Page 28 of The Prince of Hidden Shadows (Runaway Prince Hotel #5)

“Look, Théo, I don’t mean to scare you, but it’s always been you. You carry Willem’s soul—that’s what drew me in. Maybe that’s why you’re linked to the painting. But I don’t love Willem anymore. I fell for you—the person you are. You share pieces of him, yes, but my love is for you , and you alone.

“I’m the god of rebirth, yet for centuries, his soul vanished…

along with my memories of him. Not so long ago, Eros told me it must have been cursed.

Because Willem delayed his crossing of the Styx and stayed with me in human form for another lifetime, his soul was barred from the Underworld and never had a chance to be reborn.

I begged Hecate for a way to survive my grief—she erased him from my memory.

Fragments trickled back, bits I couldn’t fight.

And because of all of that, Eros could never bring us back together. ”

His expression softens, understanding seeping through. “Let me guess—until I showed up there… without warning?”

I nod, swallowing the knot in my throat.

“I should be rattled by all this,” he says. “But after seeing the Underworld, questioning my sanity seems overrated. Damn Eros—he must’ve felt it when I stood by the river.”

A short laugh escapes me as I kiss his forehead. “He did… before marking us as soulmates, even if I’m without a soul. Hades never forgave me for loving a mortal, who he sees as beneath our kind.”

“So, I shouldn’t expect to meet your parents anytime soon,” he teases, then frowns, and I can tell where his mind has wandered.

“My mother would be delighted to meet you,” I murmur, nudging my forehead to his as I speak. “Though I don’t see her often. She rules the seasons on Earth, moving between Mount Olympus and the Underworld. But… it could be arranged, if you’re willing.”

“Let’s keep our options open.”

I lower my voice. “Then tell me—what’s on your mind?”

Before he answers, his phone buzzes on the nightstand.

He shifts, peeling back from me just enough to sit against the headboard, then twists to snatch it up.

A few rapid taps, a ping, and another message flies out.

A faint smile plays at his lips during the exchange, and my chest sinks with the unspoken guess of who’s on the other end.

At last, he sets the phone aside and turns back to me, his eyes steady as if picking up the thread of my question. My fingertips find his arm, tracing down the length of it.

“I’ve never been in a relationship, Zagreus. I’m not sure I’m boyfriend material…” He halts, and I ask for clarification.

“Who’s Noé to you, then?”

“Jealous much?” he mocks.

But the look I give him—and the sudden stillness in my features—proves I’m not joking.

“Okay, okay,” he concedes. “Yeah, we text a lot, as you’ve noticed.

.. as friends. We’re thick as thieves.” He chuckles, though there’s a flicker of unease in his voice.

He continues, explaining how what began as a hookup evolved into a deep friendship, not love nor lust. “Even if we weren’t always miles apart, it wouldn’t work. We’re not compatible that way.”

He leans in, brushing a tender kiss along my jaw.

“I wouldn’t share your bed if I had feelings for someone else.

I might have been a fuckboy my whole life, but I don’t cheat.

You’re my longest relationship, and yeah, I’m curious where it’s going…

but planning the future?” His laugh is quieter, a little shaky.

“That scares me shitless. Even so, I packed my stuff, so I’m free as a bird. ”

“Good,” I declare. “Next, there’s one more thing we need to deal with.”

He juts his chin towards me, a silent invitation to go on.

“Remember when I said your soul needed saving—and that meant cleaning up your act? Well, here it is: you’re a thief, but this once I claim the right to decide it was for the right reason.

However, you have to ditch every single penny you earned from Volkoff.

He’s evil, and so is anything that came from him. ”

“What?” In a heartbeat, he’s sitting up, glaring.

He sucks in a breath, his gaze dropping to the sheets before finding mine again.

“Easy for you to say.” His tone is measured, almost careful.

“This isn’t just payday for me, Zagreus.

It’s survival. Ensuring no one else ever has the power to pull the rug out from under me.

You’ve got your endless magic and safety nets. I’ve only ever had myself.”

I roll onto my side, catching his wrist, unwilling to break our connection. He doesn’t resist, sliding back down until he’s level with me at last.

Yes!

“Come on, Théo, do I have to spell it out? I told you, if you keep the money, you could very well end up in Tartarus.”

“I remember,” he says, a faint smirk tugging at his mouth, “but I was a little more focused on seducing you at the time.”

“That worked,” I admit with a wry smile, “and I’m grateful.

But this—” I gesture between us “—this is bigger than us fooling around. Tartarus isn’t a joke, Théo.

Even Hades rarely ventures there. It’s a place of endless torment where souls are crushed beyond repair.

And if you’re not sent there…” My voice wavers, a pang gripping my heart, but I push through.

“Then it’s the Meadows—the place where souls wander in emptiness, lost and forgotten, without peace or purpose. Without even a memory of me.”

I swallow the lump in my throat, my hand fastening around his arm before I can stop myself.

“I can’t—” I force the words that follow.

“I can’t lose you like that because I failed you and didn’t speak up.

I’m not asking you to give up your freedom or rely on me.

Babe, I’m asking you to, please, take one step towards a life you won’t regret when your soul moves on. ”

Fuck, he didn’t want to think about our future, and I’m discussing the future of his soul!

I hold his eyes. “Please, give the money away. I know I sound like a selfish bastard—but I can’t bear the thought of losing you—not like that.”

Clearing his throat, he watches me, but the defiance I’m bracing for never arrives. Instead, he whispers, “I’ll think about it.”

It’s not the victory I wanted, but it’s a crack in the wall. Getting rid of what he stole would be huge; cutting off the rest of the dirty money will be even harder. No guarantee we’ll get there, but I’ll walk beside him every step.

I force a lighter note into my voice. “I’ve got your back, no matter what. We’ll find a better path for you… something that makes you feel alive without putting your soul on the line. You loved the café—why not culinary school? Anywhere in the world.”

That earns me a hint of a grin, thoughtful but guarded.

“What’s your next stop?”

“I’ve got an apartment in Paris. Rent it out when I’m touring, but I miss it. Was planning to spend my summer there with Noé. Haven’t seen him in forever.”

My stupid heart hammers in my aching chest.

He has plans with his French friend. Not a word about me .

Did I misread everything? Does what I confessed even matter?

Fuck.

There will always be another plan, another scheme, another thrilling step forward. That’s who he is—beyond his control.

But I’ve already lost him, haven’t I?

I hope my calm face hides the storm raging inside.

Chest heaving, he doesn’t break eye contact and scoots even closer, with one hand on my thigh, his thumb tracing slow circles. “What’s wrong?” His voice stammers. He worries his lower lip. “This isn’t goodbye, babe. I am not ready for this to end either.”

I lie back, letting the rich cotton sheets press against my skin.

I reach out, intertwining my fingers with his.

“It will, if you don’t change,” I insist. “Not your summer plans. Go, have fun with Noé. But now that I’ve found you, it’s my job to protect you, to guide you onto a better path.

How mortals live shapes their souls. In the end, the judges decide where it all ends; I don’t.

But I won’t refuse to have yours rot somewhere terrible.

You’re good, Théo. No matter what mistakes you’ve made, I don’t think you’d ever hurt anyone on purpose. ”

He smirks, but the light in his eyes tells me there’s something sweet beneath it, something real. Propping himself, he deposits a soft kiss on my temple. “Okay, then.”

“Huh?”

“I trust you. You want what’s best for me, even if you say it’s selfish. I don’t want to lose you either. Show me the way—so we can be together.”

I squeeze his hand, registering how the air shifted with his promise.

Settling against me, he sighs, brings the back of my hand to his lips, then he concludes in a steady voice that is far from a murmur.

“For good.”