Page 23 of Fated for Dawn

“Evelyn has proven her worth,” Hecate added.

Hades gave a small shrug, his lips curling in a faint smirk. “Fine. I’m not unreasonable. The chaos Eris is causing threatens the balance far more than Alister’s soul.” His eyes darkened, the smirk fading from his lips. “But a sacrifice must be made. If the vampire is to return, a price must be paid.”

I stepped forward, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might break free from my chest. “I’ll pay it. Whatever it takes. I’ll do it.”

“Evelyn, are you certain?” Hecate intervened. “The cost may be greater than you imagine.”

“I don’t care what it takes,” I declared. “I just want him back.”

Hades raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Are you sure about that, witch?”

I nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

“Well, in that case, we have a deal.” He paused. “In exchange for your firstborn.”

I froze, my heart dropping. “What?”

Hades burst into laughter, turning to Persephone. “That never gets old.”

Persephone rolled her eyes, patting her husband playfully. “Stop teasing her, husband. She looks like she’s about to have a heart attack, and we need her if she’s going to vanquish Eris.”

“Fine,” Hades said, his words dripping with amusement. “I’ll settle for a favor.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What kind of favor?”

Hades shrugged, an oddly human gesture for a god. “Who knows? It could be anything. That’s the fun part.”

I bit my lip, weighing the options. Alister’s freedom for an unknown favor? It seemed too good to be true. And in myexperience, if something seemed too good to be true, it usually was.

“Are we talking about firebombing a school of children or picking up your dry-cleaning?” I asked, my voice laced with skepticism.

“Take it or leave it. It’s my offer.”

“You’re saying you’d release Alister, and I’d owe you one undefined favor?”

“Precisely,” Hades said with a nod, his tone maddeningly casual. “Do we have a deal?”

I thought of Alister, trapped and alone. My fated mate, my husband. I couldn’t leave him there.

“Fine,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “We have a deal.”

A sharp pain shot through my arm. I hissed, seeing an intricate tattoo forming on my skin, sealing the deal.

Great. As if I needed another reminder of my questionable life choices.

“There,” Hades said, satisfaction evident in his voice. “Our contract is sealed. I’ll be in touch.”

Persephone turned her gaze to me, her expression softening. “It is done. You may have your mate back.”

Alister was released from his frozen state.

I rushed forward, but before I could reach him, Alister staggered, his face contorting in pain as he fell to the ground.

“Alister!” I screamed. I spun around to face the gods, panic rising. “What’s happening? You agreed!”

Hecate stepped forward, her expression unreadable. “A sacrifice had to be made.”

“I was the one who was supposed to suffer the consequence! What about our deal?” I shouted.

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