Page 86 of Thanatos' Craving

“Do not push away your hardships like it was nothing.” I stopped in my tracks to face her. The entire group stopped as well, shocked by my abrupt tone. “You suffered much, Your Majesty. You lived there as a child. Starving, working to the bone. Just because you didn’t strip and show your body, doesn’t mean you didn’t suffer any less.”

Hades wrapped his arm around Ember, kissing her head. “Thanatos is right, Ember. What is wrong?”

“I worry for Juniper is all. I’ve seen some of her life through the Soul of Spheres. She was manhandled. I know a lot of women had it harder than me and I just...” Ember’s face turned red, her brow furrowing. “I just want this person caught.”

My thoughts were the same. I could feel the fire igniting within my belly. Getting angry about it wouldn’t do any good, but the emotions were still there.

“We have one demon in our dungeon and an angel to find,” Hades spoke. “Hermes has a lead, and we hope to have her here by morning.” He places another kiss on her forehead. “Then Lucifer, Thanatos, and I will do the rest to get them to talk.”

Ember scratched up her nose. “Maybe they will talk on their own. Beating them up doesn’t always have to be the answer.”

Lucifer stalked up behind us and chuckled darkly, cracking his knuckles as he walks past. “It’s always the more fun way to do it.”

Hypnos made a gagging sound. He’s never been the physical type. He’d rather get into their head and mess with someone that way.

Which could be another form of torture.

“Ember, Juniper is doing wonderfully and don’t worry about us completing the bond.” I paused and wet my lips. “She has shown much interest in... physical activities.” I cleared my throat. “Her mentality might be another hurdle.”

Lucifer snorted, and I glared at him beneath my hood.

“That is a relief,” Ember replied. “I’m just worried for the both of you. You both deserve a happy beginning.”

As we ventured further into the grand palace, the aroma of a bustling kitchen entered the hall. To my surprise, I saw one of my trusted reapers emerging from the kitchen, sandwich in hand. This one had been assigned as Lilith's nanny. The sound of his content munching echoed through the corridor, punctuating our journey through the opulent halls.

He paused when he sees us and put the large sandwich it behind his back. “My Lord.” He bows and stands upright.

Ember cocks her head in confusion. “Where is Lilith? It’s only one in the morning.”

The reaper relaxed and brought his sandwich back around. “In Athena’s manual forYoung Gods and Goddesses Livingit says girls her age should get at least nine hours of sleep. If she is to be at tutoring by eight in the morning, then she should go to bed earlier.”

Ember blinked. “I–none of us can get her to bed earlier.” She whipped her head to Hades and back to my reaper.

“I let her throw her tantrum and then listened to her reasoning and provided one of my own. She was receptive,” my reaper replied.

Ember slouched her shoulders, tears forming in her eyes. “C-can I give you a hug?”

Hades’ grip tightened on Ember’s shoulder and pulled her back. “You will do no such thing,” he growled at her.

“He got her to sleep,” she cried. “Maybe she won’t be so cranky anymore.”

“I don’t know about that,” the reaper mumbled under his breath.

Hypnos snickered in the corner. “If you want, I’d be happy to visit her at night and put her to bed if that helps,” he offered.

I glared at Hypnos. I didn’t want him to start; I knew it wasn't what he truly wanted to do. He wanted to make friends, but this wasn’t how he should go about it.

Ember whiffed her head, though. “No, she needs to know how to do it on her own. It’s a hard habit to break, one I’ve never been able to do. Reaper, teach me, so when you have a day off, I can do it on my own.”

Hypnos smiled as Ember and the reaper talked. I could feel Hypnos’ was happy that Ember went on talking to the reaper about sleeping habits. I knew it, I could feel it through our brotherly bond.

While they all gathered in the kitchen talking about Lilith, I had another agenda, and that was finding Juniper.

The grinding of my teeth was a great testament to that.

As my shadows enveloped me, Lucifer joined my side. He appeared uninterested in the bickering of his parents, as they doted on his sister’s recent accomplishments. Together, we prowled through the palace, following the alluring scents of our mates. Upon entering the living room, we saw the coffee table engulfed in flames, its half-burned remnants crackling and popping in the fire’s heat.

“The fuck happened here?” Lucifer barked. He picked up an empty box with the name Jenga on the side and we stepped over the blocks on the floor.

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