Page 7 of Until Death
“There’s not enough space to take off, let alone fly safely back from here.”
We continue on in silence, Eros’ body growing tenser by the minute. It isn’t long before I realize why.
The rhythmic march of soldiers’ boots thudding against the ground reaches my ears, growing louder and louder as they move toward us.
“Eros?”
Dread fills me as the god’s jaw hardens, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as we turn to find we’ve been surrounded on all sides. His white eyes are wide as he whips his head around, backing us up against a wall as well-armed guards fill in around us.
The sound of their footsteps moving in sync suddenly dies out as a tall, broad-shouldered man holds up a hand to signal them to stop. Maddening silence follows for a split second before the man steps forward, his eyes narrowing on Eros before dropping to me.
“Hand the girl over, Eros.”
“What does he want with her?”
“That is none of your concern. Do not make this any harder on yourself. We have our orders.”
“Deimos, do you honestly think—"
Eros lets out a pained grunt before he can finish his sentence, one of the men standing in the side alley suddenly shoving the butt end of a spear into his side. He stumbles slightly, and another guard takes the opportunity to kick out the back of his legs, forcing Eros to his knees.
I cry out as I fall with him, but somehow, he manages to keep me tucked safely against his chest … until the point of a black sword is wedged beneath his throat.
“This is your last warning,” Deimos says, a cruel grin spreading across his face, “and in all honesty, I would prefer you did not heed it.”
“You can have her over my dead—”
“I’ll go with you,” I say, cutting Eros off before he can finish his threat.
Both men seem taken aback by this as if they’d almost forgotten who they were arguing over.
“You heard the girl,” Deimos says, the corner of his mouth lifting as if in challenge.
“Please, Eros,” I plead softly against his chest so that only he can hear. “Do not let your blood be spilled here this day. Do not leave me without hope in this place.”
Eros only hesitates a second longer before gently setting me down on the ground, the point of the blade unwavering against the bend in his neck. No sooner than I’m out of Eros’ arms, then another guard steps forward to yank me to my feet, the thick leather of his glove rubbing roughly against my skin.
“Bring her to the king’s palace,” Deimos orders, his sword still pointed at Eros as I’m marched away and out of sight of him.
Fear knots my stomach as the last thing I hear from Eros is the echo of a sharp curse.
As we filter out of the narrow alleyways and onto the main road leading up to Hades’ palace, it comes as little relief to see that I’m not the only woman being dragged along.
The only thing I can think of that might have brought this about is the ball. But surely, it couldn’t be my actions that have warranted this kind of response … Hades and I barely spoke before Death and I decided to slip away.
No, something must have happened after I left.
My mind, though exhausted, is racing by the time we reach Hades’ palace. The halls are swarming with guards and women, the angry shouts of the city’s men echoing off the crystalline walls as we’re herded further inside.
The other women look just as panicked as I feel, and I force myself to swallow past the worry tightening my throat as we’re driven into the throne room. Unceremoniously, the guards dragging me toss me to the floor next to a small group of women. They do nothing but watch as I wearily push myself up onto my feet, each looking just as lost and afraid as I feel.
Stepping toward them I try to meet their eyes, but they quickly look away. The room continues to fill with more and more women, each nervously glancing toward the empty throne.
As crowded as it is, the room is unnaturally quiet compared to the shouts still echoing through the halls toward us.
“Why are we here?” I ask.
“Silence, woman,” a guard orders, fixing me with a hard look.
