Page 87 of Sinful Mates

Hades rumbled with objection at that.

Zethan dreamily smiled at me, and I loved the peaceful expression of his brutal, haunted features.

Autumn’s gaze trailed mine. “Zethan graciously allowed us to visit my mother.”

“Mother?” Oh, she was dead. Took me a moment to process it with Autumn so close and her power vibrating through me.

I expected a solemn smile from Autumn, but she took it in stride, which I guess was all in a day’s work for a Greek Underworld avatar… goddess…. demi goddess? I wasn’t sure what to call her.

“On that note, let me get her.” Zethan spoke ancient words, and they translated in my head, some sort of summons.

Colton returned, wearing the head of a black wolf as he led a soul into the hall. Tension ratcheted up another bar between me, my mate, and our guests. The only one who remained unaware was little Serena, babbling something at him with pointed fingers. Hopefully, it translated as malevolent asshole.

Hades’ bident creaked under even more pressure as he crossed to his wife and daughter, shielding them with his body. “What ishedoing here?”

History there I needed to catch up on over dinner with Zethan.

My mate waved a hand to placate his guest. “It’s his job. Colton can’t harm anyone here. It is forbidden unless the soul has been judged for punishment.” He shrugged. “Fair game outside the Underworld, though, if you want a crack at killing him. This time I won’t stop you.”

His threat didn’t go unnoticed by Colton, whose frozen mask dissolved into a calculating smile as if he welcomed the war bearing down on him.

Autumn’s body was taut and on edge. She eased the mood with a tease that made her husband growl. “Not kidnapping anyone today, Colton?”

Impassive, sharp eyes landed on me and I felt the full force of them. Dangerous and fatal, promising us a spectacular ending to our war. “I keep up my quota to satisfy the dark urges.” Dry humor, but still unnerving.

Zethan put his hand protectively on my lower back.

“Oh?” Autumn laughed and I heard the voice of her goddess behind it. Darkness and light. “I hope they deserve their imprisonment.”

“Everyone in my world deserves their fate.” Colton’s steeled glare hit Zethan. “Glad to see you’ve let old grudges die, Autumn. I’m not so forgiving.”

Zethan’s hand snapped out to clutch Hades’ bident as if he wanted to toss it across the room and spear Colton. “No, you hold onto them for an eternity. Invested years in destroying your enemies.”

Colton sneered. “Unfortunate that Maat didn’t fall in your favor.”

“It won’t fall in yours!” Zethan’s voice thundered through the room like his god declared the judgment.

Fuck. Definitely a history there, bitter and distorted.

“I have better things to do. Like tend to the dead.” With a slight bow, Colton withdrew from the room, easing the tension in Hades’ and Zethan’s muscles. Hell, mine too.

“Excuse me.” With a smile, Autumn retreated to spend time with her mother and daughter while Hades lurked like her soldier, scanning for the return of Colton or any trick he dared play.

Throughout the meeting, Zethan explained the history with Colton. A drug deal gone horribly wrong, thanks to a dead club member who defied Slade’s orders and brought trouble interfering in their transport routes and delaying delivery, costing Colton millions. Money Castor paid back, stealing from corrupt men, filtering it through accounts to settle their debt. But Colton clearly didn’t accept the gesture and held onto his animosity.

At the end of the visit, Hades collected his daughter from her grandmother, while she swiped away tears that turned to mist.

Autumn embraced her mother. “See you next time, Mama.”

This time, Zethan swept the soul away to avoid bringing Colton back into the room and ratcheting up the tension again.

My mate and I descended from our thrones to see our guests out.

“It was lovely to meet you, Aaliyah.” Autumn embraced me with the same affection as she held her mother. “I’ll send an invite for dinner soon.”

“Looking forward to it.” Lie. Big lie.

Dread coiled in me at one of my mates meeting his end. The law would have to be set before attending. No smart-ass remarks from Castor to offend grumpy Hades. No fireballs from Slade. Zethan and Alaric were the only ones I trusted to make it out alive.

---