Page 73 of Love and Death
I should have known it was too late, the pull of his leash growing tighter over the last few minutes. I should have run, should have taken her with me when I had the chance.
Why did I not run?
Now, I am caught between them both. The fate bond with her, the loyalty bond with him … and I am being strangled between them.
I cannot protect her while she refuses the mark, and yet, I cannot live with myself if Hades uses me against her.
“Cerberus,” Hades says, his voice far too sweet. Far too soft. “It would appear you have been keeping secrets from me for far too long.”
“Secrets, my lord?”
“The note. That it was you who summoned Death to my door. Need I go on?”
“I only wished to do my duty by protect—”
“Enough, I have seen the Fates. I know of your bond.”
The life bleeds out of my soul, my heart dead in mychest. Why would they tell him? Unless … of course, they mean for him to use it against me.
Againsther.
“I did not—”
“Silence! You will speak when I tell you to speak,” Hades hisses in my ear, circling me. “I also know that she has found Death’s new vessel. Apparently, his soul remains tethered, for now.”
What?
My eyes flicker to the mortal, her face pale and stricken, but I cannot read in her whether or not he speaks the truth.
“Now, Cerberus, make her talk. Make her tell me who his tether is.”
“Who is it?” I snarl at her—the words tasting like ash and venom—as my eyes fix on her with dark determination, and I realize I have already taken a step forward, toward Hazel, without knowing.
I cannot stop myself. I am obeying my orders without question, my leash growing taut.
“I cannot—”
“She can, and she will,” Hades cuts her off. “Force it out of her. Break her if you have to.”
She shrinks back, fear striking in her wide-eyed features. Part of me takes cruel pleasure in the effect I now have on her, while the rest of me blisters in agony.
I stalk toward her, and her breath catches. She does not scream or run. She just looks at me, and it crushes my heart.
She still thinks she can trust me.
I reach out to grab her, my hand wrapping around herthroat, and she lets me. I could snap her neck in my hand, I—
A grunt of pain.
I blink to see Hazel now curled on the floor against the far wall.
“Good boy,” Hades sneers, and I suddenly realize I must have thrown her. “Continue.”
My heart twists, my mind shouting at me to resist. To stop, but I have no control anymore. Hazel looks up, tears forcing their way down her cheeks as she scrambles to pull herself up off the floor. To get out of my way.
And the beast in me roars.
I am suddenly inches from her, teeth bared, breath ragged, hands slamming into the wall on either side of her head. Caging her in.
