“Are you kidding me?” I snorted. “We know who killed me. It must have been Silas.”
“Why?”
“Because Hades said something about me being involved in this from the very beginning. He said, and I quote, 'One could even say it began with you.' Then he said something about them being good.”
“Who's good?” Cyrus asked.
“I don't know. Someone must have suggested that he recruit me.”
Cyrus leaned back in his seat. “Who would Hades take advice from?”
“That doesn't matter.” Lex waved it aside. “He said this started with her. That means Salina is probably right—it was Silas who killed her in a past life. It explains why she felt a connection to him.”
“Wait. What?” I asked.
“Silas is bound to those he resurrects. It makes sense that he would have a connection to the people he kills as well. Not to the point where he can control you, but enough that he wouldknow if you were near. He may not even know why you make his spidey senses tingle.”
“Interesting,” I murmured. “Fate is a funny thing. Silas killed me back then, when I was with Ace. And now, we're all in the same city at the same time, and he's trying to kill me again, using Ace as his weapon.”
“He won't,” Jake said.
“I don't think he wants you dead,” Cyrus said. “He could have killed you already. No, he just wants to use you as leverage over us.”
“You do know he's trying to destroy you, right?” I looked from man to man. “All Cerberuses. And what would be the easiest way to do that?”
“Killing you would not be the easiest way to destroy us,” Lex said. “It would enrage us. We wouldn't stop hunting him until we caught him and tore him to pieces. Only then would we die.”
“Bleak, Lex,” I whispered. “Real bleak.”
“Okay, we need to think about this more.” Cyrus got up. “There must be a way to use this information to our advantage.”
“Should we contact Hades?” Lex asked.
“Yes.” Cyrus headed toward the kitchen. “After dessert.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Hades—according to the report the hounds gave me after they went to see him—wasn't surprised about the connection between Silas and me. He didn't even blink when told that Silas had murdered me in a past life. He was, however, pleased that I was finally showing signs of fulfilling my destiny. Insert eye roll here.
Unfortunately, the new information didn't help Hades unmask Silas. There wasn't any way for him to look into my past life and see who had murdered me. The God of the Dead only dealt with the dead. Duh. Even then, I was one of millions who had passed through his realm.
Which meant we had to go with the me-as-bait plan.
The hounds were not happy. We said our goodnights and parted ways, heading to our bedrooms. After I finished getting ready for bed, I saw the book on my bedside table. The book Jake had thrown away because of something I said. I forgot that I'd brought it back to my room with me. Why had I done that? I guess my subconscious was planning an apology without consulting the rest of me.
“Son of a bitch,” I muttered and pulled a silk robe over my lace nightgown. The thing had feathers on the cuffs. Feathers! Like a fucking boa's worth of them. I grabbed the book and marched out of my room, down the hall, and to a closed door. AsI lifted my fist, the sight of Jake's dejected face rose in my mind. Sighing, I knocked. “What the fuck am I doing?”
Jake opened the door a few seconds later. He looked me over, a hopeful gleam entering his eyes, but then his stare landed on the book.
“Come on.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the bed.
Jake shut the door, then allowed me to drag him to the bed set against the far wall. It was simple, sturdy, and masculine. No frills or posters here. The frame wasn't even carved. Just solid wood. And the linens were cotton. And rumpled. And smelled like him.
Aw, fuck me. I mean, don't fuck me. This isn't about fucking. Shit. Stop thinking about having sex with him, Salina! This is supposed to be an apology.
I steeled myself and waved him into bed. Jake went without a word, but he didn't lie down. Instead, he sat up against the headboard. Without meeting his stare, I pulled up his covers to drape his chest. Then I went around to the other side and climbed on the bed atop the covers. I wanted to make it clear that I wasn't there for sex. And that clarity wasn't just for him.
Jake cocked his head at me.
