Page 11 of For the Love of the Gods

Almost instinctively, I snapped into action.

“Hi, Dominic,” I said sweetly, drawing a smile to my mouth.

Dominic raked his eyes down my body, now that he had a second away from our bickering, and the dress that covered it. It definitely looked white in this lighting and the image sent his jaw clenching and an eyebrow raising. “Hi, sweetheart.”

I tried not to flinch at the nickname. He thought it was funny, calling me sweetheart when there wasnothing sweet about my heart. His words not mine.

Max and Marcus said hello quickly, and I tried to keep the conversation cordial. Since Adrian said so, only because of that. “Wonderful day to get married, isn’t it?”

“Truly.” Something weird was happening to Dominic’s face. He was looking at me like I was on fire and he was trying to restrain himself from dousing me in water.

I ignored it.

I turned to Adrian. He looked like a king, there was no other way to describe it. With his tight shoulders,I dare yousmile, and knowing gaze, he radiated pure and unwavering authority. “Adrian. Thank you for joining us.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” His response came out so low and forced the words were barely intelligible. Typical. Dominic was more vocal with his distaste for me, but Adrian felt the same. I was honestly still convinced the marriage was a ruse to get me alone with them so they could kill me.

I turned back from Adrian to find Dominic’s eyes still on me. His jaw was pulsing with each consecutive clench and I had half a mind to tell him to stop before he cracked a tooth. He looked furious. His broad shoulders were pinched back, puffing out his chest, and his hands were clasped behind his back.

It kind of looked like he was holding his hands together to prevent them from going rogue and finding their way around my neck.

The image sent a grin curving through my lips.

Dominic noticed my change of expression, because of course he did. “Something funny?”

“Yes. You.” I just couldn’t resist, Adrian’s warning be damned.

Dominic pushed his tongue into his cheek, considering. “You find me funny?”

“Hilarious,” I said, narrowing my eyes a bit and taking a step towards him.

Dominic took a matching step forward. “Flattery won’t save you.”

Thatwas definitely a threat. I could feel Max and Marcus tensing behind me. This was normal for us, they shouldn't be surprised.

The priest’s voice cut off my burgeoning response.

“We are ready when you are,” he said, gaze directed at Dominic. He quickly looked behind him to gain approval from Adrian.

He then turned his attention to me, something in Dominic’s antsy demeanor raising a red flag.

“Areyouready?” he asked.

“She’s ready,” Dominic cut in brutally.

“Apologies, Lord Pluto,” the priest responded, folding his withered hands together in front of him. “I’ll need to hear the lady’s consent before we can continue.”

“Lady Hades,” Dominic said, looking at me with an expression that dared me to test the Fate we had both been dealt. “Are you ready?”

“I showed up, didn’t I?”

Dominic nodded and turned back to the priest so fast it created a small whirl of wind around him. “Great, let’s get on with it.”

The priest’s gray eyebrow pinched together even tighter. “I need an actual yes.”

Dominic said something that sounded an awful lot likefor the love of Jupiterunder his breath before his flaming eyes caught mine again.

What was I going to do? Say no? There was no way to escape Fate. If it wasn’t now, they would find a way to force us together in a year, two, maybe five. What mattered was that itwouldhappen. I should just be glad we were both going into this knowing we hated each other instead of under the Fates-imposed delusion that we were in love.

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