“He broke the rules,” Lord Hades said.
“The rules are stupid if they would’ve let me die.”
Ali made a choked sound that might have been a laugh.
Lord Hades’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes. “You’re very bold for someone standing in the Underworld wearing nothing but a blanket.”
“I’m very motivated, and there is a robe under this blanket.” Ewen’s voice didn’t shake. Much. “Lamont is my mate. I’m not going to stand here - well, be held here - and let him be punished for doing the right thing. Look at it this way. If you take him away from me, I’ll still die – and I imagine any form of punishment would mean him being locked away somewhere. So your Lord Zeus would not only be interfering in a mating, but he’d be condemning me – an innocent – to death through mating sickness. I didn’t ask to be abducted, and I defy anyone to say that was my fault.”
Silence stretched between them. Ewen could hear his own heartbeat, feel Lamont’s arms solid and steady around him, and smell the smoke from the lights on the black walls.
Finally, Lord Hades sighed. “Ali, your influence is spreading. I fear all the mates are going to learn to be argumentative before long.”
“Good. There’s nothing wrong with protecting a mate, you know that.” Ali moved to stand beside his mate, reaching up to pat Lord Hades’s arm. “Besides, someone needs to keep you honest.”
“I’m always honest.”
“Honest, with a hint of the dramatics every now and then. You know there’s a difference. We could’ve had this chat in your office or the sitting room, and it would’ve been a lot morecomfortable.” Ali turned his attention back to Lamont and Ewen, his expression warming. “He’s not actually going to punish you. He just likes making speeches about rules and consequences.”
“Zeus is the one who likes those speeches,” Lord Hades grumbled. Then his voice gentled, well, as much as an ancient god’s voice could gentle, Ewen imagined. “Lamont, you did well. You found your mate and brought him home. That’s what matters in the end. I’ll let Zeus know this was a definitely isolated situation that won’t happen again.”
Lamont’s shoulders dropped slightly. “Thank you, my Lord.”
“However.” Lord Hades held up one finger. “The next time you need assistance with a mate-related emergency, you come to me first. Not to Zeus’s network administrator. Understood?”
“Understood, sir.”
“Good.” Lord Hades stepped forward, and Ewen fought the urge to bury his face in Lamont’s shoulder. The god’s hand landed on Lamont’s shoulder, and Ewen could sense how much that meant to Lamont’s hound. “Congratulations on your mating. Both of you.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Lamont said.
“Thanks,” Ewen managed. Then, because apparently near-death experiences had destroyed his sense of self-preservation, he added, “Sorry about the blanket thing. And for yelling at you. That was probably...not great.”
Ali laughed. “Oh, I really do like him. You should bring him to Sunday dinner once you’re settled in, Lamont. The other mates will love him.”
“Sunday dinner?” Ewen looked at Lamont.
“The consort likes to host dinners for mated hellhounds,” Lamont explained, his face still slightly pink. “It’s...I’ve heard it can be a lot of fun, actually.”
“Of course, it’s fun,” Ali confirmed. “What’s not to love about good food, great company, and lots of embarrassing stories about hellhounds doing stupid things before and after they’ve found their mates. You’ll fit right in.”
Lord Hades cleared his throat. “Speaking of which - Lamont, take your mate back to Egypt. You both need rest, food, and then I suggest you go through the collar box ritual to cement your claim on each other before you do anything else.”
Ewen’s face heated. “Cement our…oh.”
“Yes, oh.” Lord Hades’s lips twitched in what might have been amusement. “The mating bond isn’t fully stable until you’ve... completed it. And given that Ewen nearly died from mating sickness, I’d suggest making that a priority. His little fox will benefit from the reassurance that comes from the claim.”
“Right.” Lamont shifted his grip on Ewen, pulling him closer. “We’ll...do that. Sir.”
“See that you do.” Lord Hades waved one hand dismissively. “Now go. And Lamont? Next time you visit, perhaps give your mate time to dress first.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Lamont’s power gathered, familiar now, and Ewen closed his eyes as the Underworld dissolved around them. When he opened them again, they were back in the Cairo hotel room, warm lamplight replacing the eternal twilight of the Underworld.
Lamont still hadn’t put him down.
“That was mortifying,” Ewen said.
