Page 59 of Unleashing Chaos

Jace nods and hooks our pinkies together. “The art in this room is powerful, to influence us to give in to our body’s impulses in such a way.”

“Especially after we just talked about how we could never—” I clear my throat as we walk to the door to the next exhibit, sure that he understands what I’m getting at.

He stops in his tracks and my pinkie slips from his. Running his fingers through his hair, he says, “Trust me, I enjoyed it too. I’m sorry if I crossed a line. I didn’t mean—”

“No. You didn’t cross a line. I wanted it to happen, but I know we shouldn’t do it again.”

“We can’t do it again, Desi.”

I hear the words, but I also see the conflict in his features. This isn’t how I want to end our time together. We have more to see in the gallery, and I don’t want one moment of overthinking to ruin it. I hold out my hand and wiggle my fingers. “Come on. Gluttony uses smells in the exhibit. I really hope it smells like fresh brownies.”

He smiles at that, and the worry melts away. “Peanut butter cups. I hope it smells like peanut butter cups.”

I grin as he intertwines his fingers with mine. “Compromise: peanut butter brownies.”

Eighteen

DESI

After our last meal in Infernis, my entire family accompanies us to the portal. My brothers and their partners spend more time saying goodbye to Jace than they do me. They’ve created little inside jokes with him, and he and Glen even made up a handshake that ends with them licking what I believe symbolizes an ice-cream cone for Jace and a certain part of my brother’s anatomy for Glen, and all of them say they can’t wait until he’s here for good.

I’ve just helped my family fall in love with a man they’ll never see again, because he’ll never be my partner.

Father moves beside me and wraps an arm around my shoulder and lowers his voice, saying, “I want you to know that what I’ve asked of you and your brothers is more important than my ongoing rivalry with Angelo. Although I do enjoy gloating that more energies have chosen Infernis as their home than Pax.”

“I know that. No demon ruler has been responsible for the happiness of so many energies before. I imagine that stress is a lot for you,” I say, patting his hand.

He grunts as he watches my brothers and Jace. “Your happiness is important to me too. The job you will take on ruling the Circle of Sloth won’t be easy. Your mother has been my rock, just as your grandmother Persephone was Hades’s. Your brothers have found the beings who will support them through the good and the bad. I want that same kind of devotion and companionship for you. Someone with a good head on their shoulders to help guide you when I’m no longer here.”

My head snaps up and I search his face. No one is as strong as my father. He’s carried the Seven Circles for centuries. Under his rule our realm has flourished, and he’s won the ongoing gentlemen’s bet with Angelo for decades now.

“We have time, Father. I’ll figure it all out eventually.”

“I must admit that I had my doubts when you left, but Jace is a perfect fit for you, Desideria. I’m proud of you for stepping up to the plate, but even more than that, glad that you’ve found someone who makes you happy.”

My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach and I’ve never felt so guilty in my life. “Thank you,” I murmur, leaning into my dad’s embrace and hugging him around the waist. “But, Dad, he hasn’t agreed yet, so don’t—”

He waves me off. “Yeah, yeah, it’s only a matter of time, though. I can see it in his eyes. He loves this place almost as much as he loves you.”

My heart leaps back from my stomach all the way into my throat.

Jace could never love me. Jace doesn’t believe in love. We’re roommates, friends . . . apparently with a few benefits. But he’s not in love with me because he’s made it clear he’ll never let himself love anyone again.

That thought makes me sad. I push it away to finish up the show for my family.

“Desi, come on, the medium is ready for us,” Jace calls, holding out his hand to me.

“All right, I’m coming,” I say, turning back to my parents and wrapping my mom in a hug before addressing everyone. “I love you guys, and I’ll see you soon, okay? Thank you for being so kind to him.”

Julius and Lux exchange wicked grins. “That fine specimen of human better return with you,” the prince of Lust says with a wink, and suddenly I hope that he doesn’t have some kind of weird connection to everything that goes on in the Museum of Sin. I shudder to imagine it.

I roll my eyes and wave over my shoulder. “Okay, on that note . . . bye!”

I take Jace’s hand, and after going through the motions with the medium, we step into the portal.

“You ready to go back to reality?” I ask, giving his hand a squeeze.

“Yeah, it’s time. My stomach isn’t feeling well and I’m starting to feel light-headed. I guess my time in hell is officially up.”

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