“Wren.” I paused. “Why am I wasting time walking around Nola when I could be on a flight to Oregon?”
I abandoned Saks and the baffled La Mer lady, who had gotten a hopeful look on her face as I approached. Hurrying to an exit, a grin spread across my face. Just because Hades had plopped me down in Louisiana, it didn't mean I had to stay there.
“Oregon, here I come!” I practically ran to my car and jumped in the driver's seat.
Then I screamed.
Hades was seated in the passenger seat. In an Italian suit. The traitor.
“Going somewhere, Agnes?”
Hand to my non-existent pearls—note to self: buy pearls—I glared at Hades. “Why yes, I was. What's it to you?”
“You can't leave the state. In fact, you can't leave the city.”
“Oh, I beg to differ.” I turned on the engine. “Staying here was not part of our bargain, Lord Hades. In fact, I distinctly remember you using the possibility of me visiting Wren as a bargaining tool.”
The engine died.
Slamming the gear shaft into park, I turned to glare at him. “You don't get to add things to our agreement after the fact.”
“The agreement was that you mated a Cerberus team. Aspecificteam!” He leaned in. “The New Orleans Cerberus. They are destined to mate you. That was our agreement, Agnes.”
“It's Salina now.” I pouted. “Again, I remind you—you told me I could see Wren.”
“You can see her.Afteryou fulfill your end of our bargain.”
“I wanna see her now!” I whined.
“Fine.” He tapped my forehead.
I barely felt it, and yet his magic slammed through me. The touch of the Lord of the Dead. It sizzled and seethed. Erased. I swayed forward, and Hades steadied me.
“Are you all right?” Hades asked.
I scowled at him. “Why? What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Why are you here?”
He frowned. “Don't you remember? Are you sure you're all right?”
“I'm fine,” I muttered and stared at the keys dangling from the ignition. Hadn't I turned on the engine? Where was I going? Or had I just arrived?
“Where are you going now?” Hades asked.
I jerked to look at him. “Are you reading my mind?”
“I cannot do that.”
“Oh.”
“You look bewildered, Salina. Do you remember why you're on Earth?”
“To be with your boys.”
“Yes, but your main target is Silas. You must unmask Silas. When you do, summon me. Don't try to confront him alone.”
