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"I think that was a yes," laughed the god.
"I think so, too."
"How did she actually get back to your world? The last time, she accompanied Hecate and me through a portal to Tanael, or Lucifer, as you call him."
"Luze sent her back again. Flordelis is a creature of my realm and can only briefly stay in other realms or even worlds." He eyed me worriedly. "But we should hurry now. Otherwise, we'll be too late, and you must stay here. Persephone would be delighted to have your company, but I don't think that would entirely align with your plans."
"As much as I like Persephone, I'd rather visit her more often with Hecate and stay alive," I decided. "What do I have to do?"
"Not much. Flordelis needs to heal you as soon as possible. Ask her to," Hades urged, and when I looked down at my hand, which the unicorn was cuddling, I understood his haste. My skin had already taken on a grayish hue as if my life had already been snatched from me.
"Flor, can you please heal me?" I whispered to the unicorn. "A demon is trying to kill me."
The creature gently nudged my cheek again with its soft snout. Then, the horn began to light up. Its light enveloped me entirely as it placed the tip on my head. A pleasant warmth flowed through my entire body, chasing away the invisible, cold claws.
Relieved, I looked at my hand, which was back to a healthy skin color.
"Am I healed?" I asked the god, still standing beside me, to be sure.
"Yes, you are."
"Thank you, Flor." I turned to the unicorn mare. "Thank you."
"Myrina?" I heard Tanael in my head. "Please come back to me."
"I should go. The others are waiting for me; we have a mission to complete. Thank you for your help, Hades," I said goodbye to the God of the Underworld.
"It's all good. I was happy to help you. Please tell Luze that I'll contact him about a dinner invitation." His grin was knowing, and I felt my cheeks getting hot.
"I'll tell him," I murmured. "Give my love to Persephone too."
The god nodded and wanted to return to the palace. I looked around for a way back into Jerusalem's tunnels.
"Don't I get a portal or something?" I called after him, confused.
Hades turned to me. "You have to want to go back. Think of something or someone you want to see, and it will happen all by itself."
Without another word, he walked back to the glass palace with his faithful dog until he disappeared through a door.
"I have to go now, Flor." I scratched her behind her ear, closed my eyelids, and wished myself back into the tunnels. Nothing happened. I thought of Aspasia—nothing. Then I tried thinking about Stephan, Sam, and Edward one after the other—nothing.
Sighing, I remembered the last person I hadn't thought about and didn't really want to think about, even though I kept doing so: Tanael.
I hadn't quite thought of his name when I already felt his strong arms holding me. His hand tenderly stroked my cheek, and I heard his words that sounded so familiar.
"Breathe, Haye, breathe! Please!" Panic and pure fear were in his voice.
Breathe? I immediately sucked the air greedily into my lungs. My body awoke from unnatural sleep, and I slowly opened my eyes.
I first recognized golden irises—pure, heavy gold filled with grief, fear, and pain.
"I'm here," I whispered to him quietly, just in my head.
The golden hue suddenly changed. It sparkled, filled with relief, gratitude, and something else. Before I could fully realize it, Tanael pressed me tightly against his chest, and I felt him inhale shakily, almost as if he had been holding his breath with me the entire time.
"Fortunately," he whispered, and I sensed he had really been afraid for me.
"Hades sends his regards," I tried to distract him. "He'll contact you to make an appointment for dinner."
