Page 312 of Trick or Stalk

I realize what I said at the exact same moment he does.

Relationship.

Fuck.

Hades's fingers tighten around mine. “Relationship?”

“Don't make it weird.”

“You called it a relationship.”

“I heard myself.”

“So we're together.”

I study him.

His grin appears. A real one.

Suddenly I see him.

Not the monster. Or the murderer. Or the boy Grant hurt.

Just Hades.

The man I fell in love with somewhere between dark romance recommendations, Halloween sweaters, stalking outside my windows, coffee, horror movies, and being chased through the woods.

My impossible, terrifying, fucked-up man.

I sigh. “Yes.”

“Yes what?”

Jesus. Maybe I deserve this after dragging I love you out of him.

“Yes. We're together.”

His eyes close briefly.

When they open again, there's so much intensity in them my pulse jumps.

“And you're sure?”

“I haven't forgotten what you did. Or magically forgiven all of it.” I step closer until my body brushes his. “But I'm not leaving.”

His breath catches.

“Hades.”

“Yeah?”

“I choose you.”

His eyes close.

My chest tightens. “All of you.”

When his eyes open again, they're darker.