Page 79 of Love and Death
“It has not healed?”
“No one can find the queen to tend to him, so it may never fully heal.”
Guilt pits in my stomach at the mention of Persephone. I never did find out what happened to her. I do hope she’s alright, though, judging by their conversation, I’m starting to doubt that she is.
“At least that is something,” snorts the second voice. “Maybe they still stand a chance of fulfilling—”
I stumble on a broken twig, flinching as the sound stops the voices mid-sentence.
“Go,” hisses the familiar voice.
“But—”
“Go, now. I will handle this.”
I assume they run off, though I hear no footsteps before the brush in front of me parts with no warning. I’m too startled to scream or scramble back as I look up to find a pair of honied eyes framed in thick lashes.
“Rhyzihr,” I gasp.
“Hazel,” he answers, blinking in surprise. “What are you doing here? The whole palace is in an uproar.”
“You know my name?”
“I dare say all incubi and succubae know your name by now.”
“Why?”
“You can thank your friendship with Florence for that.”
My face falls at the mention of her name.
“I’m afraid I haven’t been a very good friend to her.”
“Nonsense. She would not have risked her life otherwise.”
“Then you know? Is she …” I trail off, unable to speak the words aloud.
“Thrilled to hear of your escape?” he finishes with a wink. “Yes, so do not let her down.”
“I’ll try not to.”
His amber eyes shift to look past me, landing on the bodies behind me. “I am going to assume they did not walk here by themselves.”
“No.”
“So, where is he?”
“Who?”
“Come now, you obviously overheard us talking. We are on the same side, are we not? Where is Cerberus?”
“He went to find a cart for the … for Death and Eros.”
“Ah, of course. I am surprised he made it this far carrying them both.” His eyes flash beneath his thick lashes, and a grin begins to spread across his face. “Wait here, do not leave before I get back.”
“But I—"
He’s already gone, and I’m left wondering how I’msupposed to convince Cerberus to stay should he come back first.
