Page 43 of The Prince of Hidden Shadows
“From what I’ve seen, you anchor him, and I value that.” She plays with a strand of her loose hair. “Listen, I’m not here to play mother hen, but I’m protective of him. He’s been burned once, so here’s my drachma’s worth: If you’re ready to embark on a journey with Zagreus, it will demand more than you can imagine, and you have to hang on—it won’t be a smooth ride.”
I stiffen, the rest of the world fading away. It’s the two of us. Her words throw me off.
Fighting to stay composed, I reply, “We just met, so the plans we’ve discussed concern tonight—not what the future might hold for us.”
Shetsks. “Deny it all you want. You and I both see through that lie. My point is that I thought I’d always support my friend’s choice, but—” She pauses.
“What?” I lower my voice in case someone might be within earshot and speak through gritted teeth. “You’re pissed at me for being mortal, is that it?”
She snickers. “That’s among the challenges that you two will run into, yes, but that’s not what bothers me the most.”
“What is it then?”
She shrugs, shaking her head, as if I were an obtuse child. “Well, he demanded you make amends to be able to save your soul while he’s the one breaking the law. I can’t imagine Hades’s wrath if he ever finds out…” Once again, she trails off, pursing her full lips. Eyes on her, my brow arches up. “You’re aware Zagreus should’ve wiped your memory of your visit, aren’t you?” My reaction must give me away. The heat on my face won’t subside, though. “That’s what I thought.”
“Did he tell you?”
“Your interactions with him speak louder than words. Keep in mind that if I notice, others will, too.” Her voice is steady and collected, sending chills down my spine. “Like I said, Hades won’t be pleased, and understanding isn’t his strong suit. His world should not be shared with humans until you’re… ready.”
Fuck! What did Zagreus do? I should talk to him when he gets back. I had no idea it could have such dreadful consequences.
“Thanks for the warning… I guess,” I blurt out.
With that, she stands up, her tray in hand, ready to bring it back to the counter. “I thought you should grasp what you’re getting yourself into. Nathan’s finished his work—he’s not hard to find.” She stops for a beat. “As goddess of the night, I’ll watch over your safety tonight, whether you want me to or not.” I frown. “Relax, unless you’re in grave danger, I won’t interfere, but I cannot have you risk your life without a safety net… Zagreus won’t recover from it, and that’s unacceptable to me.”
Frustrated yet determined, I mutter, “I won’t fail in my mission, and I won’t fail him either.”
With her back to me now, I hear her final words before she leaves me to get back to work.
“Good luck!”
Chapter Seventeen
MY DEMONS
Zagreus
Istep into the dim, cool embrace of the Underworld, the change in the air palpable.
Cerberus bounds towards me as I reach the threshold to my quarters, his three heads vying for my attention, whining and nudging at me. My stride falters, my heart skips a beat, and my face brightens—finding him away from his usual post at the Underworld’s gates is as rare as sunlight here.
“Missed me, huh?” I scratch behind his far-left ear—his favorite spot—and his massive tail slaps the polished obsidian floor, making a pedestal teeter and an ancient urn wobble. “Careful, boy,” I mutter, bracing a hand against his chest to nudge him off, though he barely yields an inch. Calling Cerberus aboyis the understatement of eternity. His sheer presence is crafted to unnerve, to freeze wandering souls in place, to make certain the dead remain and the living think twice about trespassing.
But with me, he’s all warmth and weight and pressing need for affection.
I was the one who urged Hades to take him on when a true guardian was needed for the gates of his realm. And despite the fearsome bulk, the triple maw, and the strength to crush a man in seconds, all six eyes shine with warmth and recognition reserved just for me.
Who dares to say that dogs couldn’t speak? Cerberus doesn’t need words—his actions say more than any conversation.
When I mention Nathan and his glitch, his many ears flicker, but it’s when Théodore’s name slips out that his tail thumps faster against the floor and his gaze sharpens, locked on me with an unspoken understanding. My… fondness for the grumpy Frenchman seems to amuse him.
Petting him as he grunts, the heaviness of what lies ahead hangs over me, but Cerberus stays beside me, a silent anchor. After a while, he steps back, brushes each snout against my hand, then returns to his duty, and so do I.
Minutes later, the muffled patter of my suede loafers on the floor accentuates the silence that rules my quarters—a peace that I cherish, though most refuse to respect it. Again and again, intruders force their way in, unleashing a tumult worthy of the River Styx’s banks.
Toeing my shoes off by the entryway, I shrug out of my jacket as well and heave a contented sigh.
My mind goes straight back to my lover—the last glimpse of his face and the grip of his fingers on mine before I turned away this morning. Nobody’s made me this since…
