Chapter 30
Sera
Two Days Later
No more dreams.
Or visions.
Or chance meetings with Demeter.
Just solid sleep and a lot of food.
“I feel like every time I wake up, you stuff food in my mouth,” I complain when I open my eyes to find Maliki holding a tray of what looks like pancakes. “I’m not hungry.”
“Rest and sustenance are vital staples for an Omega when leading into a heat,” Morpheus says from behind me.
His bare chest is pressed against my back, his arm wrapped around my waist.
This is the most touching we’ve done since he arrived, which confuses me greatly because we were about to do a lot more in my dream the other day.
Yet he’s been handling me with exquisite care, which I’ve both appreciated and disliked at the same time.
Appreciated because I’m nervous about all of this.
Disliked because I want him to do more. To kiss me. To introduce me to his knot. To something.
Maliki hasn’t been any better.
He’s kissed me, yes. Touched me, too. But not like the other night.
Both males have said it’s not a coincidence that Demeter reached out to me after I played with Maliki. So apparently we’re just not going to do any of that again until Hades returns with answers from Ares.
While time is elusive here, I’m pretty sure that was many days ago. And I… I’m worried about him.
Why hasn’t he returned yet? I wonder. Morpheus told him to hurry back. At the time, I wasn’t sure I agreed. But the longer we’ve been apart, the more uneasy I’ve felt.
He let Morpheus and Maliki into the maze.
That… that means something to me. He’s made his stance about sharing clear. Just as he’s apologized in his own way for some of the misgivings between us.
However, now he’s gone.
And I can’t help but wonder if he’s left me here to be taken care of by Maliki and Morpheus… without him.
I’m not his version of Persephone, something that’s become obvious between us. Maybe he’s decided he doesn’t want me as a result?
My stomach clenches at the thought.
Everything with Hades is so complicated. One minute, I belong to him. And the next, he just… disappears.
“Sera?” Maliki says softly, drawing me from my thoughts. “Are you all right?”
I blink at him. “I mean, sure. I’m being plied with food and sleep. What more could a girl want?”
His lips twitch. “Your sarcasm is noted and heard.” He sets the tray aside and pulls off his shirt before sliding into the bed with me and Morpheus. “So let’s talk more about what you want, yeah?”
Morpheus chuckles behind me.
And I narrow my eyes. “Are you teasing me?”
“No, mystery, I’m not. But I can, if that’s what you want,” he offers, his eyebrows waggling.
“One thing to learn about a mate-circle is that we value communication,” Morpheus says, his lips near my ear. “And we both know something is bothering you. So either you talk about it, or we coax it out of you.”
Maliki presses his finger to my lips as he adds, “Don’t try spouting nonsense about being overfed, Sera. We’ll see through it. Now tell us what’s really on your mind, or I’ll kiss you.”
I stare at him. With an offer like that, why would I bother talking? “Okay, kiss me,” I say.
He grins. “Oh, trouble…” He leans in to kiss my cheek.
“You realize he’s going to tease you now, yes?” Morpheus murmurs, his warmth a blanket against my back that sends tingles down my spine. “And I don’t mean with words.”
Maliki’s smile widens. “Definitely not entirely with words, anyway,” he says, then kisses my chin.
I frown. “This was not the kind of kissing I anticipated, Maliki.”
“Then perhaps you should share what’s on your mind, beautiful girl,” he drawls. “Otherwise…” He kisses my throat and then my shoulder. “Morpheus, would you mind helping me out on my quest?”
“Not at all,” he replies, his hand skimming up my side to the strap on my shoulder.
I’m wearing another one of those golden dress things. The silk is surprisingly comfortable to sleep in. But really, I wore it because Maliki seemed to like it when he first arrived. And I wanted to entice him to react in a fashion similar to before.
It seems it’s working now.
Sort of.
I think.
I…
Morpheus drags the strap down my arm, causing the fabric of my dress to glide along with it. He doesn’t stop until he’s exposed my breast, which causes Maliki to murmur, “Thank you, Morpheus,” before lowering his mouth to my exposed flesh.
Only, he doesn’t kiss my nipple.
He just licks and nibbles around it instead.
All while Morpheus returns his palm to my side to draw lazy circles against my hip bone with his thumb.
I shiver between them, my thighs tensing with an unspoken need.
A need that Maliki heightens when the stubble on his chin brushes my aroused nipple. It’s a tender caress. A teasing touch.
And I suddenly understand what he meant by teasing me without words.
“Maliki…” I grab his shoulder, then his neck, and try to guide him where I want him. But he’s stronger than me and merely chuckles against my stiff peak before lifting his head up and meeting my gaze.
“Yes, Sera? Have something you want to say?”
“Maybe something you want to ask for?” Morpheus adds, his voice a low rumble of sound that leaves me trembling against him.
“I’m certain Maliki will be accommodating to any request you would like to voice, little dreamer.
Just as I’ll fulfill any fantasy you may desire.
” He kisses me right below my ear, then skims his teeth against my pulse.
I dig my nails into Maliki’s neck, my back arching to give him better access to my breasts.
But he doesn’t do what I want, what I need.
“Words, trouble,” he murmurs. “Give me your words.”
“Yes, Serapina,” Morpheus adds, his lips at my ear again. “This is a lesson in communication. If you want something, you voice it. Because soon, you won’t be able to consent. So we need to know what your limits are before you lose your mind with lust.”
“How do I know what to ask for when I haven’t done anything?” I counter, unable to mask the frustration in my tone. They want me to communicate, but I have no idea what to say. “I just want you to teach me.”
Maliki pulls back, his gaze going to Morpheus. “Our girl wants a lesson.”
“Indeed,” Morpheus replies. “Is there any topic that’s of particular interest to you, Enforcer?”
Maliki considers him for a moment before going onto his elbow and staring down at me. “Have you played with his knot yet, trouble?”
I swallow and shake my head. “No. Not really.” Because I don’t think the dream counts. And I didn’t really get to explore him much in that fantasy; it ended too early.
“Do you want to play with his knot?” Maliki presses.
“Yes,” I answer without hesitation. I feel like I’ve been waiting for eons to actually touch Morpheus. To stroke him. To kiss him. To everything with him.
I… I want the same things with Maliki.
And maybe Hades, too.
If Hades even wants me.
A pang touches my heart, but I shove that thought from my mind, determined to focus on Maliki and Morpheus. They’re here with me now and finally want to touch me after two days of holding back.
Which has me wondering, What’s changed? Why now?
“Tell us what you’re thinking about, trouble,” Maliki says, his golden eyes searching my face. “Talk to us.”
“Yes, little dreamer. We want to hear your mind,” Morpheus adds against my ear, his palm giving my hip a squeeze. “We can’t properly please you unless you communicate.”
Communicate seems to be the word of the day.
But I suppose they’re right.
I want to trust them, to be with them, to… to explore whatever this is between us.
I’ve seen how Alina’s mate-circle works, have envied her lifestyle and dynamic. And it seems I might have a similar one forming around me.
If I embrace it.
If I trust fate.
Swallowing, I look up at Maliki and say, “You’ve barely touched me these last few days.
I don’t understand what’s changed or why.
And… and I’m thinking about Hades, too.” It’s a lot to admit.
But why should I hold back? If they’re going to judge me for my thoughts, then they’re not the males for me, right?
Stars, when did I start thinking about a mate-circle and what I want from them? I wonder. When did this become my life?
“We’ve held back because we needed to know if Demeter is a risk,” Morpheus says, his thumb drawing circles again. “But Hades confirmed that she’s locked up and can’t touch you.”
My brow furrows as I try to glance back at him. “You talked to Hades?”
He shifts to let me roll to my back and goes up onto his elbow like Maliki, the pair of them staring down at me. “Yes,” Morpheus confirms. “While you slept.”
“Oh.” I swallow. “So he returned… and left again?”
“No, he’s still here,” Morpheus informs me softly. “He’s working on something in the maze right now.”
I’m not sure why, but his words make me feel a little lighter. Like a weight has lifted from my chest. Only, I don’t understand why I haven’t seen Hades yet.
Is he avoiding me? I wonder.
Or perhaps he doesn’t want to see me with Morpheus and Maliki.
I know he doesn’t want to share. He’s made that clear. Yet he allowed them entry into the labyrinth. That has to mean something, right?
“Do you want to talk to him?” Morpheus offers.
“Only if he wants to talk to me,” I reply without thinking, then wince. “I mean… if he’s, er, not avoiding me? Us?” Thorns, I feel foolish. Why am I even questioning these things? “Never mind.”
Morpheus arches a brow. “No, Serapina. No never mind anything. If you want to talk to Hades, he’ll want to talk to you. He would never avoid you, little dreamer. He would, however, give you time to process everything.”
“I can speak for myself, Morpheus,” a deep voice says, causing my gaze to shift to the doorway where Hades is standing.
His gaze runs over Maliki’s shirtless state before coming to rest on my breasts for just a beat before rising to my face.
“What my cousin says is true—I would never avoid you, Serapina,” he tells me. “You’re my mate. But I won’t pressure you into being around me, either.”
I sit up and look at him. Really look at him.
He’s wearing one of his dark suits, the fabric pristine.
But there are shadows beneath his eyes that suggest he’s not rested in days.
His hair is messy like he’s run his fingers through it several times, perhaps even tugged on it.
And his jaw is dusted with overgrown stubble, not unlike Maliki’s chin at the moment.
However, where Maliki just looks relaxed, Hades appears to be disheveled in a way that tugs at my heart.
I’m not sure when I started caring about the God of Death’s comfort, but I’m not shying away from the instinct. Things between us are confusing. Strained, even. Yet I feel a pull to him that’s undeniable, especially now.
He’s done everything I’ve asked.
And he’s apologized in his own way.
While I may not agree with some of his choices, I understand them.
Though, I wonder how he’s feeling about me, knowing that I’m… I’m not his version of Persephone.
“Do you want me to stay?” Hades asks, his dark eyes holding mine. “Or would you like to be alone with Morpheus and Maliki?”
I stare at him, uncertain of how to answer that.
Do I want him to stay? Yes. Yes, I think I do. But not if it’s going to make him uncomfortable.
Which means I have to… to choose between disappointing him by asking him to remain or disappointing Morpheus and Maliki by requesting time alone with Hades.
And I… I don’t want to make that choice.
It’s not fair to any of them. I—
“Sera was just requesting a lesson,” Maliki says, interrupting my inner turmoil. “Seems she’s quite curious to learn more about knots. Do you want to provide the demonstration, or do you prefer to watch?”
I hold my breath, afraid that Hades is going to deny both options. Or worse, look pained by the decision.
Yet all I see in his gaze is heat as he says, “I’ll watch.”
My heart stops in my chest. Not because I’m scared or because I’m overwhelmed by the concept of Hades observing my “lesson,” but because I can’t believe he made the choice so quickly. Does that mean he actually wants to watch? Or—
“But I also want to instruct,” Hades adds, his focus shifting to Morpheus.
And I’m not breathing again, too.
I glance at Morpheus, noting the way his gaze narrows slightly, the two Alphas seeming to have a silent conversation with their eyes alone.
After a beat, Morpheus nods.
Then he looks at me. “Are you okay with this, Serapina? Hades telling you what to do to me?”
I swallow. “I, er, yes.” The stammering irritates me. I’ve never really been with a man before, let alone three, but I don’t want to be a meek participant, either.
I want to be strong.
Worthy of their attention.
“Teach me.” The two words leave me with more confidence, and I direct them at Hades. It’s my way of accepting him as the instructor while also letting Maliki and Morpheus know that I’m serious about learning. “Tell me what to do.”