Page 65 of Hell On Earth
“Thank you,” the salesman said, handing back the card to Hades. “I hope you’ll return soon.”
We walked out the door together and found Eliana and Fenris a few yards away, still kissing. I shivered lightly and turned to look up at Hades. Only, he wasn’t there.
Confused, I looked around.
A man dressed in a dark ski jacket and knit hat stood across the street. The sunglasses hid his eyes, but nothing hid his familiar goatee.
Thanatos.
He lifted his hand.
My eyes went wide at the sight of the gun he pointed at me
“Hades,” I said at the same time a shot rang out.
The god of the Underworld appeared in front of me, blocking my view of the street but not the pain that exploded in my chest as it robbed me of thought. I stared at him with wide, panicked eyes.
Hades' expression filled with rage as he looked down at me.
I knew what he saw when he grabbed my arms. I could feel the blood bubbling out of me.
“Don’t change. Don’t shake,” I said, panting as I gripped him.
He ignored me, ripping his suit as he grew in size, and pressed a hand over my chest. His red gaze pinned me as I struggled to breathe. The coldness creeping into my fingers left with the heat flooding my chest.
“Ashlyn,” I heard Eliana call frantically.
I drew a normal breath and leaned into Hades’ touch. He shifted his hold, crushing me with a hug.
Wrapping my arms around him, I trembled.
No,Ididn’t. The ground did.
“I’m okay,” I said. “It’s okay.”
He shuddered in my arms, and I petted his bare back.
“Uh, I think we need to get off the street before someone notices,” Fenris said.
I pulled back and looked at Hades. His anguished gaze swept over my face.
“Hey, handsome,” I said with a small smile. “I can deal with women eyeing you when you’re dressed, but not naked. Can you put that delicious suit back on, please?”
He stared at me for a moment. Clothes appeared on him. The rumbling stopped.
“Handsome?”
“Extremely. I thought the white shirt with the sleeves rolled up was distractingly devastating, but the full suit is right up there with it. Do you think we can try on some jeans next?”
He blinked at me.
“And maybe some lunch if everyone’s willing to keep going?” I added.
He tore his gaze from me to look at Eliana and Fenris. Both were watching me with equally conflicted expressions.
“This isn’t the first time I almost died,” I said. “And it probably won’t be the last until we catch Thanatos.”
Fenris shook himself and lifted his phone. Mine started buzzing as he typed.
