a damned ninny.
No matter what had happened to him, he’d proved how dangerous he was. And I’d seen what he was after. It was deadly.
The minutes ticked by, and I felt the bedroom door close more than heard it. I turned to it, confirming my suspicions.
He wasn’t coming out for food. It was time to go to sleep. I didn’t know what was coming tomorrow, but I’d need my strength for it, I was sure.
Slowly, I turned back to the couch. My gaze snagged on the section of bookshelf that contained The Oresteia.
His favorite book.
I’d taken a copy but hadn’t had time to read it.
Lie.
I’d had time. Sort of. I just hadn’t wanted to. I was already too drawn to the deadly, evil god. The last thing I needed was to get to know him better.
I climbed onto the couch. There was no blanket, of course. Little things like throw blankets and decorative pillows were not Hades’ style.
Still, it was warm enough as I slowly drifted off to sleep, memories of Hades dancing in my mind.
6
Seraphia
The next morning, I woke with a blanket thrown over me.
I frowned.
Hades?
It was too big for Echo to have carried.
But Hades was nowhere to be seen. His quarters were completely empty—I could feel his absence.
I rose, pulling on my boots and vowing to get a bath after this first training session was done. Echo was gone as well, but a tray of breakfast sat on the table. I ate quickly, fueling up for whatever was to come. Again, I tried to reach into the ether to retrieve the bag that Eve had given me.
It didn’t work.
Damn.
At least I still had the sprigs of plants in my pocket. They were useful for a lot.
I turned toward the door just as it opened. Hades stood on the other side, dressed in the sturdier dark metal armor that he’d worn last time we’d left his city.
His dark eyes met mine. “Are you ready?”
I nodded. “How far are we going?”
“Not far. An hour on Horse.”
“We need to take Horse?” I frowned, not liking the idea of being pressed up against him. It’d been bad enough the first time. and that had been before we’d really kissed. Now that I had that memory in my head, I couldn’t handle the idea. “I want my own horse.”
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“Can you ride?”
Not really. “Yes.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Get me my own horse. I’ll be fine. I’m a damned goddess, for fates’ sake.”
“You embrace it now?”
“Admit it, not embrace it. And I want my own horse. I’m not sitting pressed up against you.”
Something flickered in his gaze, and he nodded. “All right. Come with me.”
I followed him out of the room and down the hall. Despite his massive size, his footsteps were silent on the stone floor. I tried to match him, not wanting to be the clumsy one of the pair.
“So, you don’t want to fly to the forest?” I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting the why.
He stiffened slightly, the movement barely perceptible from the corner of my eye.
“Why do you hate your wings so much?”
“I don’t hate my wings.”
If I’d thought his posture was stiff, his voice put that to shame. “Of course you do. You never use them. On the rare instances you do, you put them right back where they came from as soon as you’re done.”
“They’re not useful.”
“That’s total bollocks, and you know it. They’re wings, for fates’ sake. You can soar above the clouds.”
“I have no interest in the clouds.”
“Hmm.” There was so much there that he wasn’t telling me. But we’d reached the main entry hall of the castle, so there was no time to ask. Not that I thought he’d answer me.
We strode toward the door. Hades stopped in front of one of the guards, telling him to fetch a horse for me.
Together, we walked out into the murky daylight of the underworld. As before, it was gray and dreary, with no sun cutting through the clouds and a faint smell of smoke on the air.
Hades led the way down the stairs, taking them two at a time, and stopped in front of Horse, who stood patiently at the base.
I joined him, staring up at the big animal. It ignored me, too regal for the likes of me.
A few moments later, a gleaming ebony horse was led toward the stairs from the side of the castle. It was elegant and tall, with a mane shot through with something that flickered like flame.
I swallowed hard, suddenly