Page 91 of Hell's Secret Omega

Deep down in the part of him that’s still cognizant, his soul seeks his mate through the bond. The emotions he senses are hard to read. Cyrus is far away—or the bond is simply too weak. Soon it will snap, freeing Cyrus forever. Eventually Cyrus will be glad of the freedom.

The King rises again and checks the water. This time when he straightens, he shows his blackened teeth in a darkly triumphant smile. The corruption eats away at his mind and body the more of the Hellspring he drinks—he must be in agony. But none of that shows. He strides back down the pier. Hollows leave the aether, drawn to him. Mezor watches dispassionately as they swarm around his prone body and lift it into the air, carrying him over the rippled shore.

The King gestures sharply before they reach the water. His expression changes from triumphant to suspicious. “Put him down. Someone is coming.”

He stills, listening. Soon Mezor hears it: a thunder that beats rhythmically, like a hundred demons marching together. The surface of the Hellspring flickers. Distantly, failing senses tell him the stone is trembling under his back.

The hollows eddy around their master, confused. A great shadow fills the cave’s entrance, blurred by the veil of the aether.

The shadow resolves. The two halves of his vision are split. Against his will, Mezor is yanked back to his body. Indifference abandons him as the pain swells to encompass his whole focus—everything hurts, down to his bones. He chokes on a shout, the noise dying in his throat. Each breath sends a knife through his ribs. He groans, trying to rise, and collapses. The hollows scatter from his side, disturbed.

The King doesn’t notice, his attention fixed on the intruder. Tall as a tree, with horns like branches and eyes as bright as the dawn, the figure is Mezor’s brother.

A shepherd god. But one who should be asleep.

“Who are you?” the King demands furiously. “How dare you intrude?”

Kalad, Mezor replies in his own head.How is it possible?

“I am Kalad,”The intruder echoes him.“God of the meadow, shepherd of souls. Who are you?”

“I am the King of Hell.” Uncertainty weaves through his arrogance.

“Ah. It is good to meet you, King of Hell.”

Kalad’s familiar dryness makes Mezor’s heart ache. But above the rumble of Kalad’s voice, the bond rings like a bell, drawing his attention.

It can’t be.

But the truth is inescapable. Cyrus stands at his brother’s side, bow in hand like a warrior. His dark hair whips off his cheeks, his brow fierce with determination. When his dark eyes land on Mezor, he gives a cry.

“Mezor!”

Heedless of the King’s presence, Cyrus rushes across the cave. He drops to his knees at Mezor’s side. It’s undeniably him—his scent, his warm touch, and worst of all, the sweet storm of his emotions through the bond. Despair winds thorny branches around his heart.

“I tried to go,” Cyrus whispers fiercely. “I tried. But I couldn’t.”

Mezor shuts his eyes in anguish. It doesn’t help. Cyrus is everywhere—in his mind, his heart, his soul. Every part of him cries out to protect his mate. But his body is stone, his strength sapped by the King. The only way to keep Cyrus safe is to send him away.

“Pardon me, King of Hell,”Kalad says, and his steps draw near.

“Stay away from him!”

But it’s like telling a river to stop. Kalad kneels, his familiar presence bringing a warmth back to Mezor’s soul he no longer thought was possible.

“My brother.”A rough hand brushes his brow.“You are very weak. Almost dead.”

“Can you help him?” Cyrus whispers, gripping Mezor’s unmoving hand.

He’s beyond help. With monstrous effort Mezor fights the weakness of his body to grab Cyrus’s wrist.

“You must…go,” he croaks through the glass shards in his throat. “Both of you.”

Cyrus’s eyes flash with anger. “I don’t care what happens, I won’t leave your side again! Nothing you say can stop me.”

Mezor turns his gaze to Kalad pleadingly. “Please…take him away.”

Cyrus sucks in a breath that’s nearly a sob, his hurt battering Mezor through the bond. But he’d suffer a thousand times over to keep Cyrus safe.

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