He closed his eyes. Six months. Aaren had put up with this abuse for six months, and he had been prepared to suffer another six. By himself. With no one around to soothe his hurts.
Was that inheritance contract worth this much suffering?
Hades took another deep breath, before pulling back onto the road. The sooner he picked up the groceries, the sooner he could go back to Aaren and comfort him. Treat him the way he was supposed to be treated. He would make up for all those terrible times Ballus had antagonized Aaren, make him feel safe again.
And if he happened to plow Aaren deeply on Ballus’ bed, well. That was just part of the comfort Aaren was owed, and Ballus had failed to give him.
8
DEEP COMFORT
Aaren gritted his teeth,his heart pounding.
He wanted to end the call.
He knew he was fat. He knew he wasn’t always in control of his mouth. He knew he needed help with things sometimes.
But to be called fat and stupid when Hades was listening—it made him feel self-conscious and ashamed. It made him feel like he wasless,like he didn’t deserve someone as put-together and capable as Hades was.
He swallowed past the tightness in his throat, wondering if Hades might decide to look for another omega instead.
He fidgeted and blinked hard, trying to scrub away the sudden heat in his eyes.
Ballus strode out of the bedroom in his work clothes. “I want fried chicken when I get home tonight. That’s about all you’re good for, aside from being a wet hole in my bed.”
“Yeah, fine,” Aaren said, just so Ballus would dismiss him and get out.
“Don’t lose my remote again, you useless bitch.”
Then he was gone, the door slamming after him. Aaren breathed a sigh of relief.
He wobbled to the couch and sat down, pulling his phone out of his pocket. The call was still going.
Aaren curled up into a tight ball, making himself as small as he could. Things didn’t hurt as much when he was smaller, right? Maybe his pocket had muffled everyone’s voices and Hades hadn’t heard any of it.
He pressed his face to his knees, a few tears dripping down his cheeks.
“Aaren?” said a soft voice.
It was coming from the phone.
Aaren tensed, expecting his phone to burst into flames.
“Aaren?” Hades said again.
He picked up the phone gingerly. It felt very heavy in his hands.
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Can you wait that long?” Hades asked.
He sounded kind. Aaren brought the phone closer, still not speaking.
“Why don’t I tell you a funny story from prison?” Hades said. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “See, amongst my prison Brothers and me, Storm is the youngest of us. What that means is that sometimes he gets the craziest ideas, and sometimes he’s bored enough to try them.
“One night when all the lights were off, there came the sound of a mewing cat.
“Now, animals are not allowed in prison. It’s not a petting zoo; it’s not a vacation for any of us. Except that sound was unmistakable.”
Aaren picked his head up, blinking at the phone. “A cat?”
