Chapter 48
Quanah
“There you are!” Hades said with a smile after waking me with a blow. “Did you think you’d sleep through the whole night? No, no. See, gods don’t need to sleep, so why would I waste time watching you doze?”
“You don’t have to. Just kill me and get it over with.” I was exhausted. I didn’t know if weeks or months had passed, but it certainly wasn’t just a couple of days in this hell.
“And risk breaking my daughter’s heart? Do you know what people are capable of after a disappointment? Imagine a half-goddess witch. That’s like signing my own death warrant.” The mention of Bridget set off an alarm in my head. I had seen her. “As long as she’s hopeful about finding you and keeping everyone else busy with searches, I’ll be happy.”
“Searches? Others? What are you talking about?” I wanted to ask how many he meant. Sending our best hunters away and leaving Bri alone was a mistake, one I hoped Peta hadn’t made.
I thrashed against his silence, no longer caring about the chains burning my body. My concern was for her and our son.
“Did you really think no one would come after you? It’s a miracle Bridget isn’t in one of those groups. Her mortality is a weakness for her.” My blood boiled instantly. “She must be with Nikolai. He’s probably taking advantage of the empty house. But I met your brother and some of your little friends. I sent a horde of underworld fairies and vampires. It was a beautiful sight, a shame you werewolves heal so fast.”
I was going to kill Peta for leaving her unprotected like that. What was he thinking? They knew we weren’t safe anywhere, and leaving her alone only made things worse. I never should’ve come here. I should’ve listened to her. We might be fighting by now, but I’d rather be near her to ensure her safety.
It all made sense now. The dream was a message—she was really coming with the others, and they were close. If I wanted to protect her, now was the time to gather my strength and resist.
“This coming from the man who’s afraid of the daughter he never even met. I think that’s a compliment. Sending hordes to attack search parties? You’re really scared of her, that’s why we’re still here.” I provoked him, hoping for a response, but he just turned with curiosity. “If you knew this before Bri was even born, why get involved with a mortal in the first place?”
“I should cut out your tongue, you know? It’d be nice to see you scream and cry in agony, but then my little girl would go crazy, lose her mind, and that’s not what we want, is it?”
“And what do you want, anyway? You haven’t asked for any trade, you haven’t killed me, you’re keeping our location well hidden. I don’t see why we’re still here.”
He laughed, the sound booming and shaking the walls around us. Hades was stalling by keeping me here—it was the only explanation. There was nothing in my past he could use, and he knew that after all these days. He also didn’t let anyone know where we were, so what did he want by keeping me captive?
I was about to speak again when Louis appeared and gave him a meaningful look. They were close—it had to be that! I took a deep breath, watching every move. I needed to stay alert. Hades’ expression changed as he approached Louis, as if just being near the vampire gave him answers without even asking questions.
But he couldn’t hide the scent of fear. God or not, I could smell it seeping from his pores.
“Looks like the ‘memory lane trip’ will have to wait for another time. I have better things to do now.”
He walked away from the table, smiling and ravenous, until he was out of sight. All I could think was that none of them could withstand a blow from Hades. Bri was the only one with enough power to confront and destroy him, and even then, I feared for her.
It wasn’t time yet. It was too soon for her to use her powers with the full force needed to end him. There was still the issue of her being drained every time she demanded more from her power.
Louis approached, catching me off guard. He hadn’t come near or even looked at me since I arrived, and now he was right beside me.
“You have to get out of here, fast!” His hands worked quickly on the chains, unwrapping my body.
“What are you doing? You think I’ll fall for this—get out of here just to be cornered by that bastard further ahead?”
“It’s not a trick, Parker! You have to go. Hades is busy up there. They’re here, your beloved came along, and he’ll go after her first.” He released the last chain, and my body fell to the floor. “This is your chance—you can still help her!”
My body was wounded on multiple levels. The burns and cuts from the chains would take time to heal, but my worst injury was internal. Hades had messed with my head, toying with my childhood traumas.
But Louis was right. This was my only chance to make things right. Bridget shouldn’t be here—it wasn’t the right time. I knew if it weren’t for my stupidity in trying to prove Koschei wrong, she wouldn’t be here risking herself.
“Why did you do it? Why did you betray me so easily?” I let out the question I’d held back all this time.