Page 121 of Thanatos' Craving

“You may think that,” Medusa sang. “But I have something most of you have forgotten even exists in between the gods’ realms.” She gives off a fanged smile that Loki cannot even see. Two sharp fangs descend and her eyes that I once saw as something evil contort into reptilian slits.

She leaned forward, her lips grazing my ear. I shiver in revulsion as her tongue slips over the shell of my ear. “I have a seer.”

Chapter Forty

Thanatos

“Iknew he was up to something, I just didn’t think he actually had the balls to really do anything,” Hades said lazily.

I snapped my head around, the swish of my hair brushing against my cheek as I locked eyes with Hades. He strolled toward me, the faint sound of his footsteps echoing on the pristine marble. His hands casually rested in his pockets, a hint of mischief in his gaze. Ember timidly trailed behind him, her fingers tightly gripping his arm.

“You knew about this?” I snarled, my voice laced with anger, as I forcefully flung my scythe in his direction. With lightning reflexes, he swiftly snatched it from the air, his face inching closer to mine. The pungent scent of fire tingled my nostrils ashis breath brushed against my skin, his low chuckle resonating beneath the fabric of my hood.

“Easy there, Thanatos,” Hades said, his voice dripping with amusement. “No need to get all worked up. I may have known about my son trying to leave the Underworld with Juniper’s help, but it was Ember’s idea to let it play out.”

Ember blushed and tugged at Hades’ arm. “Well, uh... yes. I thought it would be an excellent opportunity for us to shake things up a bit.” She pulled on the sleeve of her dress.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to suppress the flicker of curiosity amidst my irritation. “And what exactly are you wanting to ‘shake up?’ My mate is missing!”

Hades grinned mischievously and gestured toward the portal. “We’re going to pay a visit to the mortal world. It has been too long since I have been involved in something exciting, and I think it's time to set another strip club on fire.”

My brows furrowed in disbelief. I felt deceived and realized that my mate was in the middle of this fucking plan.

I forcefully drove my scythe into the cold, smooth marble steps, the sound of cracking reverberating through the grand palace courtyard. The sheer force of my strike sent tremors up my arm, a mix of frustration and anger fueling my actions. I spoke through gritted teeth, my voice dripping with disappointment and betrayal, “You knew well that I vehemently opposed involving my mate in this, yet you defied my wishes! What if it wasyourmate taken from you?”

Ember flinched, but stepped forward, thrusting her chest out. "If you recall, there was a time when I was taken as well." And I had to stand up on my own. And Juniper needs this too. She’s always felt like the wallflower. She wants to help, and I think she’s holding back her bonding because she wants to prove something. “This will be faster than waiting on Hera, anyway. Don’t you want her to startliving?”

I reached up under my hood, my fingers tangling in my tangled hair. In the process, my hood slipped from my head, landing softly on my shoulders. Ember’s gasp hit my ears, but in that moment, I couldn’t give a damn about my bare face, exposed for all to see. My rage burned like a wildfire. The world felt suffocating, every fabric too tight against my skin, every sound too loud, every scent too overwhelming. It was all just too damn much.

I needed her.

“I’m getting her back. I’m bringing her home. To me. I’ll force bond with her. She cannot do this to me, defy me,leave me!” As bolts of lightning cracked through the darkened sky, the ominous black and crimson clouds rolled in, intensifying the wrath that consumed me. The ground quivered beneath our feet, echoing the tremors of the moment.

Hades took a step back, his amusement fading into concern.

“Thanatos, calm yourself,” he said in a low, steady voice. “I understand your anger but let us not forget that Juniper is her own person. She has her own desires and ambitions.”

Ember stepped forward, placing a hand on my arm. “Juniper is not trying to defy you or leave you,” she explained gently. “And the girls and I know Juniper wants this. She wants an opportunity to prove herself, to find her own path in this realm. To feel useful.”

I looked at Ember, eyes blazing with intensity. “But she is my mate. She belongs to me. I am supposed to protect her.”

Ember sighed softly and moved closer to me. “And you will protect her, Thanatos. But you must also trust her. Trust that she knows what she needs and what she can handle. We cannot keep her locked away in the Underworld forever. Besides, Loki seems to know where to go, and Juniper can tell us who this person is.”

The grip on my scythe tightened, my knuckles turning white. “I just... I fear for her safety, Ember,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. “I cannot bear the thought of losing her.”

Ember’s eyes softened as she reached up to cup my face in her hands. “I understand and she knows that too,” she mumbled. “But sometimes, we have to take risks in order to grow and discover ourselves. Juniper deserves that chance since she hasn’t done that before, even if it means venturing into the mortal realm and showing us all who we are looking for.”

I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. “Fine,” I relented begrudgingly. “But we are all following them, watching over her every step of the way. If anything happens-- “

Hades interrupts, his hand came to his mouth to clear his throat, “I’ll kick my son’s ass myself. Not that he isn’t already in a massive pile of shit of trouble.”

I housed Hades and Ember through my veil of death. We followed and listened to every conversation Loki and my mate held.

Juniper knew this was all going to be a bad idea. I could feel it radiating off of her, yet she trusted the little shit, Loki, and now she was going to pay for it. Yet she felt so inclined, so eager to find out who this deity was to help. She went along with it. Now she was at the mercy of fucking Medusa.

“I can’t believe it!” Ember hissed. “Medusa is behind all this?”

While in the veil of death, no one can hear or see us. Ember’s commentary was both entertaining yet angering at the same time. On more than one occasion, I wanted to lift the veil, grab my mate, pull her to my side, and hold her close to me. However, Hades constantly reminded me to stay put so that we could reveal all the evidence.

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