Page 84 of Hex
“Just tell them the truth. If I get any inkling that it’s going south, I won’t hesitate to kill every last one of them. The Dei are the most powerful of each of their kyn, but there’s a reason they call us the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. You’ve got this, and I’ve got you.” His hold is firm, his fingertips putting pressure behind my ears.
He’s barely holding himself together and I’m surprisingly calm now that we’re this close. My mother is in there, my best friend’s brother, my chosen’s Dei…that’s at least three of them on my side. I hope.
“I think we need a vacation when this is all over with.” My joke doesn’t land. Although, not really a joke. I’m being serious. A few weeks of doing absolutely jack shit is exactly what we need. Nobody getting kidnapped or nearing death, no killing super important people.
It’ll be bliss.
The thought is pushed to the front of my mind and I cling to it for dear life.
“I love you, Satapti.” Leaning down, Hack kisses me. It isn’t soft and sensual, it’s animalistic and feral, and if we didn’t have an audience, I’d climb him right here and now.
Finally, he pulls away, resting his forehead against mine as we both heave out heavy breaths.
“I love you too.”
“Come on, time’s a ticking. You’re not winning anyone’s favor by being late.” Samhain demands our attention, his dark stare more intense and expectant with the contrast of his white hair and beard.
We both sigh, looking each other in the eye one more time before I’m taken for judgement by the Thirteen—although, it’s actually only twelve now. Whoops?
Pierce approaches and holds my shoulders. “We’ll be right out here.”
“See you when you get out, Sagacious.” Slash runs over and wraps his arms around me from behind Pierce in a strange kind of three-way hug, and I can feel the rage coming from Hack because of their closeness, but he doesn’t move.
It’s over as quickly as it began, both of them turning and walking in the direction Samhain told them to go to his office. The shadows that are Slay move with them, but I don’t blame him for not giving me a goodbye hug. Dealing with any kind of feelings isn’t the easiest for Slay.
Last to follow is Hack, reluctantly, but with a final glare to Samhain, he disappears through the door.
Turning to me, Samhain strokes his white beard and it grows as he transforms into the demon that he is. No longer giving human daddy vibes, he’s a straight-up demon daddy. Glowing red orbs shine from pitch-black eye sockets, his beard now three times the length as before, a hole in his skull in place of a nose, and horns growing from the top of his head. In seconds, he’stwice his original height and width, and completely transformed into a very obvious demon.
He snaps his fingers and a long deep-purple velvet cloak appears around his neck, one that he billows out before flipping up the hood. It must have holes for the horns because they poke through the fabric.
“Ready?” I’m surprised he’s asking.
“No.” I shrug, making Samhain chuckle. It’s different to his human voice, more of an echo and a much deeper tone.
He tilts his head toward the huge double doors in front of me. They’re big enough to fit Fenny through, but he stayed with Loki. The wood is embossed with a golden design made up of triangles, split directly down the middle as the door opens with barely a sound.
This is it.
Samhain gestures for me to enter first, and I’m surprised at the coziness of the space as soon as we’re inside. There’s a giant curved fireplace on the wall behind the tallest chair at the round table, it’s surrounded by leatherbound books in a variety of colors. Light shines in through the windows, but it’s definitely not sunlight. It’s the orange-red kind from the sky here in The Shade.
All but one seat is filled—once Samhain sits—leaving the tall chair empty and me wondering what the fuck I’m supposed to be doing. I’m just standing here, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for some kind of instruction.
I spot Hekate, sitting in one of the chairs with a view of the entrance, and I smile and wave, knowing this is awkward but fuck it.
Even her smile is elegant as she tilts her head slightly in acknowledgement.
I can guess where Desdemon is sitting, because I can see his head of bright-red hair over the top of one of the chairs with its back to me.
The fireplace starts to split open, parts of the fire going on either side as it opens. The grating of stone against stone echo through the room, the only sound as all of the Dei sit in silence and a man appears from the smoke left behind.
With a flourish of his purple cape—hoodless—the man who looks like a jacked up version of Santa Claus takes the final seat.
“Can’t you just come in through the doors like the rest of us?” The man that speaks is covered in gold and bronze scales, accentuating his sharp cheekbones, and his long copper hair is half tied into a top bun.
“When you’re the Grandei, Zhang, then maybe I will…so that’ll be never.” Jacked-Santa grins. One of those knowing grins that says he’s aware they won’t fuck with him.
“Sorry to interrupt whatever this is”—I gesture between them—“but can we get on with it, please?” I haven’t moved from my spot, which may as well be the naughty corner.
