Page 41 of The Don's Eternal Vows

"I'm listening," I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Tell me what I need to do."

Hades leans forward, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint that sends a chill down my spine. The throne creaks beneath him, the sound echoing in the hollow chamber.

"My proposition is simple," he purrs, my name rolling off his tongue like poison. "I'll return your precious Genoveva to you, flesh and blood, breathing and whole."

My heart leaps, but I force my face to remain impassive. There's always a catch with Hades. Always.

"In exchange," he continues, his voice dropping to a whisper that somehow fills the entire room, "I want a piece of your soul."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I struggle to keep my breath steady, my mind reeling. A piece of my soul? What would that even mean?

"How much?" I ask, my voice rough.

Hades grins, revealing teeth too sharp to be human. "Enough to feel, mortal. Enough to make you question every decision,every emotion. Enough to taint that unwavering loyalty you're so proud of."

The air grows thick and oppressive. I can almost feel the weight of my choices pressing down on me. Genoveva's face flashes in my mind – her hazel eyes, the curve of her hips, the way she moved with such quiet confidence. But then I see her as I last saw her, pale and still, slipping away from me.

"And if I refuse?" The words taste like ash in my mouth.

"Then she remains here, and you return to your world alone," Hades says with a shrug. "The choice is yours, Raven. Your love, or your wholeness."

I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. The pain helps me think. A life without Genoveva isn't a life at all. But to give up a piece of myself, to potentially become something she wouldn't even recognize...

Hades laughs, the sound like breaking glass. "Time is a luxury you don't have, mortal. Decide now or leave empty-handed."

My mind races, weighing the impossible. The thought of walking away, of leaving Genoveva here, makes me physically ill. But the price... God, the price is steep.

"I accept," I say, my voice cutting through the oppressive silence. The words come out steadily, resolute despite the storm raging inside me. "Take what you need, but give me back, Genoveva."

A slow, satisfied smile spreads across Hades' face, his eyes glinting with dark triumph. "Ah, the desperation of love. It never fails to amuse."

He rises from his throne, each movement fluid and purposeful. The air around us seems to crackle with unseen energy, and I feel a chill run down my spine. This is it – the point of no return.

Chapter 20

Gianni

My heart thunders as I watch her fragment form appear in front of Hades.

Suddenly, she appears out of thin air, wholly there, Hades’s call as cold and inescapable as death itself. “Nooo,” Genoveva screams as she slams into solid ground, dizzy and disoriented.

"Hades," she spits, struggling to her feet, hating the power he holds over her. Her legs shake, but she forces herself to stand tall. "How dare you?"

Hades towers over her. "Mind your tone, little soul," he warns, eyes glinting dangerously.

She laughs, the sound brittle and sharp to my ears. "Or what? You'll kill me again?"

He laughs. “I could send you to hell.”

"Go on with it then," she demands, done with his games. “This entire place is hell.”

I step forward, wanting to stop her from making a mistake. Can’t she see I’m right here, begging to take her back? Doesn’t she realize that here, in this realm of eternal night, we are powerless? Simple playthings for a capricious god.

Hades smirks. "You're exactly where I want you, Genoveva. Get comfortable. You might be here a while." And then, he looks behind her, towards me.

Genoveva’s eyes dart back to see what holds his attention. Suddenly, my gaze locks onto hers, and my heart skips a painful beat when she barely registers my presence, as though I’m nothing but a mirage.

She walks towards me and circles me. It takes everything in me to battle against the magnetic pull of her presence. I stand before Genoveva, drinking in her altered presence. Her once-vibrant hazel eyes now shimmer like stars trapped in amber.

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