His lips curl. “With crumbs, trouble. But if you’re open to another kind of mess…” He lets that comment linger, then leans in to press his lips to my ear. “Morpheus says no orgasms. But sometimes delayed gratification is fun.” He nips my earlobe. “We’ll discuss it more… after you eat.”
Chapter 7
Morpheus
A Minute Earlier
Maliki shadowsacross the room to our Omega and gathers her in his arms, his instincts proving his worth as a member of this mate-circle.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about my cousin.
Hades’s possessiveness is going to put Serapina at risk.
And I just can’t allow that.
Grabbing his arm, I mist us out of the cavern and to the secluded beach outside. The sun is beginning to set in this realm, which means we should be free to fly soon, if needed.
I release Hades as soon as my leather shoes touch the sand and mist ten feet away to avoid his incoming fist. “Our Omega needs to eat and sleep,” I tellhim sternly.
“She’s not?—”
“No, Hades. It’s my turn to speak. We both know the only reason I was able to trace Serapina here is because I’m linked to her soul. You’ve never wanted to accept it before, but you have to now.”
The way his jaw flexes tells me he’s not only aware of this but has already thought about it, too.
“The only reason I didn’t fight for Persephone in the beginning was because I didn’t want to force her to choose. But she would have had to because you would never be willing to share. So I protected her sanity by staying away. And it’s my biggest regret in life. Because had I been there, I may have been able to save her from Demeter’s influence.”
It hasn’t been proved, but I strongly suspect Persephone was manipulated into helping her mother.
Had I been involved in the mate-circle, I may have picked up on a clue as to what was happening.
Or perhaps I would have missed it entirely.
But at least I wouldknowmy part in it all. Instead, I’ve been an outsider to my own affairs, and I’ll never know if I could have helped or not.
However, I won’t be making that mistake again.
“I can’t stay away from her this time,” I inform Hades. “I don’t want her to have to choose between us. But if you demand that a decision be made, I will fight for her. Hard. And, dear Cousin, after all you’ve put our mate through… I think I’ll win.”
What I don’t admit aloud is that I know it will be a shallow victory. Forcing Serapina to choose is a loss in itself. I won’t be the one to demand that choice. It’ll be Hades.
And that will be his inevitable downfall.
Omegas are not meant to mate only one Alpha.They’re meant to take a mate-circle. To be protected. Worshipped. Properly cared for.
I failed Persephone.
I refuse to fail Serapina. I won’t lose her, either.
Hades says nothing, just stares me down with an intensity I both admire and despise.
“You know I’m an ally,” I tell him, a note of irritation threading through my tone. “I’m powerful. I’m trustworthy. I’m fucking family, Hades. If anything,youhave proved to be an enemy in this situation. Not me. But I’m still willing to work with you. Because I am putting our Omega’s needs and desires first. Can you say the same?”
“I haven’t forcibly removed you from my beach yet,” he replies flatly. “That implies effort on my part.”
I simply look at him. He’s not necessarily wrong, but if this is the furthest he’s willing to bend, then we’re absolutely going to battle one another.
His eyes narrow, his jaw tightening again as he shifts his focus to the waves rolling over the sand. “I hate that you followed us here.”
