Page 40 of Hell On Earth
CHAPTERSEVEN
Hades chuckledin the face of Megan's fury. “Mine as well. Come, daughter.”
The space around us did that familiar bending inward, and in the next moment, all five of us stood in my newly decorated living room.
Hades' hands smoothed over my back as I braced mine against his chest to steady myself.
Megan turned a slow circle, looking around at everything, completely unfazed by the shift in locations.
“The pictures Eliana sent didn’t do this place justice,” she said. “This is beautiful, Zotera.”
Zotera lifted her head from Eugene’s face long enough to thank Megan.
“I’m pretty sure he’s okay now,” I said.
Eugene waved his hand at me before caressing Zotera’s butt as she continued to make out with him.
I looked at Hades. “Is that okay?”
His gaze flicked from them to me. “Are you concerned for the human or Zotera?”
“Both, actually.”
“Zotera knows how to love without cruelty. Allow her to enjoy his gentle affection.”
Zotera lifted her head, looking at me with hope. “Can I keep him?”
“Whoa,” Megan said at the same time Eugene shouted, “Yes!”
“I’ll agree to let him spend the night, but he has to go back to his house in the morning,” I said, compromising.
Zotera picked Eugene up bridal-style and carried him back to her bedroom while kissing him.
Megan shook her head at me, and I shrugged.
“He was under an incubus’ influence for at least thirty minutes. A night with Zotera will help him forget whatever might have happened before we could get there.”
“Is that why you went to the club without calling me?” Although she said it nicely, I heard the reprimand.
“I did call you. And Eliana. And Fenris and Oanen. None of the calls went through. I got the same message that said the numbers were no longer in service.” Lifting a hand from Hades’ chest, I tossed her my phone so she could see the call history and the pictures I’d received.
“I knew it was a setup. Look at the pictures. But even knowing that, I couldn’t leave him to his fate, Megan. Some things can’t be forgotten. And if not for Hades’ timely arrival, I would have suffered the same fate.”
Hades’ fingers twitched against my back, and I absently stroked his chest, in tune with his mood.
“I’m glad you arrived when you did, Father,” Megan said. “But what does it mean that you’ve broken free?”
“I don’t know, daughter, but while I’m here, we will find those attempting to harm Ashlyn. Her safety matters more than my presence, don’t you agree?”
Turning away from Megan’s worried gaze, I looked up at Hades’ and found him watching me.
“I disagree,” I said. “How many cities will be destroyed because you’re here? How many people will die due to your efforts to keep me safe?”
“Do their lives matter more than yours?” he asked.
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” I quoted.
Hades' laughter contained centuries of bitterness and obsession.
