by Bella Klaus
Power radiated from his powerful frame, a dizzying mix of crackling electricity and brimstone that made every fine hair on my body stand on end. I glanced around the cupboard, trying to look at anything but this naked, black-winged angel.
“You’re not Hades,” I said, my voice breathy with shock.
He crouched down, removing that organ from my line of sight, and stared at me with furrowed brows. “What makes you think I’m not me?” He glanced from one shoulder to the other. “All five limbs are correct and present.”
Heat rose to my cheeks. “Can you fashion an outfit out of shadows or something?”
The corners of his lips twitched into a smile. “If you find my nudity bothersome, you could always lend me your cloak.”
With an outraged squawk, I raised its hood over my head and pointed a flaming finger between his pecs. “Stay back.”
He lurched forward with a wide grin. “Your power—”
“If you don’t want me to burn off your balls, you’ll back off.”
“I thought you wanted me to help you escape,” he said with a frown.
“Hades, not you.” I glanced over my shoulder, looking for the real Demon King. “Or are you wearing a glamor?”
He patted his face and ran his hands over his dark hair. “Did my resurrection go wrong? Do I look hideous?” he said, his voice rising with faux panic. “Tell me straight—I can take the bad news.”
My lips pressed together in a straight line, and I fixed my gaze on one of his wings. How could this happen? When Father Jude emerged from the ashes, he was younger, but that was because he started off elderly and worn out. But demons were supposed to be ageless. I hadn’t expected Hades to change so drastically.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. I scrambled to my feet, just as the cupboard filled with red light and froze every muscle in my body.
The door flew open, and a quartet of enforcers crowded the doorway. “Found one, Captain.”
My breath stilled. I tried to push against the enchantment, but it held me in place.
One of the enforcers at the doorway stepped back to allow their boss to enter. She was a tall woman with black hair, equally dark eyes, and angular features. It was Captain Zella, the one who had arrested me the day Valentine had died.
“Mera Griffin, by the power vested in me by the Supernatural Council, I hereby return you to Logris for a summary execution.”
A whimper reverberated in the back of my throat. I rotated my eyes to the side to cast Hades a pleading look, but the wretched Demon King had vanished.
END OF BOOK FOUR
READ BOOK FIVE
Night of the Vampire King
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