“I know.”
“Right. Viewing pool. Sorry.”
He tugged me back into his arms, tucking me under his chin. “Never apologize. Only I beg for forgiveness.”
“We started over, remember? There’s nothing you did that needs forgiving. And my apology was just for forgetting about the pool. And for breaking Zotera’s heart with the truth that she can’t keep Eugene.”
Hades kissed my forehead. “You were wise to do so. She was distracted because of the human. Until Thanatos is gone, distractions cannot be allowed.”
“Maybe don’t say it like that in front of her, okay? And Eugene’s coming with us so they could have a little more time together.” I patted Hades’ chest, untangled myself from his hold, and sent the text.
Me: Can everyone meet at Blayz in twenty?
Megan: We’ll be there.
Eliana: Yep. We’re at my parents’ now.
Hades wrapped his arms around me from behind and set his chin on my shoulder.
“You speak with your friends with that?” he asked.
“Yes.” I twisted to look at him, bringing our mouths distractedly close together. “I lost my old phone in that room. It had pictures of my uncle on it.”
He hummed his acknowledgment but didn’t make a promise to get it for me. And I didn’t ask. I could only imagine how upsetting that room was for him.
“We should go to the meetup location,” I said instead. “It’s a twenty-minute drive from here.”
He shifted us from the bedroom to the kitchen where we interrupted Zotera making out with Eugene.
“Father,” she said, immediately taking Eugene’s hand.
“Your heart isn’t yet yours to give, daughter.”
“I understand,” she said with a quick nod.
“No more distractions after this.”
She nodded again, and Hades looked down at me.
“Where must we meet?”
“Club Blayz.”
“Think of it, and I will take us there.”
I thought of the derelict old mill on the outskirts of Uttira, a place I’d never actually visited but drove past several times with my uncle.
The room shifted around us, bending inward and reshaping inside an empty club. It looked nothing like I remembered from the outside. Although it was dark, I could see the svelte finishes and gleaming glassware behind the bar.
“This is Blayz?” I asked.
“Yep,” Eugene said. “There should be lights somewhere around here.”
The lights suddenly came on.
“It wasn’t me,” Hades said, tightening his hold on me as he looked around.
My phone buzzed from the group chat.
