Page 110 of Raising Hell
“You should have told me how hungry you were,” he said.
“Hunger makes everything taste better.”
His gaze heated. “It does.”
I flushed and focused on my sandwich rather than on what Hades hungered for. The big bite I’d taken was still in my mouth when a familiar voice nearby made me jump.
“We have a problem.”
Swallowing the large lump, I turned to stare at Megan who stood right behind me.
“You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. I didn’t know I’d show up here. I thought I’d show up outside the room again.”
“We removed that limitation,” Hades said. “Why have you returned?”
Her gaze flicked to me. “I’m going to need you to sit on his lap and be ready to get really cuddly cause things might get a little shaky.”
I scrambled off my pillow and plopped down on Hades’ lap, only to second guess sitting across it like I was. If Megan thought things were going to get shaky, I’d likely need more leverage. So I stood and straddled his lap instead.
His hands gripped my hips, and he pulled me closer, settling my weight over that part of him that made itself known whenever I was near.
“Though I would never deny myself the opportunity for this, I am curious why you believe placating me is necessary,” Hades said in a droll tone.
I turned my head to look at Megan and saw a flicker of flame in her eyes.
“As soon as you described the guy trying to kill Ashlyn, we furies spread the word that we were looking for him. After we realized we were looking for an immortal, we reached out to all the longest-living creatures we knew. Every council around the world was contacted.”
“Council?” Hades asked.
“They are governing bodies for any place that harbors the children of the gods,” I said.
“Word spread quickly, but we didn’t get any nibbles.” She gave me a hard look. “We didn’t, but someone else did. Mrs. Quill just called me and said that Adira’s been in contact with a man named Thanatos who matches the description of the guy we’re looking for.”
“Excellent,” Hades said. “Bring him to me.”
Megan shook her head. “I wish I could. We still can’t portal to him. He’s like a ghost and doesn’t exist. But the problem isn’t that we can’t find him. It’s what he told Adira.”
“What?” I asked.
Megan’s eyes flared brighter, reminding me so much of Hades.
“You know what? Fuck it. Everyone said not to be blunt, but I’m done with tiptoeing around this shit.”
Her annoyed gaze locked with Hades, and unsure if what she had to say would provoke his temper, I threaded my fingers in the hair at the back of his head in preparation.
“You aren’t supposed to be awake, Father. The Kraken told us we needed to find out what would appease you because appeasing you is the only way to get you to go back to sleep so you don’t destroy our world with earthquakes. And you will, Father. All the banshees all over the world have sung death’s song. So, what will it take to appease you and send you back to sleep?”
I glanced from Megan to Hades. He didn’t look upset. In fact, he chuckled.
“Gods need no sleep, Daughter. And I already have what appeases me.”
His heated gaze locked with mine. Flushing, I turned to look at Megan. He chuckled again and brushed his lips over my cheek.
“Yeah, I kind of figured you’d say that.” The look she gave me, frustration mixed with defeat, didn’t bode well. “This Thanatos guy told Adira that you’re a danger to everyone alive, and if we want to find a way to undo what’s been done, we need to kill you.”
Hades stilled underneath me and turned to look at Megan.
