There was a distinct chill in the air as the two women faced off. Margo’s voice echoed in the solarium, and all conversation stopped as everyone turned to see the main event.
“Margo, you look like a cadaver. How much plastic surgery is enough?” That was Aunt Virginia.
Amelie’s mother was just gearing up for a snarky comment when Scotty lifted his hand and stopped the action in the room—except for Margo, Virginia, me, and him.
“What are you doing?” I whispered as the two women went after each other in a verbal sparring match fit for those barbaric UFC fights Dash watched on occasion.
“They’ll ruin the wedding, and I don’t want that for Amelie and Trent.” Scotty had a point, but I wasn’t missing this confrontation. I needed to be able to tell Dash what he’d missed.
“Ginny, you look like a dried-up prune who can only be tolerated by a rat.” Margo pointed to the dog in Virginia’s tote. When some liquid began streaming from the bag over Virginia’s shoulder and ran down the side of her fancy dress, Margo laughed.
“I guess both of you have an issue with pissing yourself. Why are you here, Ginny?”
Before Amelie’s aunt could announce her reason for attending the wedding, the ballroom doors flung open and in walked Jay, Jonas, and my husband. I glanced behind me to see Scotty had morphed into looking like himself. Scotty released the crowd and all attention turned toward the three imposing figures as Trent rushed forward to meet them.
“It’s about time you guys got here. Let’s get the party started!”
Trent’s uncommon vigor defused the tense altercation between Ginny and Margo. I slid away from Scotty and around the peripheral until I was behind my husband who was talking to Arthur Holt, Amelie’s father.
“We’re very happy to support Amelie and Trent in their union. I’m sorry we’re late, but as Trent said, let’s get this party started.” Jonas laughed at Dash’s comment as he wandered through the crowd gathered around the bickering women, likely searching for his fiancé.
“We look forward to Trent joining our family. He speaks highly of you all,” Mr. Holt said before his attention was directed elsewhere.
I touched Dash’s left shoulder. “Love, so glad you could make it.” My lips dragged over the shell of Dash’s ear, and I felt his full-body shudder.
“This is the brunch, right? I didn’t miss the wedding, did I?” Dash turned and placed his hands on my hips. I gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“Yes. It’s the brunch. You missed the floor show, but I’ll tell you all about it while we eat.” Dash kissed me again, placing his forehead against mine as he held me. Love and protection surrounded me as I closed my eyes.
Chapter Ten
Dash
My body was aching, but I was determined to ignore the pain. It reminded me I was still partially human, though some of the moves I’d made on the makeshift battlefield in Hades had me wondering. It was as if my head was on a swivel, and I could see two and three moves ahead. I hoped to fuck it would work the same way when the battle came.
Minor demons had played the part of our enemies. The only part I didn’t cotton onto was having to eat them so they couldn’t regenerate. “Why do we have to do this?” I’d asked Beelz.
“Dude, they come back like rabbits. Just get used to it.” He picked up a small demon, ripped it in half, and downed it likecotton candy. “If you can, drink Lilith’s blood before the fighting begins. You’ll welcome its benefits while you’re in the thick of the battle.”
Easier said than done, but I took every tip the demons gave me because they wouldn’t be there when the time came for the face-off when the goddess of darkness tried to rob me of a happy future.
After brunch, I whisked Keir to our rooms and slid the do-not-disturb sign over the doorknob. I locked the door and began to strip as Keir read something on his phone. I took it from his hands and put it on the nightstand as I pushed him onto the bed and began stripping him too.
“What was it like? Did you learn how to deal with her?”
I wasn’t about to rehash what I’d been doing when all that beautiful pale flesh was in front of me for the taking. “I’ll give you the highlights later. Now, I want to enjoy my husband.”
Keir smirked as we finished unclothing each other down to our boxer briefs. I jerked the comforter and blanket down the bed and climbed on top of him, resting half on his lithe body. “I missed you, Dearly.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “I missed you too. Scotty couldn’t lie to me, and Trent knew it was him when we met in the solarium. I wonder how?”
I didn’t give a fuck. All of that was for another day. “Oh, one last thing,” I said as I slid my palm under the waistband to grip his thick shaft. We both sighed at the contact.
“Tell me now, then put your mouth where your hand is.”
I chuckled. “Lucifer opened Droh. The princes used it as leverage before agreeing to sit out of the fight, and he gave in. Now, we just gotta send her there.”
Keir’s gaze shifted between my eyes. “Did they teach you how to stay alive?”
