Page 148 of Hades

“I’m very sure.”

She tilted her head up. I could barely see her face in the darkness, but I felt her eyes on me.

“I love you,” she said.

The words hit me like a fist to the chest.

I’d known it. Felt it. But every time I heard her say it out loud was different.

“I love you too, baby.”

She kissed me soft and slow, then settled back against my chest.

I held her until her breathing evened out. Until she fell asleep.

But I stayed awake.

Listening.

Watching the shadows.

Cerberus lifted his head once, ears forward, staring at the hallway.

I tensed.

Waited.

Nothing.

He settled back down.

But I’d seen it. The alertness. The focus.

Something had moved out there.

I carefully extracted myself from Lettie and slipped out of bed. Moved to the doorway. Peered down the dark stairway.

Her mother’s door was cracked open.

It shouldn’t have been.

Lettie always closed it after giving her the tea. Always made sure it was shut tight.

I stood there, staring at that thin line of darkness.

Waiting for movement.

Waiting for sound.

Nothing.

Just silence.

Just the crack of light that shouldn’t have existed.

I moved back to the bed and slid in beside Lettie. Pulled her close.

She murmured something in her sleep and pressed against me.