“Seems to be standing just fine to me,” I tell Morpheus, my hands on Sera’s hips as I wait for her to find her balance. It takes her a moment—something I know the God of Dreams notices since his eyes are roaming over her torso—but he thankfully doesn’t comment on it.
Instead, he says, “Let us know if you can’t figure out the shower.”
“I’ll figure it out,” she returns, determination emboldening her tone.
Amused, I dip my head down and press a kiss to her neck, then draw my lips up to her ear. “Then let me know if you want company instead,” I whisper. “I’ll happily join you in the shower anytime, trouble.”
She gasps, and I give her hips a squeeze, then release her and turn toward Morpheus.
“Let’s go make a mess in the kitchen,” I tell him.
It’ll piss off Hades.
Just like my insinuative comments to Sera will as well.
Because I meant every word.
She’s mine to play with now. His fault, not mine. And I might just decide to keep her.
For good.
Chapter 3
Hades
A Few Minutes Earlier
I expectthe punch a second before it lands, the hit sending me spiraling to the side as my brother appears before me in a wave of full Alpha fury.
Sighing, I roll to my back and stare up at Orcus’s furious form. “I’ll give you that hit, as it’s deserved,” I tell him. “The next one?—”
His foot collides with my abdomen, propelling me across the sandy earth.
I halt the movement by slamming my palms against the ground and shoving myself upward to stand.
Orcus is there in a flash, his black wings beating at his back as his dark eyes glow red. “The first one was for upsetting my mate,” he tells me. “The second was for endangering Thea. And this—” His fist flies toward my face again, butI catch it.
Only to feel pain echo up my spine as a Death Fae appears behind me and drives a dagger into my lower back. “Is for upsetting our pet,” Reaper says, finishing Orcus’s statement.
I growl and mist out from between the two insane males.
“I was going to say for not communicating and thereby jeopardizing our mate-circle,” Orcus tells Reaper conversationally, his wings disappearing along with his temper. “Are you going to give Alina that bloody dagger as a gift?”
“Do you think she’ll like it?” Reaper asks, his expression radiating adoration and hope. “Or do I need to stab him again?”
My jaw clenches, my torso pulsing with agony, thanks to the Death Fae’s unanticipated attack.
Very few beings are suicidal enough to try to attack a God. It’s what first intrigued me about Maliki, so I suppose I can understand why Orcus chose Reaper for his mate-circle.
Pressing my palm to my back to prod the already healing wound, I glare at my brother and his friend and interrupt their conversation by saying, “We need to strengthen the wards.” The words are for Orcus. “You’ll be doing more of the work now.”
He folds his thick arms. “The Alphas won’t come here.”
“They will if they sense Serapina’s presence.”
His dark brow arches upward. “Serapina?” he repeats. “NotPersephone?”
“I don’t have time for one of your lectures right now, brother. Nor do I have time to teach you and Reaper a lesson in power. We need wards.Now.” Because I’m not risking my Omega’s life over this bullshit.
