“Hades-hades-hades-hades,”I said as Thanatos disappeared.
Breathing heavily, Hades turned to glare at me.
“I know it is a trap, Ashlyn.”
The space around us bent inward and solidified into my living room. His angry scowl remained in place, and I touched his arm in concern.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to—”
He hauled me into his arms for a breath-defying hug.
“I’m sorry, Ashlyn. I gave you cause to doubt me. Protecting you is more important than chasing Thanatos. Always.”
I nodded and hugged him back.
“Will Megan and Oanen be okay?”
The pair appeared in my living room a moment later.
“He’s gone,” Megan said, her eyes glowing dangerously as she dialed her phone.
“Good timing, Megan,” Zayn said. “I was just going to call with an update.”
“Please tell me you have the tracking spell ready.”
“Um, no. I don’t. But I can confirm that it will be ready tomorrow evening. Same with the memory spell.”
I could see it wasn’t an answer that Megan wanted, but she still thanked Zayn for his time and effort before hanging up.
“Then, one way or another, tomorrow night, we end this,” Megan says. “If the memory spell doesn’t give us the answers, the tracking spell and some confessions should.”
“How does knowing why Thanatos wants me dead end it?” I asked.
“Fine, you’re right,” Megan said. “It probably won’t be the end-end. But once we know the problem, we’ll be able to find the solution. Personally, I think Thanatos just needs his ass handed to him. And if Hades can remember where all the gods went, then maybe Thanatos won’t be able to hide from him so he can get thoroughly spanked.”
Hades fractionally relaxed around me.
“Does your mate treat you well, daughter?” Hades asked.
The flames in her eyes sputtered out. “Yes. Why?”
“You seem overly focused on spanking.”
Oanen coughed a laugh and covered his mouth.
“Okaaayyy,” Megan said. “Not having that conversation with you. I think I’m going to go get Zotera now. You two have a good night.”
She and Oanen disappeared, leaving Hades and me alone.
“There’s still a lot of time left in this Hades-day,” I said. “What would you like to do now? Should I make you something special for dinner?”
His gaze heated, and I shook my head at him.
“That can be dessert.”
He surprised the hell out of me by growling playfully and throwing me over his shoulder.
I laughed all the way to the kitchen where he set me down and told me to hurry so he could feast.
