Page 181 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

The cold way she said it was a blow in itself. I knew she only cared about herself and the realm, but it hurt to know she thought so little of my life.

Everyone yelled at once and I could barely make out who was holding who back.

“Guys,” I growled, stopping the noise for a moment before turning back to her. “Tell me one good reason why I should lay my life down for this? Do you truly think they’ll all just take this without protest? Hell, the human world gave me nothing but pain, why should I try and save them? You don’t get to just use me.”

She studied me for a moment like she couldn’t comprehend my refusal.

“We all have a role to play in this. Your role just requires a bit more pain.”

Kol moved in front of us again. “Why betray us? Why would you give me a mate just to rip her away with no second thoughts?”

The pain in his voice had my chest warming. The Kol I met the first night he woke up was far different than the gargoyle I was listening to now. This one had true emotions, had formed connections.

“She’s no longer the leader you thought she was,” Monty said with disgust. “She’s not a great Queen of Helheim, in fact, she’s nothing more than a desperate bitch.”

Hel moved with a preternatural speed to square off with her former commander.

“I’ve done everything I can for this place! Do you think I asked to be thrown down in Helheim to spend my days among demons and souls, never to be seen by anyone again? Of course, unless they need something from me, right?”

She was so bitter, her tone so harsh and full of disgust. She’d finally revealed the true crux. She hated this realm with everything she was and the gods who threw her down here. Hel was full of disgust, hate, and regret.

That was a dangerous combination.

I couldn’t hold my tongue. “What good is closing the portal, then? How does that help you? Why would you be compliant to the gods’ wishes?” It was so fast I thought I imagined it, the corner of her mouth tipped up.

She wasn’t being honest, there was something we were missing. And every secret we missed could mean our death. Or mine.

“There’s no turning back now, everything’s in motion. It’s all turning out exactly as it was foretold.”

“The future is always changing,” I said, but there was no real conviction there and she knew it.

“You’re dismissed,” she said, waving her hand.

Suddenly, we were back in front of the elevator again.

Of course, the warden was nowhere to be seen.

“This isn’t happening, Harlow. I don’t give a shit what she wants you to do. You are not going to kill yourself for her,” Roman bit out.

“I’m not,” I agreed. “She’s hiding something, though. Did anyone else see the smirk on her face? It was right when I asked why she was doing what the gods wanted. There’s something else, something bigger than this.”

“Bigger than demons infiltrating Earth, killing humans, and causing havoc? What could be bigger than that?” Roman questioned.

“I don’t know, and I don’t necessarily want to find out.”

Harlow

Monday Night

Dark Haven Courtyard

We didn’t have to wait long to see what was coming our way. The ground shook beneath us as the building creaked violently. I half expected the entire thing to come tumbling down around us.

As the quakes continued, artwork and plaster rained down on the floor. If not for Kol’s wings covering us and Monty’sshadows engulfing the area, we’d likely be crushed under some of the debris.

“Shit, the portal,” Drake said.

My heart stopped at the scene unfolding before us.

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