by Bella Klaus
“What’s wrong, Kora?” she asked.
“He’s never going to let you near such a precious weapon,” I said.
Mother threw her head back and laughed. “Poor innocent Kora, you know nothing about men.”
“What do you mean?”
She reached into the neckline of her jacket and pulled out a white dagger. “I already took it.”
Chapter Fourteen
I stared at the dagger in Mother’s hand, an object that looked like it was made of solid light that thrummed with an unearthly power. My subconscious immediately compared it to a lightsaber, but those were long and cylindrical, whereas the Soul Stealer looked sharp enough to cut through water and separate it into hydrogen and oxygen.
The chatter and clink of cutlery on plates muffled with the roar of blood between my ears. Right now, everything faded into calculated insignificance compared to what could possibly be our salvation.
With this dagger, I could kill Samael. With this dagger, I could remove the threat he posed to Hell. With this dagger, I could possibly save the entire world from his tyranny. I swallowed hard, trying not to salivate, even though my palms became slick with sweat.
Every instinct in my body screamed at me to snatch it from Mother’s fingers and teleport back to the Fifth. I reached out for it, my fingers trembling for a touch.
Mother slapped my hand. “No touching,” she snapped. “Knives are dangerous.”
I flinched. “What am I? Ten?”
Mother slipped the dagger back into the neckline of her shirt, and she gazed at me, her eyes softening. “Sometimes, it’s hard to remember you’re no longer a little girl.”
“How do you know it’s going to work?” I asked.
“I’ve tested it out on a few high-level demons who tried to take advantage. It’s the most powerful weapon I’ve seen.”
With so much excitement fluttering through my chest, it was nearly impossible to pretend I still had no memories from before I awoke with my new body. I licked my lips, trying not to sound too eager, and asked, “When do you plan on using it on Dr. Samael?”
Mother thrummed her perfectly manicured nails on the counter. “That’s the problem. There’s a restriction on my activities, which means I cannot strike him myself.”
My brows pulled together in a frown, and I took a sip of mead to moisten my throat. It sounded like she was referring to the wrath of Heaven. Since Samael had handed Mother leadership of the Third so he could take Varaha’s throne in the Second, Mother was now a monarch of another Faction and unable to attack Samael.
I clamped my lips together. Any mention of the Handbook of Hell might alert Mother that I had my memories… and there was no telling how the overpowered psychopath might react.
“What do you mean?” I asked her.
She waved away my question with a dismissive hand. “It’s too complicated to explain.”
The upcoming meeting Azriel was about to call would be the perfect opportunity for her to strike, but Mother was more likely to turn that Dagger on Hades.
“Will you hire an assassin?” I asked.
Her lips formed a tight line. “Let’s not speak of such unpleasantness. I’ve been worried sick about your whereabouts since the doctor allowed you to leave the house.”
I glowered into her eyes, ignoring the unspoken question. She wanted to know what I’d been doing since I’d escaped that room.
“Two cat lunches, please,” said a voice from behind us.
Queen Mera placed a pair of transparent cat baskets on the counter, containing Dami and Macavity. My heart skipped. I’d meant to collect them yesterday, but Samael had forced me to visit Lucifer in New York.
Dami’s green eyes locked with mine, and they flashed with recognition. She pressed her paws against the transparent container and meowed.
I parted my lips to say something, but clamped my lips shut. If I had no memories from before, I wouldn’t recognize anyone, including my best friend.
Queen Mera opened up the container, scooped Dami out, and cradled her to her chest. “Are you all right?”
The toyger's gaze skipped over my shoulder to Mother, and she hissed.
“What’s wrong?” Mera stroked the cat’s back.
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong,” Mother snarled, her large hand slamming on the counter. “Cats at the dinner table is unsanitary. Remove them before I remove you.”
“Mother,” I snapped, “you’re embarrassing everyone.”
“The only person who should be ashamed is this ill-mannered young woman who brought vermin into a restaurant.”
Rage boiled in my belly, and I curled my hands into fists. If we succeeded in killing Samael, I’d do my best to make sure Mother would be next. She probably recognized Dami from having tortured her.
“I know you,” Queen Mera said.
“What?” Mother reared back.
“You were in the hotel section of a demon establishment called Koffeik.” Mera cuddled Dami to her chest. “Yes, I remember you clearly. You stepped out of a room, pulling a large suitcase.”
Mother’s cheeks turned pink. “You’re mistaken.”
Queen Mera shook her head. “There aren’t many six-foot-tall blondes like you in the Supernatural World,” she said, her voice becoming more insistent. “And when I walked close to you, you mentioned Hades.”
I choked on thin air, my hand flying to my chest, and turned to Mother. “You met Hades in a hotel?”
Her features fell slack. “Of course not.” She pointed a finger at Mera. “I’ve never seen that urchin before in my life. Nor have I laid eyes upon her cats.”
“Then what were you doing in a hotel that rents rooms by the hour?” Mera said. “For someone who bleats so loudly about hygiene, you don’t mind getting down and dirty in a seedy hotel.”
“What were you doing there?” Mother hissed.
“Rescuing my fiancé as part of a secret mission to save the Supernatural World,” Queen Mera snapped.
Mother’s nostrils flared, and she rose from her seat. Macavity scratched at his container, yowling to be let out. Queen Mera released its catch, and the Bengal cat leaped to the floor, transforming into a leopard the size of a small horse.
Lightning crackled from his fur as he roared at Mother. I scrambled off my seat and readied myself to protect the cats.
Queen Mera set Dami on the counter and raised flaming fists. “I don’t know what’s happening, but these two cats are telling me you’re dangerous.”
Mother stepped back and bared her teeth in a hiss. “Keep your filthy animals away.”
A pair of enforcers who had been dining at the long tables walked over, each holding batons. “Your Majesties,” said the taller one. “If you wish to brawl, please move it elsewhere.”
Mother tossed her head. “Come, Kora, let’s leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said.
Her lip curled. “How dare you.”
“You told me Hades was our enemy, but now you’re meeting him in a seedy hotel?” I snapped. “Tell me the truth of what really happened between you.”
She turned to Queen Mera, her blue eyes burning with hatred. “I don’t know who you are or why you’re slandering me—”
Macavity pounced.
Mother screamed and teleported out.
Relief flooded my system, and all the tension in my muscles melted. I turned to Queen Mera, who glared at me as though wanting to continue the fight.
“Mera?” I placed a hand on my chest. “It’s me, Kora.”
She reared back. “Are you wearing a glamor?”
I shook my head. “Actually, it’s a long story.”
The enforcers returned to their seats, seeming satisfied that hostilities had ceased, and I turned to Dami, who sat on the counter and stared at me through wide eyes.
My heart clenched, and I locked gazes with my best friend. “Sorry you got hurt because of me.”
She edged forward, her eyes shining with curiosi
ty.
I offered her my hand. “Go on. Smell if you don’t believe me.”
She took a sniff before pushing her head against my hand to be petted. I scooped her up in my arms and held her to my chest. Dami purred against me, her eyes fluttering closed.
“I meant to collect you earlier, but so much has happened,” I murmured.
“So, you’re really Kora, then?” Mera asked with a frown. “The one who married Hades?”
I nodded. “What’s this you said about my mother?”
A man in a black suit walked toward us with his hands clasped. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, and he tilted his head to the side. “My Ladies? Large cats aren’t permitted in Dirty Den’s. Would you ask your leopard to revert to his domestic form so he may enjoy a complimentary lunch?”
I bit down on my bottom lip and stared at the man, who wouldn’t stop trembling. Was he offering us free food because he thought we were troublemakers? Or was it because he recognized Mera as the Fire Queen of Logris?
“Macavity?” Mera stretched out an arm.
He transformed back into a Bengal cat, took a running jump, and leaped into her arms.
“Another thing.” The man wrung his hands. “Table service is reserved for humanoid guests. Pets and familiars and shifters in their alternative forms may dine in our special room.”
“Fine,” Mera cradled Macavity to her chest. “We’ll take our lunches there.”
The special room turned out to be a cozy room of turquoise floors with cushions by the wall for lounging pets. Four circular tables stood in the middle of the space, each containing white pods small enough for a rodent to enjoy their food in peace.
Wooden walkways lay suspended beneath the ceilings, where I could imagine a cat might want to wander after a hearty meal.
Macavity and Dami sat in highchairs especially adapted for cats that allowed them to eat at the table with us. Their meal was a sashimi plate of assorted fish that came with a water bowl and little bell they could tap to order more of the same.
Since I was still hungry, I ordered another round of plaice and chips with a half-pint of mead. Queen Mera asked for the same with a chocolate milkshake.
“I was telling the truth about seeing your mother in that hotel, by the way,” Mera said. “But she was walking the hallway alone.”
“Why did you mention Hades?”
Mera tapped her bottom lip. “It was the funniest thing. I was wearing his Helm of Invisibility and tried to sneak past you mother, but she could sense me anyway.”
“Ah.” I leaned back in my seat. “They’ve been enemies for over thirty thousand years.”
Mera nodded. “She’s the Greek goddess Demeter, right?”
“Yes.” I picked up a piece of plaice and popped it in my mouth.
“But what happened to you?” she asked.
Dami stopped eating to listen to what I would say next.
“It turns out I’m a lot older than I appear, and I really am Hades’ wife and not some innocent stranger he tricked into a scam marriage.” I told them the entire story, starting with what I knew about the Great Divide and how two separate parties had rebuilt me from my remains.
At the end of my story, Mera shook her head. “Now, it makes sense.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“At the beginning of the year, Valentine and I teamed up with Hades to fight another Greek god who tried to take over Great Britain, but he and Captain Caria disappeared in the middle of the battle.”
My brow furrowed. “That doesn’t sound like them.”
“They said someone was trying to get to Persephone, but I didn’t understand at the time.”
“Right.” I blew out a breath. “They must have worked out he was keeping her body in the greenhouse and wanted to steal it.”
Mera picked up a chip and dipped it in her chocolate milkshake. “Do you think it was your mother?”
“Probably,” I muttered. “She’s exactly the type to hire mercenaries to sneak into Hell. Or she and her coven could have tried to carry out the abduction themselves.”
She blew out a long breath. “Valentine once told me Hades had spent centuries pining for his wife, but I only met him last year…”
Her voice trailed off, and I could already fill in the gaps. Mera had told me that Hades was an incorrigible womanizer and would tire of me if I gave him what he wanted. It turned out that what he wanted was me.
“After two thousand years of waiting, he gave up,” I murmured.
“That’s… wow.” She shook her head. “If something happened to me, I wouldn’t want Valentine to mourn for me for too long.”
I nodded and dipped a chip in a bowl of gravy. “Having my body around didn’t help.”
“Who knew that Hades was such a huge romantic?” She rested her head on her chin and smiled. “Are you happy?”
My eyes fluttered shut, and I sucked in a deep breath, trying to articulate my feelings. My heart filled with a giddy lightness, the kind a person might feel in the first stages of infatuation, but beneath that was a deeper love that I could see spanning forever. But my chest was so tight, it was hard to enjoy the sensations.
“Kora?” Mera placed her hand on mine and gave me a gentle squeeze. “Is everything all right?”
A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard. “I love Hades so much, but we can’t enjoy a moment’s peace. There’s a war going on in Hell, and the other party is winning.”
Mera didn’t reply for several heartbeats, and I cracked open an eye.
She sat stiffly in her seat, her features pale and slack. “Hades never mentioned this in any of the Council meetings.”
“Maybe because it’s been in the background for centuries and hasn’t picked up pace until the past month,” I murmured. “It’s complicated, but we have a plan in place to end hostilities.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.
I stared at the other woman, my breaths deepening. Apart from the fact that she was a phoenix shifter who ruled over all the fire users in Logris, I didn’t know anything about Queen Mera. She was married to the Vampire King, and Dami had told me they’d defeated a powerful enemy and rid the world of preternatural vampires. She seemed powerful, but I didn’t know anything about her capabilities.
“Thanks.” I offered her a smile. “But I’d like to discuss things with Hades.”
Mera nodded. “Valentine and I will provide backup if you need us.”
Mera promised to take the cats to her palace, where a faerie servant would keep an eye on them while they recuperated from the poisoning. After giving each of them a hug and a promise to return soon, I teleported straight to the greenhouse.
Voices sounded from the far left of the space, and I jogged through a path lined with dwarf coconut palms to find the clearing where I’d created the daisy shower. Hades lay on a moss bed, looking like a male Sleeping Beauty. For once, he was clothed, and he wore a pair of black silk pajamas that contrasted with his golden skin.
An intravenous bag of panacea hung on a stand and was attached to his arm. I hoped it had fixed the bulk of the damage we’d done to his lungs from earlier.
“Your Majesty.” Healer Iaso stepped out from a path on the other side of the clearing. “I’ve tested the panacea you made. It’s not perfect, but it might be enough to restore His Majesty’s lungs.”
I walked up to the older woman, examining her pale features for signs of trauma. “Are you all right?” I asked. “That man really hurt you.”
She raised a hand. “Please, don’t worry on my account. Minor injuries such as strangulation are part of being a physician in Hell.”
My gaze dropped to her neck, which appeared unbruised. “Are you sure?”
Healer Iaso rocked forward on her feet and smiled. “Thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary.”
“Okay.” I wrung my hands. “Is it time to heal Hades?”
“I believe so.” She swept her arm back toward the other
end of the clearing where he now sat up on the bed.
“Kora, I have an idea for making your panacea more powerful,” he said.
I walked to his side, lowered myself onto the springy bed of moss, and wrapped my arms around his middle. “What is it?”
“Persephone created it to mend her broken heart,” he murmured. “What if I shared a few memories from back then and see if it triggers anything?”
“You still remember?” I asked.
Hades nodded. “Every day I spent with my wife is committed to memory, even those times I would prefer to forget.”
“A wonderful idea.” Healer Iaso clapped her hands to her chest.
“All right.” I met his eyes. They were a blue as deep as the inner sanctum’s pool and seemed to stare into my soul. My throat dried, and my heart fluttered.
Every moment with Hades seemed to be a new revelation. I loved how I’d uncover one aspect of his personality after another and reveal that each one of them was unwavering in wanting to be with me.
“What do I need to do?” I murmured, still caught in the intensity of his gaze.
“Do you remember when we connected powers in Persephone’s Garden?” he asked.
My heart twisted at the recollection, and I lowered my gaze to my lap. “When I burned you with my lightning?”
“When you gifted me with your power.” He placed his fingers beneath my chin and lifted up my head, restoring eye contact. “This time, I will pour memories into you. If you can recall anything from being Persephone, it might help you to produce the perfect panacea.”
I placed my hand on his chest and felt the steady strum of his heartbeat against my palm. “Let’s do it.”
Hades crossed his legs and pulled me onto his lap so we sat face to face. He leaned forward and pressed our lips together in a soft kiss that stole my heart. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. A contented hum reverberated in his chest, reminding me of the gentle purr of a cat.
