now believe to be staggered footsteps draw closer, accompanied by the pant of ragged breathing and the occasional groan of pain.

Obviously, whoever is out there is struggling to make it up the stairs. Dread settles in the pit of my stomach as I try to guess who it could be.

Was Florence caught and tortured for sneaking around the palace? Is that why she’s only now returning?

But then, why would she be let go or even allowed to see me?

No. Besides, the groans sound far too deep to be hers.

Maybe it’s Eros, finally making his way to me after escaping whatever horrors he’s faced since I last saw him.

And yet, I cannot believe that possible either.

Surely, it cannot be Father. Cerberus cannot be so cruel as to force him to walk to me in his broken condition, can he?

Fear grips me where I stand, frozen in place. My heart thuds hollowly against my chest, and I have to force myself to swallow the lump forming in my throat, despite the dustiness of my mouth.

At long last, the footsteps come to a standstill just outside the door, and I wait with bated breath as the handle is tried.

It doesn’t budge.

There’s another pause, followed by a heavy sigh, before a fist pounds on the door.

“Florence,” calls Cerberus in a husky whisper, “I need you to unlock this door, now! ”

My heart leaps into my throat at the sound of his voice, my hand instinctively moving toward the dagger before I drop it to smooth out my skirts instead.

Cerberus hasn’t done anything .

I must not act out of panic. If I do, I may very well end up doing something I truly regret.

And yet, I have no idea what to do now that he’s here. If only I hadn’t fallen asleep, I might have come up with a plan.

“Florence? Florence, answer me!” His voice is slightly louder now.

What am I supposed to do? If he finds out she isn’t here … that she has the keys—

“Mortal,” Cerberus says, a growing panic as he raises his voice, “ Hazel , are you there? Answer me! Has the succubus hurt you?”

“I-I’m here,” I call out, not wanting him to summon unwanted attention.

“Are you hurt?”

“No. I’m fine.”

He lets out a sigh, this one sounding of relief, and there’s a gentle thud, like that of a forehead dropping, against the door.

“Good. Can you get Florence, please?”

I open my mouth, but quickly shut it as I remind myself that I’m supposed to be distracting him from her absence.

“She’s busy at the moment.”

Exasperated by my answer, I can almost hear the clench of his jaw before Cerberus says, “Then, tell her to stop whatever she is doing and unlock this door. ”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” A long silence stretches between us before Cerberus breaks it, his voice far too soft. “Little lamb, what have you done?”

“Nothing,” I answer, balking at the mere suggestion that I could have harmed her. “She just can’t come to the door right now, that’s all. It’s … women’s business.”

The hellhound mutters a string of what I can only assume are curses at this and then lets out a frustrated sigh.

“Fine, she can continue whatever it is she is doing, but I still need you to come and unlock this door.”

“And why should I?” I ask, hoping to encourage his belief that Florence is still here with me as long as possible.

He hesitates for a long moment before answering, “Because I have done as you requested, mortal. I have found your father.”

Everything goes still at this, and even my heart, as I try to process what he’s just said.

Surely, I must have misheard him.

“You found my father?” I repeat once I can find my voice again.

“Yes, if you can still call him that.”

I don’t know what he means by this, but I push the strange wording from my mind as I hurry over to the door.

“Where is he? Is he okay?” Wariness is quick to stop me in my tracks when he doesn’t answer me. “Cerberus?”

“I think it may be best that you learn the answers to those questions yourself. ”

“How?”

“I can take you to see him, but we must hurry.”

“How do I know you’re telling me the truth,” I press.

“What reason do I have to lie to you about this?”

“To get me to open the door.”

I can almost hear Cerberus’ mind working in the short silence that follows.

“I know you have little reason to trust me, but I cannot bring your father here. So, if you would like to see him, then you need to open the door,” he says with a heavy sigh. “Now, do you wish to see him or not?”

I grimace as I come to terms with the unfortunate situation that I’ve now found myself in. The door is locked, Florence has yet to return with the keys, and this may be my only chance to see my father again.

“Yes,” I answer softly, “but I can’t open the door.”

“Why?”

“I don’t have the keys.”

“Where is the succubus?”

“I don’t know,” I admit.

A low, guttural growl emanates from beyond the door, carrying with it the weight of exhaustion and near defeat.

“Step back.”

“What are you going to—”

“Hazel, move,” he orders, his voice thick with gravel.

I stumble backward just before a heavy mass slams into the door. It shudders in its frame, but holds.

The second blow cracks the thick ebony down the center with such a booming thud that it makes me flinch in imagined pain.

Outside, Cerberus lets out a low growl of frustration, his breathing ragged and sharp. I open my mouth to say something, but only a scream escapes me as he throws himself against the door for the third time.

This time, it splinters like brittle bone, shattering with a thunderous crunch as shards of wood and bits of metal are scattered across the floor.

Lifting my gaze from the destruction now strewn about the room to the doorway, I stagger back against the nearest wall, clamping a hand over my mouth in the process to stifle a gasp as the hellhound steps into view.