“But this won't be over quickly,” Hades said casually. “I love my hounds. And you hurt them physically and emotionally, taking their destined mate from them. You will fucking pay, Hermes. I'll take you down to bones, let you heal, then do it all over again.”
As I watched, Hermes's arm did indeed gleam white beneath the flames. His skin burned away, then muscle, fat melting onto the carpet with the scent of roasting meat. I nearly vomited again.
“Stop!” Hermes shrieked. “You can have her! Fucking take her! Just stop!”
My breath caught.
Hades let go, the fire extinguishing instantly. Hermes fell back, hitting the edge of the bed and crumpling against it. He couldn't even cradle his arm, it was too damaged. He had to hold it out from his body while whimpering. But his body began to heal rapidly, muscles regrowing over the bones faster than I could track. Even with that swift healing, Hermes suffered, sweat breaking out on his forehead and sobs bursting from him. It was so pathetic that I almost went to comfort him. But then I remembered what he was going to do to me. No one deserved what Hades had done to Hermes, but I wasn't about to comfort the asshole.
Hades patiently waited for Hermes to heal. I wondered why. Hermes had agreed to give me up, but Hades didn't even look at me. Maybe between gods, such matters had to be clear. Maybe Hermes had to literally hand me over to Hades. Or maybe Hades was simply enjoying the other god's pain. I mean, fair enough. Hermes had gone after men who were like sons to Hades.
At last, Hermes was whole again. He shuddered and looked at me. I stared back. His expression turned into a sneer and something shifted in his eyes. Hermes was clever; he was known for it. For that and his mischievous nature. But it was his cleverness I now feared. He had thought of a way to thwart Hades.
Before I could shout a warning, Hermes grabbed me and shoved me at Hades.
“You want her? Take her!” Hermes cried. “But it's my right to take back the immortality that I gave her. That is mine!”
I slammed into Hades's chest. He caught me easily, but his eyes went wide with Hermes's words. Our stares were lockedwhen I felt the break. The bond between Hermes and me snapped. I cried out and shuddered, magic streaming out of me and back to its owner.
Hermes laughed cruelly. “Hey, at least you can enjoy her charms in the Underworld, Hades.”
With a snarl, Hades blasted Hermes with flames. But his screams were drowned out by mine. There was a ripping inside me, then a wasting. A withering. I looked down to see my skin wrinkling, my muscles retracting, and flesh sinking in.
“Hades,” I whispered.
“Hold on, Lomasi,” he said. “Hold on!”
And then we were gone.
Chapter Forty
Hades didn't take me far. We arrived in an airy Greek home, the walls a traditional white and wood beams crossing the ceiling. The scent of the sea blended with jasmine.
“Lomasi!” three men shouted.
Hades handed me over to the men I loved. I got a glimpse of them before my eyes went hazy. I started to shake uncontrollably. Death hovered near. Or was that just Hades?
“What's happened to her?!” Rune shouted.
“Hermes withdrew his magic. She's mortal,” Hades said. “You must bond with her.”
“What? We can't make love to her like this,” Merrick said.
“That is not the only way to bond. Reach for her. I feel a connection between you already. All you need to do is accept it. Set it with your intent. Do you want her?”
“Yes,” they said immediately.
“Forever?”
“Yes, of course,” Rune growled.
“Then claim her. Now!”
Hands touched me. I moaned in pain, even that light touch hurting my tender flesh. I had seconds. I knew it.
“Lomasi,” Braxen whimpered.
“Focus!” Merrick growled. “You fucking get it together for her!”
