My eyebrow arches. “You can’t be surprised that I did.”
“I’m not,” he admits. “But I still hate it.”
“Because it proves what she means to me.” I don’t phrase it as a question, but as a statement.
He grunts in response, neither confirming nor denying my words. However, we both know she’s my soulmate, too. He’s just never wanted to accept that fact.
And now he’s being forced to face fate.
“I’m not leaving,” I reiterate. “She’sours, Hades. Mine, yours, and Maliki’s.”
That last part grabs the God of Death’s attention, his eyes burning as he glares back at me. “Be very careful, Morpheus.”
I smile. “Or what?”
“Or I may begin to assume that you’re interested in more than just my Omega.”
“Maybe I am.” It’s a taunt. A dare, really. A way to push my cousin’s buttons and force him to consider everything—and everyone—that he will lose if he chooses to go to war over Serapina.
Because I suspect she won’t be the only one to pick me in the fight.
Maliki might, too.
Not for me, but forher.
That’s the heart of all of this—our world centers around Serapina Everheart. Yet Hades wants it to revolve around him and his Omega.
But that’s not how this works. Not anymore, anyway.
“If Serapina wants Maliki, then so do I,” I add. “Because marked or not, we both know an Omega can undo another Alpha’s claim.”
Hades’s jaw now resembles granite from clenching his teeth so hard.
But I’m not done.
He needs to be pushed. And I’m the right one for the task. Which ironically is what makes me an ideal candidate for his mate-circle.
“Does Maliki even realize that you’ve claimed him?” I press, aware that the enforcer has no idea what Hades has done to him. “Do you plan to tell him?”
“My dealings with Maliki are not your concern.”
“They will be soon,” I murmur, a notable threat lingering in my tone. “As I said, an Omega can undo an Alpha’s claim. And it seems to me thatourSerapina has already chosenourenforcer.”
Hades’s hands fist at his sides as he takes a bold step toward me. “Stop pushing me, Morpheus.”
“No,” I answer simply. “You need a good shove, Cousin. I’ve been patient.Very fucking patient.And I’m done catering to your ego. Because I’m not your subordinate. I’m your equal. A fellow Alpha. Your bloody ally. Now it’s time you pay me the respect I deserve.”
I hit him with a wave of power, one that changes the landscape around us into his infamous death world. Only, this ismyillusion.Iam the one in control here. Not him.
He growls my name in warning.
I ignore him and say, “All I want is what’s best for Serapina. I won’t take her from you. I won’t hurt her in any way. I’m here to protect her. So do not tell me to leave. And stop questioning my intentions. I’ve been up-front with you from the very beginning. She’s just as much mine as she is yours.”
Hades takes another step forward, his eyes alight with barely restrained fury.
I feint a mist to his left, my control over his vision forcing him to think I’m right beside him when, in reality, I haven’t actually moved.
“As far as Maliki goes, you’ve set it up for Serapina to claim him first. Which is what makes him equally mine because, like it or not, I’m in Serapina’s orbit now. I’m courting her. And if she decides to have me, too, then Maliki and I will form a mate-circle around her—with or without you.”
