Page 47 of Love and Death
There’s a long pause as the stone beings appear to process his statement, and I have to wonder just how autonomous they actually are.
“No, but we cannot allow her actions to go unreported.”
“Naturally, I would expect nothing less from the king’s own guard, given the circumstances.”
The three men eye each other for an uncomfortably long moment before the guards finally nod once, square their shoulders, and turn together to march off.
“Come, we must hurry,” Cerberus orders, throwing caution to the wind as he drags me along with reckless abandon. I can’t help but grimace at my own plodding footsteps as I suddenly find myself struggling to keep up with him, despite his limp still causing him obvious pain.
“I thought you said we had to be quiet,” I hiss.
“That was before you alerted the entire palace to our presence.”
“Perhaps I wouldn’t have needed to, if you hadn’t nearly crushed me to death,” I retort, incredulously.
He immediately stops and turns to look me in the eye.
“I apologize. I spoke out of turn, and you are right, I should not blame you for my own mistakes,” Cerberus says, his sincerity taking me entirely by surprise. “I do not always know my own strength, especially when it comes to mortals. Now, come, we must hurry before Deimos can be given a full report.”
All I can do is nod in response as he turns to lead me onward again.
“Is it true what they said?” I ask once I can find my tongue.
“Is what true?”
“That Hades left Deimos in charge of his men.”
“Yes.”
He says this single word with such venom that I decide not to press him any further on the matter.
At least, for the time being.
Besides, I have far more pressing concerns to worry about right now, especially with the halls beginning to look and feel all too familiar.
“Where exactly are you taking me?”
“To your father,” Cerberus replies bluntly.
“Yes, butwhereis he being kept?”
Cerberus’ jaw hardens as he trains his eyes forward, refusing to so much as glance back at me … which is all the confirmation I need to know I’m not going to like the answer.
Rounding another corner, a cold sweat breaks out across my skin as a set of looming double doors comes into view.
So, he told the stone sentinels the truth.
He’s bringing me toher.
To the one woman that I now fear facing most in this place.
The queen.
15
HAZEL
Idrag my feet as he pulls me forward, my stomach tightening into knots within me.
