Hades tasted nothing but vanilla. Sweet, rich vanilla with a hint of peach and it was the most decadent dessert that had ever laid across his tongue. All the willpower the god possessed was used to keep his hands from straying. From moving upward off her hips to her narrow waist and along her ribs until his palms met the soft flesh of her breasts. Instead, he remained steadfast. Hades never broke a vow, but at the moment, he wished he did as this was the perfect reason to do so.
With an erection pressing against his zipper, he did the only thing he could. Broke the kiss and stepped away. Mia stared at him as if he were crazy and he was. Crazy with desire for a human female and it made absolutely no sense to him. She wanted him, and he could have her if the desire swirling in her eyes was any indication of her state of mind. Now would be the time to strike and Mia wouldn’t stop him.
She licked her lips and he nearly forgot his vow.
“Shall we dine?” He motioned to the table he had his minions bring in and set up. Mia followed his gaze and gasped.
“How did I miss that? I mean, I saw the food in the kitchen, but this…” She walked to the table and he was there ahead of her, pulling out a chair. She gave him a funny look but sat down.
Hades took the seat across from her, sent out a flare of power to dim the lights and ignite the candles both on the table and throughout the room. If the space didn’t scream Christmas with the twinkling bulbs on the tree, flickering flames from dozens of candles, and the air filled with the scent of pine, then he was an utter failure.
“I just can’t get over all the decorations.” Mia inhaled. “What’s for dinner? It smells so good.”
He lifted the silver dome from the platter to reveal thick slices of perfectly pink prime rib of beef. “I hope you like a good chunk of meat.”
Again, she swiped her tongue across her pink lips and this time he did groan.
“Something wrong?” She blinked in innocence. He found it hard to believe she had no idea what she did to a man.
“I find myself wanting to kiss you again, but this time I want to take my time and devour you.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced at the platter of meat. “Can I have that piece?” She pointed, obviously her plan was to ignore his remark.
Hades grabbed the fork and stabbed the beef. “You may have whatever you wish.” Then placed it on her plate. He also scooped a spoonful of mashed potatoes and placed the mound next to the beef, followed by a hearty helping of green beans.
Mia held up her hand. “I’ll start with this, thank you.” Then dug in. Hades waited until she had her first bite of meat before he dished up his own food.
“Is it to your liking?” He sliced into the beef on his plate.
“Oh my god… I mean, wow it’s so good.”
He laughed. “Are you afraid to offend me by saying the word god?”
“Well, it does seem wrong,” she answered between bites.
He waved her off. “Please, be yourself, Mia. The real you is much more pleasurable to be with than the fake one.”
She stopped eating. “You think I’m fake?”
“I think you hide your true self. It’s nothing more than a way to cope with what life has dealt you.” He would be one to know, considering his own lot in life. “I’ve seen a glimpse of the woman inside you and I like her fire.”
“My fire?” She raised a brow.
“Yes. I can’t wait to see you in my world. I suspect you will become well respected by many if you show this same fire.”
She played with her food and appeared in thought. “I’m not sure I understand.” She glanced at the ticking clock on the wall when it struck.
“Do you worry about your curse?” He knew at the stroke of eleven her body would lose its mass and become nothing more than a ghost-like image.
“Will it make our trip difficult?” She had given up eating all together and this irritated him. “I mean I will be nothing more than a ghost at midnight when our bargain begins.”
“Do not worry, Mia. It matters not what form your body is in when we depart.” He wanted to assure her further, but a nagging pressure built in his temples.
What do you want, Zarek?
The shifter is in place and your presence required.
Hades threw down his napkin in disgust and rose from the table. “My dear Mia, I must beg your forgiveness. I’m afraid duty calls and I need to leave for a short time.”
She jumped up. “Is everything okay?”
“It soon will be. I will be back by our agreed time.” He didn’t wait for further conversation but vanished and made his way to Vandeldor, where he found both Zarek and Argathos hiding in the shadows.
“She’s over there,” Zarek pointed out.
Hades followed and saw Leria staring at Aidyn from the shadows. Several shifters and vampires mingled around a large bonfire, while others sat at tables eating and drinking. All seemed oblivious to their surroundings except for two. Leria was also being watched by Aidyn. Matter of fact, the two appeared to be having a stare down when finally, the vampire king strode across the grounds.
Leria straightened, her right hand tucked into her flowing skirt, likely hiding the weapon Hades had given her. Heated words between the two that Hades didn’t bother eavesdropping on were exchanged. He was more concerned with the time, ready for this to be over so he could return to his realm. Funny, not long ago he had threatened to stay in the human world, and now he couldn’t wait to get back to Hell. Who would have thought he would be in such a hurry to re-enter his world? Certainly not him.
The scene unfolded in slow motion. Leria raised her arm and before Aidyn could react, the dagger of Embara was planted deep in his heart. The king stumbled backward, and it was Leria’s own scream that broke through the chatter of partygoers. Men and women ran as the vampire king fell to the ground.
Leria’s blood-curdling scream pierced the night air, causing Lileta to drop the platter of food she’d been about to set on the table. Lileta searched through the crowd of people for the girl she and her mate Caleb had raised as their own daughter. When she managed her way through the people to stop beside Caleb, Lileta gasped. On the ground was the vampire king, a blade buried in his chest.
Marcus and his mate, Cassie, both healers, were on the ground next to Aidyn. Marcus pulled the blade from his king and paled.
“That’s the blade of Embara,” Seth shouted.
Everyone grew silent as they pinned their accusatory glares on a tearful Leria.
“Grab her,” someone commanded.
Aidyn tried to sit up. “No.”
Zarek stepped forward. When had he gotten here, Lileta wondered, and why the hell didn’t he do something? She moved to Leria and put her arm around the girl’s shoulder.
“What is your dying wish?” Zarek directed his question at the vampire king.
“M-my mate… Clemency.” Aidyn coughed blood and then the cold stare of death looked back at them all.
Marcus rose to his feet and faced Leria. “Did you kill the king?”
“I… He killed my father.” She raised her chin, but Lileta sensed the uncertainty in the young woman. Leria had been struggling with many issues since she was a child. A young girl taken by Lowan and used as a pawn to make her father do the Dark Lord’s bidding. When Odage had finally been caught, Aidyn had taken the dragon overlord into custody for the murder of the queen, Aidyn’s mother. The punishment had been death, a bitter pill for Leria to swallow. Adding more tension to the situation, it was discovered that Leria and Aidyn were destined mates.
Why had fate been so cruel to bring these two to this crossroad?
“She killed the king. Punishment is death by your own law,” Marcus growled, facing Zarek.
Lileta hugged Leria closer and Caleb stepped in front of them. Her strong, powerful mate would protect them both.
Bickering ensued until Zarek held up his hand. “Silence!” His command, followed by a burst of power, charged the air and promised pain to any who dared disobey.
“The king spoke his wish and it will be followed. Any of you who choose to harm the mate of the vampire king will suffer greatly.”
“I can’t imagine the pain you must feel right now. Your mate dead at your own hand,” Cassie said. “Whatever issues the two of you had, I can’t believe you really meant it to end like this.”
“She is a murderer and does not deserve our mercy,” a voice shouted.
“Disobey me and die,” Zarek growled.
Caleb turned to Lileta. “Take Leria home. Now.”
She didn’t hesitate to remove herself and her daughter from the turbulent situation.
One would have thought her appetite might wane with the upcoming tick of the clock closing in on midnight. But Mia had nearly eaten herself into a coma. It was probably nerves. Maybe the good food. Most likely a combination of the most decadent food she had ever eaten and the fact she would soon be joining Hades in Hell. Was she more frightened of Hell or Hades? The man…err, god did something to her. His power frightened her. She had both seen him in action and felt the prickle of it across her skin. There was no doubt in her mind he could suck her soul out her nostril.
She wondered if that would hurt.
With a shiver, she forced her mind back to something else. Unfortunately, that something was how the god filled out a pair of jeans. The smoldering look he had given her earlier and the way he kissed. She touched her lips, still reeling from the claim he had made on them. How his hard body felt pressed against her own. That was where her real fear lie. How strong was her sexually deprived willpower? Could she spend thirty days in Hell with a man who was basically sex on two legs? Who no doubt knew his way around a woman's body like a pro. She reminded herself he promised to break her curse. They had both signed in blood the agreement and all he had asked of her was her company. Now, she wondered if she had read the contract thoroughly enough.
The clock struck on the eleventh bell. Her nightly curse took hold and ripped her world apart, reminding her of why she had made a deal with the god of the Underworld.
“Ugh! Why does this have to hurt so damn bad?” Her body contorted as it faded away and she became nothing more than a phantom. A woman without a physical body who floated across the room. At least now her gut no longer ached from overeating. That was some consolation. All she had to do now was wait another hour for Hades to show up. Would he come himself? Or, would he send one of his people like he had with the contract? She almost preferred the latter since she was in no rush to see the god of all evil again. Would her body––or lack thereof––still react to him in the same manner? Interesting thought and she had no idea what to expect.
Time always came to a screeching halt when she transformed. Probably because there was nothing to do. No sleep, no eating, or any of the normal things a person did. Her nightly escapades into the streets to try to help others came to an abrupt halt one night when she discovered an entire spooky-ass world out there. Saw the monsters that children feared under their bed. They were real. Very real indeed. Mia had been threatened by some shadowy monster that intended to cause her serious pain. Not knowing what else to do, she ran for her apartment and once inside discovered it was her sanctuary. Apparently, monsters couldn’t enter where they were not invited. At least that seemed the case with the one who wanted to do vile things to her.
Finally, the clock began its loud chime, counting down until midnight and on the last stroke, tall, dark, and sexy as sin swirled into the room.
“Mia.” He held out his hand.
“I can’t take your hand.” Was he daft? She wasn’t able to touch solid objects, and unfortunately, Hades was about as solid as they came. So much for wondering if her ghostly libido would work. That sucker was kicking in full force.
He shook his head. Impatience drawn on his handsome features. “Trust me.” He shoved his hand at her again.
With a sigh of aggravation, she laid her hand into his palm, and the second they made contact she returned to her corporeal self. “Holy shit!”
“As long as we stay physically connected, you will remain solid until we reach Hell.”
Before she was able to respond, the room blurred then faded into blackness. Seconds later she wobbled, Hades’ arm snaked around her waist to steady her and her feet were back on solid ground. She blinked and focused on the room surrounding her. Black floors with a sheen so high it was blinding. The walls were a deep red and reminded her of blood, and she suddenly had a vision of Hades’ fangs deep in her neck. Chills ran up her spine. How could she even think of such a thing? I must have been dropped on my head as a child. It was the only explanation she could muster.
Hades looked at her and grinned. “Mia, I had no idea, but it would be my pleasure as well as yours to accommodate you.”
Her jaw dropped open before she slammed it shut. “I… Stop reading my thoughts! It’s rude.”
He chuckled. “I find it most delightful. I am sorry, though, I really don’t mean to do it. It’s a habit that comes with being the god of Hell.”
She could see where that might be true. After all, he would need to know who his enemies were in this world. She tried to forget her embarrassment by focusing on the throne at the end of the room.
“Dear god, is that your throne?”
“What? You don’t like it?” To her relief, he released her and walked away. She glanced down at herself and held her hands out in front of her.
“You will remain corporeal while inside the palace. However, if you venture outside during your curse, I must admit I’m not sure what you’ll become.”
“Seriously?” The thought was rather frightening. “I’ll be sure not to wander outside then.” She had no desire to view Hell by herself anyway but wasn’t ready to admit it.
Hades grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her to face him. Lines creased across his forehead and around those delectable lips. “You signed the contract agreeing to never leave the palace grounds without an approved escort.”
“What if I break your rule? What do you intend to do to me?” Not sure why she goaded him.
“In this I will not waver. You will obey.”