Page 9 of Love and Death (Tempting the Fates #4)

CERBERUS

B y the fiery gates of hell, what have I done?

My whole body shakes with anger as I make my way down the tower.

This cannot be happening.

I am not supposed to have a mate, let alone a fated one.

I thought I was mistaken after I was not able to get to her in Hades’ bedchamber, but now there is no denying it.

And, as if her being my fated mate was not curse enough, I had to go and mark her, too.

The scent of her—the taste of her on my tongue—it was enough to drive me mad.

I let out an angry snort at this.

Who am I kidding?

It has driven me mad.

Is driving me mad.

I would have taken her in my madness, if she had not stopped me. While that would have been a death sentence in and of itself … I somehow managed to do something far worse.

I marked her.

I have initiated the fate bond between us and started the countdown to a decision she does not even know that she must make.

Regardless of Hades’ return, time is now running out for us all, and there is nothing I can do to stop it.

This is all wrong.

I am all wrong.

My hands ball into fists at my sides, and I clench my jaw in an effort to keep myself steady.

If Hades returns too soon ... If he realizes the significance of what I have done, it will be impossible for me to keep my connection to the girl secret any longer, and then he will force me to sever the bond before it even has a chance to fully form.

Or worse, he will take her life to stop it.

One way or another, Hades will find a way to break us.

Of this, I am certain.

I slam my fist against the tower wall, biting back a howl of frustration at the thought. Gritting my teeth together as rage courses through my veins, I lean back against the stone wall and close my eyes to think.

I had hated the way she looked at Death. Hated how much I wanted her to look at me the same way.

I had almost been happy to watch him die, thinking I might finally have a chance with her. But I realize now how ridiculous, how impossibly selfish that thought was.

She will never be safe with me .

I cannot even protect her from myself.

And now, with Death gone, I can only do so much to protect her from Hades while the nature of the bond between us remains undecided … and my loyalties still remain pledged to the king.

I need help, and quickly.

But from whom?

A heavy sigh escapes me, only one name coming to mind, as I run a hand over my face and look up in exasperation at the spiraling staircase.

Eros .

As much as I dislike … no, hate the thought of seeking him out, I cannot see another way. Though, now that I think of it, I have to wonder where he stole away to during the trial.

And without so much as a care for the girl.

Hmm, maybe he has not changed as much as he led me to believe. If that is the case, then there is only one place in this forsaken realm where he could be.

His palace.

My lip curls up in disgust at this and the prospect of what I may encounter there. Despite being sworn to Hades, I cannot claim that I have ever approved of the gods’ ways. I have been forced to dwell among them, to comply for so long, that I hardly dared to believe there was anything more for me.

Now, for the first time since I was pledged to the Underworld, I see a glimmer of hope.

A chance to do good.

Something … Someone worth fighting for.

And, if I play my cards right, a chance of escape .

For her, for me, for us all.

Pushing away from the wall, I bound down the remaining stairs. Reaching the bottom step, I freeze, my nose wrinkling as I take in a faint, familiar scent in the air.

So, more than one being came to check on the mortal after all.

I should have known.

Absentmindedly, I trace the outline of the key in my pocket before deciding that this particular headache can wait, for now.

Leaving the tower behind, I take note of the shift in atmosphere, not to mention the guard. There are far fewer men patrolling the halls now than there were earlier, and by all accounts, far fewer than there should be for the king’s palace.

Why was I not informed of this change prior to returning?

I can only hope that I was not informed simply due to the king’s unexpected need to house Death’s body within these walls … and not on purpose.

Still, I keep my head low and my eyes and ears sharp as I move forward, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to myself.

My efforts are in vain, however, as I round the next corner and come to an abrupt stop.

Of course.

Deimos stands before me, blocking the main entrance, his arms crossed in front of his chest as if in challenge. Before I can duck out of sight, he spots me. His eyes flash with annoyance, his expression tightening as his arms drop away from his chest.

“I see your leg has healed relatively well.”

My words hit their target.

“What are you doing here?” he demands, fingering the sword at his side. “Are you not supposed to be watching over Hades’ little mortal pet? You should know better than to wander off from your duties.”

“And you should know better than to question me.”

“After what you did to me last night, perhaps someone should be questioning you. One might start to think you were a traitor to the crown.”

“Tread carefully, Deimos. It was not I who stood in the way of a guardian,” I say, lowering my voice in warning as I straighten to my full height.

“I know where my loyalties lie. Though, I do wonder if Hades is aware of your little escapades to the tower. Tell me, how many times have you visited her unbeknownst to him?”

“What?”

“Were you really there to spy on me, or to take out your revenge on the girl?” I press, noting the tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth.

“I was only doing what I thought—”

“What you thought?” I cut him off sharply. “Oh, I am sure the king would love to know how quickly you have forgotten your place here in his absence.”

Though his expression remains otherwise cold and stoney, I savor the flicker of fear in his eyes as I peer down my nose at him.

“I know my place, dog ,” Deimos sneers, suddenly finding his courage again, his eyes dropping to size me up before slowly returning to meet my gaze. “You, on the other hand, appear to have gone above and beyond in your duties. What exactly have you done, Cerberus?”

“Done,” I scoff, trying not to look taken aback by his change in demeanor. “You have some nerve—”

“Your lies will get you nowhere with me. I know blood when I see it, especially when it is that of a mortal.”

Stay calm. Do not react.

I swallow, the lingering sweetness of the girl coating my tongue once again. How could I have forgotten such an obvious detail?

“Mortals are creatures of their own will. Sometimes violence is the only answer, as I am sure you well know. I only did what was necessary to keep her in line.”

Deimos’ mouth curls up at this, causing my body to tense in response.

“Is that so?” he drawls. “Necessary or not, I have to wonder what Hades would think of you harming his new plaything. Tell me, does the king know how you feel about the mortal?”

My stomach knots, but I force my expression to remain neutral.

“How I feel about her?” I say slowly, my voice edged in ice.

“Do not play me for a fool. I see the way you look at her. Did you think no one would notice?” Deimos sneers. “To think that you, of all creatures, could be jealous of a mortal.”

Is that what he thinks? Perhaps the Fates have finally handed me a bit of good luck.

The fury that had been building within me calms instantly. I tilt my head slightly, but do not otherwise allow my expression to slip.

“You think me jealous,” I say with a bitter laugh, allowing just a hint of uncertainty to creep into the tone of my voice.

“What reason do I have to be jealous of her, a mere mortal, when I am Guardian of the Underworld? Right-hand man to Hades himself. No, she is nothing more than a plaything. The king will soon grow tired of her. I do not—”

I suddenly snap my mouth shut, as if realizing too late that I have said too much.

It does the trick.

Deimos’ rigid stance relaxes ever so slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting just a hair.

Good.

Hopefully, if he thinks I despise the girl, whatever report he inevitably plans to give Hades will reflect as much.

“What reason, indeed,” Deimos says with an arch of an eyebrow, his smirk no longer hidden.

With an annoyed shake of my head, I move to push past him, only for him to clamp a firm hand on my shoulder to stop me.

“Remove your hand from my person.” The growl threads through my teeth in low warning.

“Not until you tell me what business you have outside the palace.”

“My business is my own, and, as I believe we have established, I do not answer to you.”

“You do, if you wish to step foot beyond these doors,” Deimos hisses, leaning in as he tightens his grip on my shoulder.

“I said , remove your hand, or you will soon learn what it means to live without it,” I say, my tone cold and calculated, meeting his gaze out of the corner of my eyes.

Deimos’ jaw hardens, his nostrils flaring at my threat, but then his hand drops from me. “I take my orders from the king, just the same as you.”

“I know, and for that reason alone, I will not inform him of this little … display of yours,” I say.

“I doubt he would appreciate hearing that you stood in the way of me carrying out my own orders … yet again.” I am careful to add this last part, hoping to keep him second-guessing what was really behind yesterday’s encounter.

“But Hades made no mention of—”

“Oh, is the king now required to inform you of his every decision?” I snarl, my lip curling up over one of my fangs.

Deimos shakes his head at this.

“No. No, of course not,” he answers quickly, clearing his throat and taking a step back.

“Good, then see to it that you do not stand in my way again.”

Deimos nods once, the hatred underlining his features now sharper than ever, before turning to the side to give me just enough room to pass.