Page 91 of Captured By the Cupid

Eros rises, muttering, “Hades, you cursed.” He turns one side of his body to me, those abyss eyes locking onto mine in an expression of such chaotic emotion, I can’t possibly identify them. Possession. Protection. Ferocity. Remorse. Guilt. Pity.

Love.

Fierce love consumes the stony hand reaching for me. My breath stalls as Eros channels his magic into my skin, healing the strangulation marks and no doubt, the damaged vocal cords.

My shuddering breakdown comes one split second before he gathers my naked body into his arms and wraps me in the dark blanket on the bed. I curl up against him, making myself as small as possible, hiding inside his stone fortress.

“Thank the spring I arrived in time,” Hades mentions while turning to us.

Eros’s arms strengthen around me, and I touch my trembling palm to his chest. A stunned gasp flees my parted lips. Burning emotion wells up in my throat, smoldering my blood and triggering my heart to glow until my aura glows with a pink incandescence.

“Eros…” my voice cracks as I lift my head, meeting his eyes, his confirming nod. His heartbeatsbeneath my palm. A true pounding godly heartbeat. One that was nothing but stone before he fucked me—before we made love.

“Why are you here, Hades?” Eros asks firmly.

“The situation is far graver than I believed, Eros.” Hades lowers his dark eyes to me, and I can’t help the ice creeping into my blood. His gaze isn’t sinister or cruel. It’s a judgment. Neither good nor bad. “This recent attack is proof.”

Eros sets his teeth on edge. “Explain.”

“I would rather show you, old friend.”

“Eros!”I cry out and claw at his chest. If he wasn’t holding me, I’d fall to my knees.

We stand upon the highest wall of the Gates of Purgatory, looking out at the host of soul refugees. They are fading away. Breaking into pieces, dissolving.

It was the same in the Lunar Veil. Some escaped the misty shroud holding them until they’d disappeared beyond Purgatory.

In the Cathedral of Curses, the souls couldn’t sing, couldn’t share their confessions with me. Waves of pain attack my heart from the memory of them opening their mouths in silent screams.

The souls beyond the Phantom Bridge, those ghostly lovers ever reaching for one another…they’d given up, turned dark, lost all meaning.

No shimmery souls had stirred beneath the Lake of Tears.

And the Wraith Woods, the beautiful dark apparitions who’d once shared a tea party with me had become one with the ghostly fog. Nothing but tattered wisps. They couldn’t chase me. They couldn’t play with me.

Even the gargoyle staff of the castle have frozen, turning to lifeless statues that can’t fly or serve.

“What’s happening?” I sob against his stony chest, my mind and heart in turmoil.

“Purgatory is dying,” Hades responds.

Something cold claws at the entryway of my soul. And Eros holds me all the stronger. Even my mortal light has dimmed.

“Come back to the castle, and I will explain,” Hades offers. “I needed you to know, Eros. You needed to see with your own eyes…the severity of the situation. Hundreds have escaped into the Underworld. More into Erebus. Some have even found their way through the Veil of Nightmares to haunt the mortal realm.”

“Why?” I croak, wondering why Eros has said nothing, why he’s doing nothing. Doesn’t he care?

Once we return to the castle, where Eros prepares to carry me up the grand staircase, I notice the open doors off to my right. And hear the soft sound of crying. The familiar voice, unfamiliar way—so unfamiliar, it shouldneversound like that. I struggle against the gargoyle.

“Let me go! Put me down!” I cry out, shoving against his chest, knowing I’m catatonic, not giving a flying fuck. Because I have to go. Go there.

“Aradia!”

“Put me down, Eros!” I pound my fists hard, wailing from the splintering crack. Pain bursts into my hand from the damage.

“Fuck, Butterfly!” Eros sets me on the floor but seizes my wrist in one hand and lifts his other to heal me, even as I try to escape.

“Eros…” Hades touches the gargoyle’s arm and shakes his head, his eyes somber but empathetic as they regard me. “Release her. Go with her, but let herfeelit…for a few moments.”

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