Page 32 of Stalking His Assassin

"Worse than you?"

"So much worse."

"Then we better hurry. Wouldn't want her killing me prematurely."

Grace tugs me down until my lips hover over hers. "Is the big bad Hades scared of one little woman?"

"Absolutely."

"Smart man," she says, kissing me.

epilogue

CHRISTOS—SEVEN MONTHS LATER

I sluggishly wake up;my head feels like it's full of rocks. My mouth is dry and feels like I haven't had a drink in days when I know that's not the case. I finished the glass of water I got Grace last night for her sore throat after I made her scream from coming so hard. I reach out to her side of the bed and find the sheets empty and cold.

The room spins a little as I sit up, and I'm brought back to another time I woke up feeling like this… the day she knocked me out with the sedative I intended to use on her. I blink my blurry eyes and am only mildly surprised to see that I'm not in the hotel room I fell asleep in.

"Grace," I call out, even though I'm sure she's not here with me.

I fight the urge to laugh at her antics when she doesn't respond. We're on our honeymoon, pretending to be an average couple doing all the typical touristy things on a European tour. I should've known that she had ulterior motives when she added Paris to our itinerary. She's repeatedly mentioned how much she dislikes the city, but when planning our trip, Grace insisted that she wanted to have the "full European tourist experience."

It only takes me a moment to confirm that I'm in the same hotel and the very room where she left me almost five years ago.

"What game are you playing, little wolf?" I ask the quiet room.

A quick look around proves the room is as empty as I thought. None of our stuff is here, so it's obvious the plan isn't to stay here. In fact, the only other thing here is a note on the nightstand and my shoes by the door. I unfold the note, and a pink hair tie falls to the floor. I pick it up and smell the sweet scent of apples on it. Grace left me the hair tie straight from her hair like she has a dozen times before. I slip it onto my wrist beside the first one I claimed for myself all those years ago.

Hades,

Come play with me...

Yours Always,

Eris

My cock hardens in my pants at my clever little wolf for arranging this game. She's reminding me of when our game of cat and mouse began in earnest. We've talked at length about the four years where I chased, and she proved over and over that she wouldn't be caught unless she wanted to be. It's a massive part of our love story, and I wouldn't change it.

If my little wolf wants to run, I'll happily chase.

Ready or not… here I come.

GRACE

I watchedChristos leave the hotel where I left him two hours ago. I expected to see some anger or frustration, but instead, his eyes glinted with excitement. He scanned the area, pausing briefly on my hiding spot before strolling down the street with seemingly not a care in the world. I was tempted to follow him, but I had other things to do…

It wasn't surprising when he showed up in the same alleyway where he tried—and failed—to kidnap me four years ago. I knew that would be his first stop since it's the most obvious choice. I left him a cryptic message with a hint on where to find me. It didn't take him long to figure out the next stop in our game of chase. Unfortunately for him, I'm long gone by the time he arrives. I watch him on surveillance cameras as he finds his next clue.

There are four more clues for him to find in our little game. Of course, he'll find me at none of those locations. The game would be over too quickly if I were that easy to find. Christos left the second to last clue a little over an hour ago but has yet to arrive at the final clue. The last one is extra tricky, but I have no doubt he will be able to figure out that I'm waiting for him in Père Lachaise Cemetery. It's one of the few places in this city that I actually enjoy. Especially at night when all the tourists are gone and only the ghosts of the past remain.

I'm sitting with my back to the tomb of Hèloise and Abèlard. It's my favorite spot in the entire cemetery. Hèloise and Abèlard were the first to be memorialized in the cemetery and are considered Paris's star-crossed lovers. I've always been drawn to their tragic story of love and loss. There's something terribly romantic about continuing to love someone after being forced apart. They remained apart for the remainder of their lives, only communicating via their famous love letters. After Hèloise's death, her remains were reunited with Abèlard's so they could spend eternity together.

I lean my head back and close my eyes, waiting for the notification that Christos has arrived at the location of the last clue. With my eyes closed, I can focus on my other senses. The smell of earth mixed with the perfume of flowers, the feel of the cool breeze on my skin, the quiet rustle of leaves… It's probably the most peaceful place I've ever been to.

I'm so in tune with the world around me that I hear him long before he's close enough to see me. I check the surveillance camera I have set up on the last clue, and it's been undisturbed, meaning my sly husband has found me without it.

"I know you're here, little wolf."

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