Page 217 of Trick or Stalk

I stand in the middle of the festival clutching a stuffed bat against my chest. My pulse pounds in my ears. Around me, Halloween continues. People laugh. Children run past. Music plays.

No one seems to realize that a man wearing a nightmare has just disappeared into the darkness with my date chasing him.

I press a shaking hand to my mouth.

They’re two different men.

“Oh my God.”

CHAPTER 30

Presley

Hades comes back several minutes later. Alone.

I hurry toward him. “What happened?”

“I lost him.”

“Are you okay?”

His eyebrows pull together. “You're asking if I'm okay?”

“You chased a psychopath into an alley.”

His mouth twitches despite everything. “You called him a psychopath.”

“I've called him worse.”

His hands settle on my arms. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Fine.”

He studies me intently, brows lowering. “You sure?”

I stare at him. “Yes, Dad.”

His eyes narrow. “Brat.”

Something about the word—about the normalcy of it—breaks through the adrenaline.

I laugh. It's shaky and probably a little hysterical. But it's a laugh.

Hades's expression softens. Then he lifts one hand and cups my cheek. “Hey.”

I stop laughing when my eyes meet his.

“You're safe.”

My chest tightens. “I know.”

I stare into his eyes. There’s no confusion. No suspicion. Hades was standing beside me when Masked Man appeared.

Hades chased him, then came back.

And now he’s here with me.

He did it to keep me safe.