Page 101 of The Duplicity of Thieves

“She is,” I confirm.

“We could maybe use that to our advantage. Create a conversation between our people. There is also the rumor that a grimoire is on the black market. I don’t know the content of it, but it’s our best bet to finding answers. I’ve already been through everything else I was able to find. It's probably in Tartarian Tongue, but it’s safer to have it, If we spend eternity decoding it, so be it. I’ve already fucked everything else up.” Hades shakes his head.

“My wife can.” Despite the turn of conversation, it feels good to call her my wife.

“Your wife can what?”

“It’s called Mondurian. She speaks it.” An eerie silence settles around us. The only sound is the fire crackling behind him. He bites his tongue and begins pacing.

“You should get back to her,” he finally says. “In a few days we will have this gala, and we will reconvene after. The box will be in the auction. We can start by acquiring it there. Maybe a grimoire will surface, too. I need time to think.”

“There’s more. Someone has been after her.”

“Fantastic,” he mutters. “All the more reason to keep her close. Go to her, Aedonaeus. For now, you’re both under our protection. I’ll post guards everywhere. I would imagine whoever it is will most likely be at the gala. Her marriage into our family will be a statement. Hopefully, it will buy more time or deter them completely. There’s nothing more we can do at this moment. Not until the box has been returned.”

The information Hades has given me weighs heavily on my mind. I don’t know if I should tell Josie just yet. I’m not sure how much she already knows. He said we could deal with it in a few days, and I want to believe that’s true. I stop by a restaurant across the street from our building and pick up food. Samuel waits nervously at the doors upon my return.

“Evening, sir. Is everything alright?” he chatters.

“I don’t want anyone in this building who isn’t authorized. If Josie leaves, she’s to be accompanied by Minos, Hermes, or myself. Understood?” I growl.

“Understood, sir.” He closes the doors behind me and locks them.

The ride on the elevator is daunting. The doors slide open, and I hear multiple voices followed by a scream. I round the corner in a frenzy to find the brutes with Josie. Minos is lounging on the couch, Hermes is perched on the top, and Josie is in a fit of laughter on the floor. Bottles of alcohol are spread across the table. They’re all fucking drunk; trashed by the looks of it.

“Oh nooooo,” Josie whispers, “My husband is home. Sit still, maybe he won’t see you.”

Minos starts snorting, but when he catches my glare, he stops. Hermes, on the other hand, pretends he is a statue. Always the joker.

“We stayed to see if you had been murdered.” Hermes slides off the top of the couch onto a cushion. “To find out that you got married in some weird violent fuck fest.”

“Didn’t even have a bachelor party,” Minos shakes his head.

“I think we’ve had enough of that for a lifetime.” I’m fucking serious. I want them out as quickly as possible before they cause a problem.

“Oh, yes. We’ve discussed your conquests,” Josie slurs from the floor and laughs again. It’s harmonic. She said they discussed the women I’ve slept with. Fuck.

“Wonderful. Thank you for stopping by gentleman. Goodbye,” I say through gritted teeth. “I apologize, love. Minos and Hermes seem to think our home is for their personal use.” I stalk into the living room ready to tear them from the couch if I must. They weren’t supposed to be partying, just staying downstairs guarding the elevator.

Instead of looking at me, they both look to her for her confirmation. What the fuck?

“Let them stay,” she pouts. “Why not?”

“I like her,” Hermes’ crows.

“Why?” I sputter.

“I’m bored,” she shrugs. I remember the last time she was bored.

“I can think of a million other things that we could do,” I argue. The brutes are trouble when they're drunk. That’s the last thing Josie needs right now. I’ll punish them for it later.

“Aedon.” She bats her lashes, and I soften.

“Yeah, Aedon.” Hermes looks smug. “Let us stay.”

“Aedonaeus, to you,” I snap.

“He almost killed Minos for calling him that once,” Hermes whispers to her loudly. Minos looks disturbed by the memory.

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