Page 75 of Hell On Earth
Nicolette’s phone buzzed. When she glanced at it, she laughed.
“What is it?” Megan asked.
“Adira responded to the message I sent to the Council, stating she will happily provide Eliana whatever she craves upon her return to Uttira.”
“All she has are words,” Megan said. “She doesn’t have the balls to show up here herself, or she already would have. Too bad you can’t summon her like you can summon me, Father.”
“She is Odin’s to command,” Hades said. “If she were mine, she would have already been begging for forgiveness at Ashlyn’s feet.”
Megan grinned. “Now that I’d pay to see.”
“Does that mean the Council’s going to withhold your marks?” I asked.
“What’s a mark?” Zotera asked.
“It’s this,” Megan said, showing her hers. “Having a mark was the only way to leave Uttira and live free.”
“Can I touch it?”
“Sure.”
She ran her fingers over the symbol. “It’s old magic. Very pretty.”
“You can feel magic?” I asked.
“Yes. Father could give you a mark if you want one.”
Stunned, I looked at Hades. “You could?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Megan said before he could answer. “Everyone without a mark is tracked when they come or go. With a mark, anyone could take you out of Uttira at any time without it being noted.”
The burst of hope that had bloomed quickly shriveled and died.
“No one would dare take you,” Hades said softly, kissing my neck. “You are mine.”
“No, they would rather kill me,” I said.
Hades made an angry sound. I patted his leg.
Nicolette moaned and grabbed onto the back of the chair before slowly lowering herself to take a seat. I glanced at Eliana and saw she had her face buried in Fenris’ neck.
“You might want to refrain from touching his leg like that again,” Fenris said at my confused look.
Hades’ arms tightened around me.
“Hold your tongue or lose it, whelp,” he snapped.
Frowning, I tipped my head back and caught Hades’ gaze.
“Are you saying you would remove myfriend’stongue for being honest with me?” I asked.
The frustrated god stared at me for several beats before slowly shaking his head.
I grinned.
“You’re handsome and smart,” I said.
He disappeared from underneath me. My teeth clacked together at the unexpected drop to the couch. I scooted over a spot and called his name.
