Underworld Bride Trials 1 Playboy King - Meg Xuemei X. Page 0,25

stir shit.

Héctor chuckled, pleased with himself. “I don’t blame them, but they all know Hell is no place for them, and they won’t put themselves in a vulnerable situation.”

Gods and their descendants couldn’t use their power in the Underworld. Plus, Hell loved to sip their godly energy. So, they avoided this place like the plague. The only ones who thrived here were Hades, Lucifer, Mari, Héctor, and me. Mari was Lilith’s daughter, and Lilith was the former Queen of Hell, while Héctor was the heir of Hades. If he’d wanted, he could have fought me to claim his ruling rights to the Underworld.

“Of course,” I remarked.

“You should invite us more often then.” Héctor grinned and stretched his long arm, and his gloved hand pounded me on the back. I didn’t expect that hit and almost slammed my jaw into the rail of the balcony. I pulled back, straightened, and glared at the death demigod.

Mari giggled. “Don’t pout, Loki. He didn’t do it intentionally. He’s got some serious strength.”

Strength, my ass. But I didn’t say it out loud. They weren’t exactly coming here for a vacation, as busy as they were. Mari came to support me, and Héctor came to support and guard her, not that my badass sister needed to be guarded. Even Lucifer feared her.

“You know me well, love.” The death demigod brushed a kiss over Mari’s waiting lips.

Mari flushed in delight.

I was happy for her, for sure, as Mari was a loyal friend and family member, but I was also King of the Underworld. Massive darkness lurked inside me. The dark, nasty part of me sneered at them in jealousy and wondered cynically how long their lust and love would last.

“I wasn’t joking.” Héctor regarded me thoughtfully, his arm around Mari’s waist. “My demigod cousins always sniff around my lamb, and it’s getting old.”

“We talked about trying to be nice, Héctor,” Mari sighed. “Paxton, Axel, and Zak are my mates too. Why do you keep treating them like my boy toys? Lately, the tension between all of you is getting a bit too high for comfort.”

She always had a soft spot for the death demigod. Her other mates used to complain about it, and she responded with: “Héctor was a virgin for eons, unable to touch anyone until I came along. And all of you had many women before me. If I get jealous over your past torrid affairs or scandals, you won’t have a good day. Let me know if you want me to go there. I’ve got a list.”

Marigold was the only woman who could handle the four assholes and their endless high drama. And she was quick to put them in their places if they tried to cross boundaries with her. But she was also smart not to get in the middle of their conflicts when they broke into a fight, unless one of them was going to get maimed, mauled, or worse.

“Is it worth it?” I’d asked her once, and she’d only smirked at me.

It couldn’t have been just the crazy, wild sex. Her four demigod mates were hard on everyone, but they all loved Mari with every fiber of their being.

“Don’t worry about it, Lamb,” Héctor said. “The others would think twice before coming after me.”

Mari threw up her hands in exasperation at the death demigod intentionally missing the point. I knew his trick well. And if she argued further, he’d seal her lips with a lingering, searing kiss. And then she’d forget all about it.

I grinned at her meaningfully.

“Technically, we don’t even need your invitation, Loki,” Héctor drawled. “I’ve decided the Underworld is the second base for my lamb and me. We’ll come and go anytime we please.”

“Then you’ll soon overstay your welcome,” I said, my gaze still locked on Tessa as she picked off her attackers one by one. “As King of the Underworld, I have more tricks than the former heir of the Underworld. I won’t appreciate anyone sneaking into my realm, fair warning.”

“Speaking of which,” Mari said carefully, “you need to keep your guard up at all times now. Lucifer has been spotted in other realms. Mom has sent her best spies to track him, but he might make a move sooner than we expect.”

“If he shows his fucking face here,” Héctor snarled, “he’ll get beheaded, just like I did to Ares.”

Mari smiled at him sweetly. “Mom beheaded Ares after you stabbed his black heart.”

The death demigod blinked at her. I bet in all his long immortal life, no