Page 48 of Hell On Earth
“Right. Hades.”
Eugene stood and tugged on his pants before walking to the kitchen.
I shook my head and went to retrieve my phone from my bedroom. A string of messages was waiting from a group chat.
Megan: Ashlyn, the strategy meeting is for all of us, right?
Fenris: I call dibs on Oanen’s ruby slippers if Ashlyn’s house comes at him again.
Oanen: We should meet at Blayz. Adira knows Hades was at the Roost and is probably watching Ashlyn’s.
Oanen: Don’t worry, Fenris. I’ll still bring the slippers. I know you think your calves look better in heels.
Megan: I’m betting Eliana takes him up to a private room for a lap dance if he puts them on.
Eliana: Mom said we can use Blayz. We will not be using a private room.
Megan: So a public lap dance then? Looking forward to your moves, Fenris!
Fenris: I can’t decide if cutoffs go better with heels or bootcut. When are we meeting?
Eliana: Ashlyn’s call. But she’s probably preserving her sanity and ignoring this chat.
Megan: Lies! She loves us.
I was grinning by the time I caught up. Years of exclusion had been erased with one weird and funny group chat. Too bad all the messages had come through while I’d been talking to Eugene and Zotera.
“Hades?”
He appeared in front of me and immediately crushed me in a hug.
“Why did you not speak my name the moment you opened your eyes?” he demanded.
I tipped my head back to look up at him. “I figured you were busy.”
“I spent every moment away from you watching you in the viewing pool and yearning for your touch.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Does that mean you disappeared involuntarily again?”
“It does.”
“Okay. I’ll call your name the second you leave my side…as long as I’m awake.”
He nuzzled the top of my head and kissed my temple.
“You mentioned talking strategies this morning with Megan. Do you still want to do that?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“I’d like you to meet all my friends. The male ones and the female ones. Without hurting them. Please.”
His gaze locked with mine, and I saw a hint of tenderness there.
“I will not harm those you call friends.”
“Good. Then I’ll tell them we’ll meet them in a little bit.” I eased out of his arms to send the text but paused. “Oh. About Zotera. She really likes Eugene. A lot. She was crying because she didn’t want to send him home.”
