Page 20 of Love and Death
“After what you did to me last night, perhaps someoneshouldbe questioning you. One might start to think you were a traitor to the crown.”
“Tread carefully, Deimos. It was notIwho stood in the way of a guardian,” I say, lowering my voice in warning as I straighten to my full height. “I know where my loyalties lie. Though, I do wonder if Hades is aware of your little escapades to the tower. Tell me, how many times have you visited her unbeknownst to him?”
“What?”
“Were you really there to spy on me, or to take out your revenge on the girl?” I press, noting the tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“I was only doing what I thought—”
“Whatyouthought?” I cut him off sharply. “Oh, I am sure the king wouldloveto know how quickly you have forgotten your place here in his absence.”
Though his expression remains otherwise cold and stoney, I savor the flicker of fear in his eyes as I peer down my nose at him.
“I know my place,dog,” Deimos sneers, suddenly finding his courage again, his eyes dropping to size me up before slowly returning to meet my gaze. “You, on theother hand, appear to have gone above and beyond in your duties. What exactly have you done, Cerberus?”
“Done,” I scoff, trying not to look taken aback by his change in demeanor. “You have some nerve—”
“Your lies will get you nowhere with me. I know blood when I see it,especiallywhen it is that of a mortal.”
Stay calm. Do not react.
I swallow, the lingering sweetness of the girl coating my tongue once again. How could I have forgotten such an obvious detail?
“Mortals are creatures of their own will. Sometimes violence is the only answer, as I am sure you well know. I only did what was necessary to keep her in line.”
Deimos’ mouth curls up at this, causing my body to tense in response.
“Is that so?” he drawls. “Necessary or not, I have to wonder what Hades would think of you harming his new plaything. Tell me, does the king know how you feel about the mortal?”
My stomach knots, but I force my expression to remain neutral.
“How I feel about her?” I say slowly, my voice edged in ice.
“Do not play me for a fool. I see the way you look at her. Did you think no one would notice?” Deimos sneers. “To think that you, of all creatures, could be jealous of a mortal.”
Is that what he thinks? Perhaps the Fates have finally handed me a bit of good luck.
The fury that had been building within me calmsinstantly. I tilt my head slightly, but do not otherwise allow my expression to slip.
“You think me jealous,” I say with a bitter laugh, allowing just a hint of uncertainty to creep into the tone of my voice. “What reason do I have to be jealous of her, a mere mortal, when I am Guardian of the Underworld? Right-hand man to Hades himself. No, she is nothing more than a plaything. The king will soon grow tired of her. I do not—”
I suddenly snap my mouth shut, as if realizing too late that I have said too much.
It does the trick.
Deimos’ rigid stance relaxes ever so slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting just a hair.
Good.
Hopefully, if he thinks I despise the girl, whatever report he inevitably plans to give Hades will reflect as much.
“What reason, indeed,” Deimos says with an arch of an eyebrow, his smirk no longer hidden.
With an annoyed shake of my head, I move to push past him, only for him to clamp a firm hand on my shoulder to stop me.
“Remove your hand from my person.” The growl threads through my teeth in low warning.
“Not until you tell me what business you have outside the palace.”
