“Don’t bother.” His voice rolled in a low, bored murmur.
I scowled at him, hating that he was right.
What was the point?
His magic no longer ensnared me, but his arms were a steel cage. Not tight enough to bruise, but utterly immovable.
He took the stairs two at a time, striding up toward the huge double doors. The scent of fire and flame wafted toward me, and I choked, covering my mouth.
“You’ll grow used it,” he said.
“I’m not staying here.”
“Perhaps not for long.” He shrugged. “We will see.”
Fear fluttered in my chest, a butterfly pinned to a board. “What does that mean? Why did you take me?”
“Enough questions.”
Ahead of us, the doors swung open. He strode through, entering a massive atrium. Overhead, a glass dome revealed the lightning-pierced sky. All around, black stone walls surrounded us.
It should have been horrible, but once again, there was beauty in the austere lines and sweeping proportions.
Two guards stepped away from the wall, tall and broad in armor that looked like a simpler version of my kidnapper’s.
The larger one bowed. “We will take her to the dungeon, my lord.”
His grip tightened slightly. Almost possessively. His voice snapped with authority as he spoke. “No.”
That was it. Just no.
The man flinched, fear in his eyes, then nodded and backed away. Both returned to their posts, and my captor strode on, carrying me down a yawning hall.
I looked back over his shoulder at the men, cataloging their pale skin and sweaty brows, eyes wide with fear.
Even his guards were afraid of him.
We passed a maid in the hall, and she squeaked and darted into a room, hiding behind a door. My captor didn’t so much as twitch.
What a dick.
My captor turned right, left, then right again. So many turns that I lost track, though each one entered a hall that was different from the last.
Some were adorned with deep red paper, some with navy. Dark wooden floors and glowing lamps. Bookshelves lined some walls, and paintings others.
How the hell was I going to find my way out of here?
Finally, we arrived at a door.
It swung open effortlessly for him, and he stepped inside a beautiful room fitted with a bed, a couch, and a writing desk. He stopped just inside the doorway, dumping me unceremoniously onto the gorgeous rug shot through with silver and gold thread. I stumbled, going to my knees, then surged upright and whirled to face him.
Now that we were alone, the crown had disappeared. He stared at me, something almost like surprise flickering in his eyes. Almost as if he’d never seen anything like me before.
“Who are you?” I demanded.
“I am Hades.”
Hades?
The Hades?
Shit. Shit. Shit.
His eyes burned coldly into me as he raised a gloved hand from the depths of his cloak and held it flat in front of his face. I had the briefest moment to register that there was a tiny pile of powder on his palm before he blew it in my face.
I coughed, my head immediately going woozy.
“Now, sleep.” His low words were the last I heard before I collapsed.
Darkness took me.
4
Hades
I strode away from the room, my arms and chest burning where I had touched her. Confusion raced through me, an entirely unfamiliar experience
She was the one?
Impossible.
I had no use for women. No use for people, in truth. The fact that I required her was nearly laughable.
Yet it was what the darkness required.
I reached my quarters moments later, peeling off the thin, black leather gloves and looked at my hands.
Unbidden, the memory of touching her surged to the front of my mind. My fingertips tingled, and I curled them into fists.
I squeezed my eyes shut and banished the memory. As I walked deeper into my rooms, I shucked off my armor and clothing, leaving it where it fell. Unlike some spaces in the castle, my private chambers were austere. Simple lines and dark colors suited my preference. I passed through the study and bedroom and strode into the bath, desperate to wash the feel of her off my skin.
It was like she had branded me.
Made me feel something.
My hands flexed, an almost unconscious movement.
I couldn’t recall the last time that had happened. Had it ever?
Surely not.
The entire situation made me want to tear my skin off, to return to the cold comfort of before.
I entered the bathing room, which contained a deep dark pool directly in the center, built into the rocks. Warm, fragrant water steamed, and I shucked my boots and the rest of the clothing. Quickly,