Page 18 of Underworld

I continue my pacing, trying to ground myself so I don’t try to rip his head off. I don’t know if that’s possible, but I’m sure I could make it happen somehow. Zane sighs and asks, "Why are you so pissed? I saved your life, Seph."

I turn and give him the nastiest glare I possibly can. I’m not sure if it comes across as a glare, but I’m going with it. I point at him. "That isn't the fucking point." I growl.

He throws his hands in the air. "Then what's the fucking point?!"

I'm seething as I reply, "You could have told me what was going on! You could have given me a bulletproof vest! I’m the fucking Queen of this Underworld now, am I not?!”

“Yes,” He growls.

“Then you guys should have told me shit was going down! I’m not a fucking idiot! I know you guys have enemies, but if I need to be prepared, you have to fucking tell me that shit. Do you understand?!” I feel like I’m screaming; I probably am.

“Yes, My Queen,” he forces out.

“I don't want you to EVER fucking do that again. You are not my fucking bulletproof shield! Do you understand?"

He grunts and says, "I'm not going to promise that. I'll always protect you, no matter what."

I stomp over till I’m standing in front of him. Rising on my tiptoes, I yell, "You won't be protecting me if you’re fucking dead!"

His eyes blaze with fire as he responds in a low voice. "Then I'll die a fucking happy man knowing you’re alive.”

I slap him across the face. "How fucking dare you."

He grabs my hand as I go to slap him again, and my vision blurs. I scream, "How fucking dare you!"

"I won't fail to protect you again. Not again. Do you hear me?" he whispers, his voice cracking at the end.

I look up at his face, ready to scream at him again when I see tears in his eyes. He cups my cheek lovingly and wipes away my tears. I didn’t even realize I was crying. Resting his forehead against mine, he grits his teeth and says, "I can't fail again. I wouldn’t survive losing you a second time."

Chapter Fifteen

Zane

Thirty minutes ago…

Thankfully, I’m on the side that the door blocks my blind side as I help Jane out of the car. I’m not completely blind out of my left eye, but people take advantage of blind spots. I catch a glint out of the corner of my good eye, and out of instinct, I automatically cover her body with mine. IA shot rings out, and I grunt. FUCKING HELL! Motherfucker, that shit hurts. Yeah, I have a bulletproof vest on, but that shit still hurts. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a lying bitch. I grunt again as another bullet hits me in the back. Those are going to bruise like a bitch.

Jane is shaking from the barrage of gunfire going on around us. I hear Jace shouting orders, but I stay where I am until I hear my name. Jane starts wiggling underneath me, and I growl, “Sit fucking still till we get backup.” Like a good girl, she listens. Bout fucking time. I can see the defiance in her eyes when Jace gives her an order. She doesn’t follow because she has to; she follows because she wants to make Jace happy. For now.

Jace yells my name, and I listen for my orders. When he tells me to move, I immediately pick Jane up and run to the cave entrance. Once inside, I set her down and try to catch my breath. As the others make their way toward us, I step away. Jane looks around at each of us, breathing hard. She races over to Jace after noticing holes in his shirt. She fingers the holes for a second and then rips his shirt off.

I see the moment it clicks for her as she looks around at each of us. We outfitted ourselves with bulletproof vests but didn’t give her one. We haven’t discussed what is going on in our world with her yet. There’s a fire in her eyes when she looks at each of us. Standing before us now isn’t the Jane we know. Right now, she’s Persephone. The Queen of the Underworld.

She murmurs something to Alpha and Beta before turning to us. “My room. NOW,” she commands. I have to suppress a shiver when her voice sounds like that.

Jace starts to argue with her, but the moment her eyes meet his, his body stiffens, and he instantly shuts up. Looks like the almighty Hades won’t go against our Queen either. Not when she fired up like this.

She stands taller as she yells, “You wanted a Queen. Get your fucking asses to my bedroom now!”

Alpha and Beta say their goodbyes, and we do as we’re told, making our way to her bedroom. The moment we get inside, she starts pacing back and forth. I can see the fire inside her building. I know she’s pissed at us. Pissed at me most of all, but I don’t regret what I did for a moment.

I didn’t even realize I was looking at the ground until I hear her commanding voice again. She’s pointing at me when she orders, “Except for you.”

Howe pats me on the shoulder as they leave. The others give me a sympathetic look. They know I’m fucked. I know I’m fucked. Once everyone is gone, I let out a deep sigh and ask, "Why are you so pissed? I saved your life, Seph."

I have to admit, the glare she sends me makes my balls shrivel up. Fuck, I’m glad she doesn’t have any weapons. I’m pretty sure she would unalive me right now. She points a finger at me as she growls. “That’s not the fucking point!”

Unable to control my own emotions at the moment, I throw my hands in the air. "Then what's the fucking point?!”

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