Page 51 of Until Death
Before either of us can move, the door bursts open to reveal Cerberus’ towering frame, his eyes moving from Eros to me.
“There,” Cerberus says, “I told you that Eros would stop at nothing to try to steal her away from you.”
Ducking to enter the room, he steps to one side to reveal a scowling Hades, his hair alight with blue fire, standing behind him.
“Seize him.”
“No,” I cry as several guards push their way into the room at Hades’ order.
The guards grab him, and he struggles against them, but it is no use as they pull him off the bed and away from me. I watch as his gaze narrows on Cerberus, who just smirks back at him, and my stomach twists with disgust.
I should have known better than to think trusting him was ever an option.
“Please,” I beg Hades, as I step toward him. “Please, have mercy on Eros, he was only here to make sure I was okay. He wasn’t trying to steal me away.”
Hades ignores my pleas as he watches the guards drag the pale god out into the hallway. Once Eros is removed from the room, Hades shuts the door and turns to face Cerberus again.
They ignore me, Hades nodding once to Cerberus as tears slip from my eyes.
“You were right to come to me with this, Cerberus,” Hades says. “I knew you were loyal, but you have outdone yourself this time. Now, tell me. What reward would you like for this? Simply name it and it shall be yours.”
Cerberus pauses to mull this over for a second before his gaze shifts to me.
“Thank you, my king. If it would please you, I would like nothing more than to do my duty by you. Allow me to take over as the mortal’s watch, to make sure no one else attempts to come for her.”
“Hmm,” Hades says, eyeing Cerberus for a moment. “Very well. From this moment on, I entrust her care to you.You will be her keeper, ensuring she remains safely here until I state otherwise.”
“Of course, my king,” Cerberus says with a bow of his head.
Hades starts toward the door only to stop and turn back to look at me. I meet his gaze, not caring to hide my anger or frustration as I stare up at him.
“And you,” he says, giving me a once over, his expression strange. “You will be joining me for dinner tonight ... alone. See to it that you make yourself presentable.”
Before I can reply, not that I think it would do any good, Hades has thrown open the door and swept from the room. I watch him disappear before slowly turning to glare at Cerberus as we’re left standing alone in my room.
I scowl at him, even as a mischievous smile pulls at the corner of his lips. The silence stretches between us, and yet he only seems to grow more amused by the moment.
Finally, I can’t take it any longer.
“What have you done?” I hiss. “What will Hades do to Eros? I suppose I shouldn’t be so shocked to find that you can be as cruel and cold as your master, but I had hoped …”
I trail off as confusion contorts his face, and he cocks his head to one side.
“What?” I demand as he remains quiet.
“He will be brought to the dungeons to await punishment,” he explains. “As is fitting for anyone who tries to steal from the king.”
“Why?”
Cerberus frowns at this, though mischief seems to burn within his eyes at my annoyance.
“I have simply done my duty,” he answers. “It was Eros who was caught crossing a line. Who knows what he would have done with you, had I not led Hades here. Now I can make sure that you are looked after and properly guarded as my master decides how best to handle you.”
“How did you even know Eros would be here?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I take a step toward him. “He flew in as a small bird, so how exactly did you know that you would find him here?”
Of course, I already know how, but I want him to admit that he betrayed Eros. That he is not to be trusted.
The mischief dies in his eyes as he stares at me; his silence is all I need to know that he would rather not have this discussion.
