Page 41 of Flirting with Death

CHAPTER 24

Bellamy

My tail slapped the chair I was sitting in. I tried to appear relaxed, but it seemed my emotions were constantly swirling close to the surface. I was understanding why Tristan was constantly wrapping his tail around his leg. The fucking thing always showed everything I felt. Alastor had started pacing as Lex pored over books. I felt useless to them all. It was ironic that the Prince of Demons was no help to figure out a way to rescue the muse.

Brook was in the books with Lex. They said they were looking for anything to do with the moon and magic. The minutes ticked by, and a slight feeling of anger through the link to Sam made me twitchy. I wanted to go to her. All I wanted was her. It was maddening, if I was being honest. Was this how my brother had felt when he fell in love with the witch?

"I need to go out," I said, throwing myself from the chair almost violently.

Three sets of eyes turned in my direction, not including Alastor's mutt, but none of them stopped me as I practically stomped to the elevator. It was torture waiting for the claustrophobic box to deliver me to the ground level and release me into the lobby. The normal startled looks and gasps from the humans followed me as I left. Who cared what they thought of me? I didn't. They would probably make up stories to protect their weak minds, similar to the ones Alastor provided them.

The fresh air filled my lungs, releasing some of the tension that had built up. My gaze traveled around the stars I could see through the city lights, as people crossed the street to avoid me. Probably for the best, I wasn't in the mood. I needed to be alone so that I could face my feelings. Pushing them into the corner of my mind wasn't helping anymore. Not with Alastor's thoughts in my head. Too bad I hadn't found the lamp.

Facing the truth was easier when I didn't have to look at any of them. The prophecy and Lex's sisters had tied our futures together, but Hades had destroyed our pasts. Had he done it to make sure Alastor had his happily ever after? Was it that simple? And Raiden's family died from a hunter. She had to have help to make it to the Underworld. Without a God by her side, she would have died. Not that anyone had told me that information. No, it was just pieces of the puzzle I picked up from him and Samantha in that treasure room.

I kicked a rock, and it bounced down the sidewalk as I shoved my hands into my pockets.

The whole situation gave a new meaning to the phrase 'Everything happens for a reason' or 'God is in the details'. Because fuck if Hades wasn't wrapped up in them, meddling worse than an old woman.

"You called?" Hades popped into existence next to me. He was dressed to impress, like always, probably where Alastor got his sense of style.

I rolled my eyes before bringing them to him. "I didn't, actually."

"Don't be that way, Prince. I know from your train of thought you understand what I did."

"It is a little creepy you are listening to my thoughts when you have so many to choose from." I slanted a bored look at him.

"But you are the wild card. I didn't realize how volatile you would become," he replied.

I snorted and continued walking. He effortlessly kept pace next to me. "You didn't see that you took my only friend from me?" I rounded on him. He was the one I was mad at after all. Was Alastor a coward that didn't come after me back then? Yes, one-hundred percent. But his father was the reason for it.

"Technically, you did that. Perhaps it isn't my son who was weak," Hades suggested with a click of his tongue.

My tail slapped the cement behind me. "I am not weak."

"No? Why do your demons not listen to you? How have you lost control so completely of the horde?"

His words were like arrows to my already shaky walls. I clenched my teeth together as my shoulders tensed.

"You need to take control or all of this is for nothing. I don't care what Nyx's brats have foretold or the challenges that you will face. You will make them all come true if you don't stop sulking. If you need someone to be angry at, choose me, because you need to mend your feelings with my son if you are to fulfill your purpose."

"What if I don't want control?" I crossed my arms, adding another wall around myself from him.

"You want it, I can see it in you, the burning fire for them to respect you and listen to you. But they are demons, Bellamy, they need a firm ruler, not a pretend fuck boy." His tone seared through me, and his words rang with a truth I already knew.

I swallowed hard, refusing to give him the pleasure of a response. He let out a laugh and stepped back.

"You don't need to reply, Prince. I can see inside of you. I know your true thoughts and feelings. You can't hide from a God."

I swiped my tongue along my lower lip and focused on a point just past him. "Then you know I could flip on them all, that demons are never loyal."

He lifted an eyebrow and nodded slowly. "Is that the lie you tell yourself?"

"I don't lie."

A broad smile spread across his face before he said, "And I didn't ensure my wife ate those seeds."

"Why not twelve of them?" I cocked my head to the side. I had always wondered why the all powerful God of the Underworld hadn't just forced all twelve on her.

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