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Once again, Lore was multiple steps ahead of him.
He huffed. Such prolonged stupidity. So many eyes, yet he’d failed to see the truth. He’d let pride blind him to the goddess’s trickery, exactly as Hades once prophesied.
Now, he must defeat her without endangering the Astra, who’d done him a favor when he’d killed her all those centuries ago. Rathbone scrubbed a hand over his face. See! A habit. But what was he supposed to do?
His oracle had received no new visions of the final bones before she’d passed out from pleasure, and he couldn’t say he was sorry by the lack. He wasn’t ready to leave this room, much less let her go.
I am hers, and she is mine.
With what felt like a feline grin, he reached for his nightstand drawer. While he savored this delightful perk of being mated, he’d munch on a few cookies, watch a season of soaps. His go-to. Maybe he’d fetch Daisy from the Realm of the Forgotten and surprise Neeka with “sister” time. Even though the harpy had forgotten said sister. Speaking of, he should tattoo Neeka with a key to the realm. To all realms he accessed.
A yawn cracked his jaw, and he paused. A yawn? He was tired? No way. He hadn’t slept since his childhood. He—
“Hades,” Neeka muttered, stirring in his arms. “Yesss.”
His brow furrowed. Was his female having a sex dream about his uncle? Because there would be hell to pay!
“Hades,” she said with a bit more force. “Hades, Hades, Hades.”
A growl brewed. “Neeka. Carrot. I need you to wake up.”
Her eyelids popped open, and she rocketed into a sitting potion, shouting, “Hades!”
Rathbone rolled her to her back, not letting himself get distracted by the tousled black curls framing a delicate face with glittering amber irises, flushed cheeks, and kiss-puffed lips. “What about Hades?”
“I need to speak with him,” she said, panting and agitated. “Now.”
“Why?”
“Because he—I.” She turned pensive and grimaced. “I’m not sure. I just know I need to speak with him as soon as possible. I think he knows something about the missing bones. What if he has them? What if he betrayed you?”
“He didn’t.” Rathbone was certain of it. Not because he trusted the male implicitly, which he did. But because his uncle lived for bragging.
“Okay, so, he didn’t betray you,” she persisted. “But. If I’m drawn to him, there’s a reason. He probably knows something without knowing he knows it.”
“That is...possible.” But he was still smarting about the possibility of a sex dream, all right? Hades was a powerful force of nature. Neeka might still consider herself a single female.
“Good,” she said. “That means we’re visiting Hades as soon as I’m presentable.” She ruffled Rathbone’s hair, gave him a swift kiss, then another, and sprang to her feet, deliciously naked. “Up, up,” she said, clapping. “We leave in ten-ish. Wear something nice.” Avoiding his gaze, she strutted over and picked up the backpack he’d dropped. “Getting ready together is too intimate. I’ll return when I’m done. And I won’t miss you while I’m gone. Not the slightest bit.”
Rathbone flashed into the hallway, directly in front of her. She didn’t notice and smacked into him. As he caught her, she flipped up her gaze, meeting his. “I’ve been inside you, carrot. Nothing is too intimate now. But youwillmiss me,” he commanded. To guarantee it, he seized her lips in a fierce kiss.
Just as she melted in his arms, he lifted his head, ending the exchange. Desire glazed her irises, and passion deepened the color in her cheeks.
He gave her backside a teasing squeeze. “See? You’re missing me already,” he boasted, strutting to his bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind him, right in her stunned face.
Amusement blended with anticipation. As soon as they returned, he would install her in his room. Before the end of the day, her clothing would hang in his closet alongside his.
She banged on his door, calling, “Is the missing mutual?”
“It is,” he called back, even though he knew she couldn’t hear him.
He hurried through a shower, then donned a pair of leathers and combat boots. His version of “nice.”
He was preparing to find her when she sailed into the bedroom. His heart stuttered against his ribs the moment he spotted her. This female...oh, this female. Both savage and sweet, and exquisite beyond measure.
She wore the uniform of a decorated harpy soldier—a metal breastplate, pleated leather skirt and a dozen different weapon sheaths. But the metal was white, the leather pink, and the weapon handles bejeweled.
My savage gum drop queen.
