Page 68 of Bride of Death

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Power that’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.

Power that makes my knees give out beneath me.

But Malaki catches me with his arm, his body holding mine as every part of me longs to supplicate.

Only for Morpheus’s purr to rumble through me in the next breath as a cloud of mist overtakes my vision.

In seconds, we’re back in the room we originally arrived in.

Except that feathery beast has followed us. Its orange beak releases a hiss that has Morpheus chuckling. “Sorry, Athena. I know how you feel about getting your feathers dirty, sweet girl.” He coos at the thing that’s too massive to be a bird.

However, it looks like an owl.

A really big owl.

Like the size of a large dog. But with feathers. Huge wings. Talons.And stars for eyes.

Literal stars.

I blink at it, convinced I’ve lost my mind.

Maybe all of this is a wicked dream. That would make sense. God of Dreams. Mythos Fae Realm.Dirt zombies fighting oversized owls.

I shake my head and curl into Maliki’s chest.

Which is when I realize he’s holding me in his arms. In the air.

I blink again, not sure when he picked me up. And I’m suddenly not all that eager for him to put me down.

Yep. I’ve definitely lost my mind.

“I think she’s had enough of a lesson for today, Morpheus.”

The God of Dreams nods. “Yes, I agree.” He’s not looking at us but at his massive owl. I’m pretty sure he’s giving the beast a treat.

I have no idea where he found the item in his hand, nor do I know what it is. But Athena is staring at it with a greedy expression.

When he releases it into the air, the item flaps once before Athena catches it with her talons.

And promptly disappears.

Yep. Not even going to ask. I’m just going to close my eyes and try to wake up now.

I hold on to that hope as Maliki and Morpheus discuss returning to the Netherworld Village.

And I feel as though I’m manifesting my dream—whereby I wake up and none of this is real—until I hear Hades’s cold tone say, “Welcome back.”

Oh, fae.

This isn’t a dream. It’s a nightmare.

And it’s never going to end.

Chapter 17

Maliki

Fucking Mythos Fae.

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