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“I’m a god, which means I have visions of the future,” he continued, his tone warning that he didn’t want any interruptions. “Especially if there’s going to be an event that might change the world.” The flames disappeared as he studied her with a steady gaze. “That’s how I knew that you were going to be necessary to keep the gates of hell closed. And of course, just touching a creature allows me to see their death, no matter how distant it might be. But now—”
“No!” Bertha slapped her hands over her ears. She didn’t want to know if she had a fiery, painful fatality in her future. She didn’t want to know even if it wasn’t fiery. Or painful. Immortals possessed an arrogant belief that nothing bad would ever happen. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me, don’t tell me.”
He lifted his arms, then spread them to the sides. Bertha felt her hands being tugged away from her ears despite the fact that Hades wasn’t actually touching her.
“I can’t tell you because I can’t see it,” he informed her.
“Oh.” Bertha glanced toward her hand, which was still warm from his invisible grasp. “How did you do that?”
“I’m a god.”
“You say that a lot.”
He sent her a scolding frown. “Bertha. I’m trying to explain why I am here.”
“Okay, okay. No need to get pissy. I’m listening.”
There was a pause, as if Hades was counting to ten. Or maybe one hundred. Then he spoke in a tone that was carefully devoid of emotion.
“I was able to see your future up to the point of battling the ifrit. It was very clear what you needed to accomplish. As well as what would happen if you failed.” He shrugged. “But after that everything else is a mystery.”
Bertha considered his words. Should she take offense? No. Not this time.
“I like being a mystery,” she informed him. “It’s better than being odd.”
Hades’s tension visibly faded as a smile played around his lips. “I assume that it means our futures are connected.”
“Really?” Bertha blinked in confusion. “Why would you assume that?”
“The only future I can’t see is my own.”
“Hmm.” Bertha wasn’t a god. Or an oracle. But the lack of visions didn’t feel like the best indicator of whether or not there was going to be a love match. She’d rather take her chances on Tinder. “That seems to be a leap.”
“One I’m willing to take.”
Once again he spread his arms wide. This time a layer of flames spread over her, dancing and swirling as it caressed her skin. It didn’t burn, but it was hot enough to penetrate her thick hide, seeping to her very soul. Bertha groaned, melting beneath the searing pleasure that engulfed her. She’d lived a long time. Centuries and centuries and centuries. But she’d never felt anything like this.
Obviously being a god came with a vast plethora of skills. Including the ability to bring a gargoyle to her knees. In the very best way.
“That’s…” She sighed, unable to come up with the words to express what she was experiencing. “Warm,” she finally muttered.
Hades tilted his head to the side. “Just warm?”
Bertha was on the point of admitting that it was gloriously sinful and that he could scorch her anytime he wanted when she was distracted by a movement at the edge of the garden.
She swallowed a sigh. Playtime was over. At least for now.
“Incoming,” she muttered.
Hades frowned. “Incoming what?”
“Vampires. Two of them are headed this way.”
The flames that had been caressing her abruptly disappeared. A shame. They really were lovely. Then Hades turned his head to glare at the tall, dark-haired male who was accompanied by another vampire. This one was smaller with pale hair and the appearance of a Regency dandy.
“Leeches,” Hades snarled. “What do they want?”
“Maybe they are out for a midnight stroll. This is their lair, after all.”
