Page 220 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

My face twisted into a wince as I pointed to Elkan standing off to the side. Even Monty and Kol moved out of the way so he couldn’t miss the old demon.

A war of emotions went across Drake’s face. He’d hated this demon for so long until he’d discovered the truth. It had to be hard to process and separate the pain and suffering from the reality… that they were all victims of Hel’s narcissistic plans.

“I’m so sorry, son.”

Hel

The Human Realm

It was still hard to believe I’d escaped Helheim. I was no longer a prisoner of the realm that Odin had forced me to endure.

No part of me felt remorse for what I had done to make it happen, or sadness for what I’d left behind.

Harlow was the perfect choice. I saw her potential even if she didn’t. She could hate me, but I gave her a way to live with her little harem of creatures, a future they wouldn’t have without this new life. She would have withered and died, her ageless men watching on.

It was a favor, really. Something I never got.

I’d always deserved more than that realm had given me... than the gods had given me. I served my sentence, bid my time, ruled with an iron fist for no reward.

I would not be taken advantage of any longer. So, I took matters into my own hands.

I wasn’t naive enough to think Odin would not send someone after me. There was never any doubt I wouldn’t get away with it for long.

But this short burst of freedom was everything I needed. A taste of a true life.

One outside of the eternal darkness of Helheim.

I stretched out on a blanket, soaking in the sun and reveling in the glow of it. The warmth was unlike anything I’d felt in centuries. The simple pleasure was quickly wiping away the bullshit I’d dealt with for the last year.

Helheim held its own beauty, but it had nothing on the ever-changing seasons of Earth.

“You picked a nice hiding place, daughter.”

I frowned over at my father who had appeared beside me. I didn’t comment on his overly loud Hawaiian shirt and board shorts, but I rolled my eyes at his presence.

If he could so easily drop in and find me, any of the gods could.

I’m not ready for that.

“How did you find me?” I asked when he offered nothing else.

“You’re my daughter, I’ll always find you.” He shrugged before turning serious. “What is your endgame here, Hel? I can’t help you if the gods find you first.”

“Let them find me, I don’t care,” I argued.

He snorted, seeing right through my false bravado.

I cared.

The last thing I wanted was to be dragged before the God of Gods, or even worse, thrown in the Scourge. I knew if I returned to Helheim, it would not be in the same capacity I left it. I’d be nothing more than a wraith in the prison.

“Don’t lie to me.” This time Loki’s voice held no amusement. I could tell the chaos I’d caused was taking its toll. I hadn’t considered the heat he’d be taking for me.

Even knowing that now, I still felt no real remorse. I did what I had to do to survive. That life was no longer for me, it was suffocating and dreary. I was drowning in loneliness and I needed a mate, a pack, and a life not centered on death.

“Father. Make me human.” My words were clearly a plea and he looked down at me with wide eyes.

We both knew the consequences of my request.

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