“And your name is?” he asked, casting his lighter blue eyes on me.
“I am Cerberus, the HellBeast King,” I replied, making his eyes widen in surprise.
“Hades’ Realm… hmm, I cannot think of what I could assist you in,” he replied, making me frown. Because he didn’t know that I practically came with an inbuilt bullshit detector and the alarm was currently going off in my head.
“Can you not?” I tested, making his blue eyes glow slightly, a pair that was a lot lighter than his son’s. In fact, now that I had time to look at him, there were subtle differences between the two.
Mammon was slightly taller, with wider shoulders. His dark hair was much longer, with half of the waves pulled back, secured in a golden band. Rings adorned his fingers, with the ends of his fingers painted gold, matching the painted line from his lower lip down his chin. His brows were slightly more arched in a mocking arrogance, and his lips thinned in annoyance.
“We have come here in…” Ryker began, but stopped when his father held up his hand.
“Let the HellBeast explain it, but first, what of my thief?” he asked, making Ryker sigh,
“The search continues.”
His father huffed, folding his thick arms over his chest, making me realize we would get nowhere if his mind was solely focused on this. Meaning, it was time to appease a King in want of his woman.
“What if I told you there was a way you could find her?”
Mammon’s sharp gaze turned to me.
“And you know a way, do you?” he said mockingly.
“Well, my brother doesn’t call me a cunning bastard for nothing,” I replied, making him scoff a laugh.
“And it will cost me, no doubt,” the King assumed correctly.
“I only seek information, nothing more.”
His brow raised at that, the black line arching higher in question.
“I make many deals in this room, HellBeast, but with nothing to show for your offer, then I am a King without a guarantee.”
“And here I was thinking fortune favors the brave,” I replied pushing my luck, but thankfully it paid off as he threw his head back and laughed.
“Mm, indeed it does, and no doubt a motto my little thief lives by. Fine, tell me, and if I like the idea, then you will have your information.”
“It’s simple enough in nature, as you just need to set a trap.”
He laughed and, this time, it was contemptuous.
“And you are a fool if you believe I haven’t tried that already.”
“Ah, but this will be different, as you will also be the buyer.”
He frowned before looking intrigued…
“Go on.”
“You have been searching for the thief by setting bait for her to steal, when instead you need to set your bait as the buyer.”
Mammon frowned again, but there was enough intrigue remaining in his keen gaze, that I knew he would allow me to continue.
“What do you mean, Cerberus?” Ryker asked.
“How many times has she stolen from you?” I asked quickly, knowing this would be an important factor.
“On more than one occasion,” he replied, enticing a tick in his jaw to jump.