Page 20 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Hades kept piling food on my dinner plate while everyone talked. I kept mostly quiet, tasting every bit of food that was on my plate. Turkey, rolls, stuffing, potatoes with gravy, every bit of a Thanksgiving meal I had always dreamed of. I ate as much as I could, which wasn’t much but Hades kept insisting on one more bite. I felt like a child, but I didn’t mind it. I’ve never had someone to fuss over me, so I just laughed it off and tried just one more bite, for him.

Hades’ friends felt more at ease talking with him than the first two days I spent with them. He was more relaxed and carefree and even laughed at a few jokes Ares threw at him.

“Jillian, are you all right?” He asked me for the tenth time.

“Yes.” I smiled back up at him. “I do have a question though.”

“Ask away then.” Hades gleamed. Wow, that smile.

“Um, I was wondering if you guys were in the mafia or something?” Ares stared at me for a few seconds until he burst into laughter, pounding the table. I inched lower into my seat at his boisterous noise as he continued his ministrations. With one quick glare from Hades, Ares cleared his throat.

“No, we are not,” Ares said. “But it would be fucking awesome if we were!” The table laughed again as I fiddled with my fork.

“What’s on your mind? I see you deep in thought,” Vulcan asked. He was certainly more in-tune with emotions and less on the talking.

“It’s just, this place, it’s huge. I would think someone from the mafia would have a place like this with all the servants. Some of them look dangerous like they are going to pull out a gun or something… and, and your names!” The servants here were not normal, not one bit. They were all tall, bulky, and wearing clothes I wasn’t familiar with. They didn’t look they fit them properly, some being too small.

“I will explain everything to you soon,” Hades spoke. I’d like to get you to settled in and work on your health before we get into that.”

Dear heavens, they are doing something illegal. My eyes widened.

“Jillian, it’s fine. We are not doing anything wrong,” Hermes said seriously. “You are safe here, more so than anywhere else.”

His word didn’t comfort me like Hades did. I was still in unknown territory. My purpose for being here was yet unknown. Everything has a price continued to ring through my head.

Hades

Jillian was able to stomach a normal sized plate of food, much to my persistent pushing. I could tell I was pushing her too hard when she kept putting smaller and smaller pieces of food in her mouth. Vulcan had to reprimand me in front of her for pushing. Lucky for him, since my mate was there, he didn’t get a fork in his eye.

Jillian had only been up for a couple of hours, but it was apparent she was already tired, rubbing her eyes like a small child. “Jillian, would you like me to take you back to your room?” I reached for her hand that was on the table and gave her a little squeeze.

“I’m not sure why I’m so tired,” she yawned. “I slept all day, and really well too.” My idiot-self gleamed with pride. She slept well because of me, the bond that we share. She felt safe and secure with me and hopefully I would be able to sleep with her more often.

Cerberus licked his jaws several times as he came out from under the table and let out a yawn himself. “What did you eat?” I spoke to him through my mind. Looking from Jillian to Cerberus, I could see the guilty look on Jillian’s face. She couldn’t lie; the small innocent smile that played on her lips was so damn adorable. I wanted to nuzzle into her neck and give her a playful nip to show her who’s boss.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Cerberus turned and gave Jillian a good lick on her hand as she giggled playfully.

“Who’s a good boy?” Jillian cooed.

“I’m a damn good boy,” he announced while I rolled my eyes.

“There is something about her. I don’t know, Master. I feel so comfortable with her,” he purred. Can I possibly be any more jealous her petting his damn head? A small growl came from my lips and Hermes threw a roll at my head.

“The fuck?” I growled out and Hermes played innocent. Jillian looked between the both of us and gave a laugh. Damn that laugh was sexy. It was playful, innocent, and I wanted to hear more of it.

After taking her to her room, she requested that Cerberus stay with her for the night. The puppy eyes she gave me was enough for me to bend over backwards and give her whatever she wanted. I would hunt down her enemies, kill my friends and go to war with the gods if it would make her happy. Damn, and I was so close to kissing those perfect lips earlier except Cerberus had to be a cock block.

The day I kiss her, hell will freeze over. I will plan a festival in her honor for just letting my lips grace hers.

“I guess it’s all right,” I said playfully. Turning to leave, she jumped towards me and gave me a large hug. Her head barely reached the top of my chest as she buried herself deep within it. Not taking any time for granted, I wrapped my hands around her waist and bent down so I could breathe in her scent. Kronos, she smelled like a perfect cinnamon roll. She laughed again and pulled away. My body ached to hold her more, but I couldn’t push her, not yet.

“Thank you, Hades!” And she pranced off with a smirk of a smile on Cerberus’ face.

“Protect her,” I growled at him.

“With my life, Master.”

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