But his eyes are hard as he stares me down.
“I never approached Persephone, despite our souls being linked. I did that for her and for you. Just as I gave you thirteen fucking months to sort this out with Serapina before I finally stepped in,” he goes on.
Serapina startles again.
However, Morpheus isn’t finished.
“If I wanted to seduceourOmega, I would have done so in her dreams. Yet I’ve ensured her choice. Her comfort. Herknowledge. Because all I desire is to please her. Not take her against her will. Not trick her into accepting my knot. That’s not how I operate. And you, of all people, should know that,Cousin.”
My jaw ticks.
“Your intentions have always been gray to me,” I tell him.
“Because you refuse to accept me as an ally,” he bites back. “You see me as beneath you because I play in aworld of imagination, not the land of the dead. But our talents are more equal than you’ll ever realize. In fact, I would argue that mine is greater than yours because I actually know how to see beyond my own ego.”
“Careful, Cousin.”
“No. I’m done beingcareful, Hades,” he says, stepping out from behind Serapina. “Your warnings have been noted. Yet mine remain unheard. But I’m forcing you to acknowledge me now. Serapina is my mate, too. And I will be there for her in whatever manner she requires.”
My hands fist at my sides.
He’s painting me as the villain here.
And I don’t fucking appreciate it.
Serapina doesn’t know our history. She has no idea the lengths I would go to, to protect her. To love her. Tocherishevery inch of her.
Yet the way she looks at me now is through the eyes of a stranger.
Fear and hurt linger in her expression.
My mate is afraid of me.
I’ve gone about this all the wrong way, while Morpheus has played the role of hero perfectly.
I want to hate him for it. Destroy him. Make him choke on his own fucking knot.
But while I’ve been harming my Omega, he’s been making her feel secure. Safe.Heard.
And as much as I hate that he’s been her confidant, I’m thankful she has someone.
No,twosomeones.
Because Maliki means something to her, too. All because I put him in charge of her security. Among other things…
Some of the tension bleeds from my limbs, my heart beating a little faster in my chest.
I still really want to take Morpheus to the death world and drive him into an early grave. However, I can tell by the worry in Serapina’s features that doing so… will destroy something inside her.
Fuck.
She’s already making a choice. I don’t even know if she’s aware of it. But she’s put her faith in Morpheus. Not in me.
His words from the other day come back to haunt me, thewarningcrystal fucking clear now.
“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.”
My lips tighten as I try to determine what to say and do, my heart suddenly shriveling in my chest.
