Chapter 39 Maliki #2
“Fuck you, my lord,” I return in a falsely sweet voice.
The God of Death smiles. “I would prefer to watch you fuck our mate, Maliki.”
“After she’s done resting,” Morpheus inserts before I can reply. “She expended a great deal of energy. We’ll play… when she’s awake.”
“She’ll need to eat,” I add, thinking of the baby. “I know she’s immortal… but…”
“We’ll feed her energy while she sleeps,” Hades says. “It’ll be more than enough.”
“Feed her energy?” I echo, my brow furrowing. “How…?”
“We’ll teach you,” Morpheus promises. “But first, we need a safe place to take our mate.” He looks at Hades. “So back to my palace proposal…”
“On the mountain over the tunnel,” Hades mutters. Then he shakes his head. “Fine. But no sun. It’ll blind my fae.”
Morpheus faces him. “We’ll need at least one greenhouse for her roses.”
“Another for fire lilies.”
“And a real fucking garden, Hades. None of that statue crap.”
“She liked that garden,” Hades mutters. “And my ice.”
“Then we’ll have to get creative, won’t we?” Morpheus tells him. “Good thing you’re part of the God of Dreams’s mate-circle.”
“This is not your fucking mate-circle,” Hades bites at him. “It’s mine.”
“It’s ours,” I interject. “And stop bickering. Sera is trying to sleep.”
They ignore me, the pair of Alphas going into a full negotiation on the palace they want to manifest.
I listen for only a handful of minutes before I shadow Sera and myself back to Tank’s place, tired of the two bantering Gods. Their Alpha energy is fucking suffocating.
I can’t believe I’m going to be tied to this for the rest of my life, I think, irritated.
But most of my irritation melts away when I come face-to-face with a panting Ossa. Howl and Mort are panting, too, the giant beast sitting up on the bed and wagging their big black tail.
“Enjoy your nap?” I ask the trio.
Ossa gives me a little growl, but it’s less violent than usual. And when she comes forward to lick my face, I still. She’s never given me a kiss.
“I see you finally won her over,” Hades muses, appearing beside me.
Ossa releases a deep bark, then lunges for her master, forcing Mort and Howl to go along with her.
Hades falls beneath the weight of his giant wolf beast, his body disappearing under the mountain of black fluff.
I snort, more than a little amused by the sight of the God of Death being mauled by his familiar.
He growls in response, clearly irritated by the show of affection.
But I catch sight of his hands scratching the ears within his reach, and I hear the relief in his mind at having found his beast alive.
It’s clear that while he was technically unconscious, he was still very aware of certain things—like his life force draining those closest to him.
He fought it, trying to protect his familiar, me, and Sera. But Demeter… Well, Demeter won’t be a problem anymore, thankfully.
“Can you manifest a new blanket?” I ask him. “For Sera.” Because the bedding is currently soiled with fur, something I don’t remark on out loud. But Hades must hear that part because he doesn’t just manifest a blanket; he replaces the damn bed.
With a much larger one.
“That’s ridiculous for this small space,” I mutter, but I walk over to tuck Sera into it anyway. “Tank is going to be pissed.”
“I’ll make him a new hut,” Hades says, his voice muffled since he’s still being mauled by his pet.
“You can add that to the long list I’ve already started for you,” a deep voice says as Typhos Lucifer materializes in the room. “Welcome back, Hades. We should talk.”
The God of Death heaves the largest of sighs from the floor.
And I’m suddenly very glad that I’ve already put Sera in the bed. Otherwise, her naked body would still be in my arms—something I do not want the Hell Fae King to ever see.
He might have his own mate.
However, Sera is ours.
“Have you ever heard of knocking?” I demand, irritated by his abrupt presence. King or not, he can’t just shadow or mist into any room he chooses.
The Hell Fae King arches a dark brow at me, reminding me very much of Hades.
“You heard me,” I tell him, not caring to bow to his dominance today.
I’ve done that before. Kind of, anyway. But I am not in the fucking mood for formalities right now.
“It’s been a really long fucking… Styx, I don’t even know.
Month? Year? Regardless, I am not in the mood to pander to your ‘royalness’ right now. ”
Both of Typhos’s eyebrows shoot upward.
And then my brother appears beside him.
“Great,” I mutter, shaking my head. “I see you’ve taken after your mate’s manners.”
Az blinks at me, then frowns at Typhos. “What did you say to Maliki?”
“Nothing,” the Hell Fae King grinds out. “I was speaking to Hades.”
“In my space,” I tell them. “Where our unconscious mate is trying to rest. You can see how that’s a problem, yeah?” I cock my head. “Or would you like me to pop over and visit Cami while she sleeps?”
Typhos growls, and Az presses a palm to his chest to stop him from advancing on me. “Point noted, Maliki,” my brother says calmly. “Perhaps we can discuss this outside?”
Hades sighs again, then nudges his beast off his body and attempts to move to his feet. But Ossa knocks him right back down with a final kiss before slowly backing off.
The creature jumps up onto the foot of the bed and plops down, the three heads all focused on Typhos. Ossa releases a warning growl, one she usually reserves for me. Only, this one sounds like an actual threat. I reach over and pat her on the head, pleased that she’s protecting Sera.
And the beast chomps at my hand.
I release an exhale and shake my head. “I see our bond was short-lived.”
She snorts.
But I swear there’s a glimmer of amusement in her silver eyes.
At least until she looks at the Hell Fae King again.
“What the fuck happened to you?” Typhos demands, ignoring the creature entirely. He’s looking at the dried blood on Hades’s torso, as well as his ripped dress pants.
“Got into an argument with my proverbial mother-in-law,” Hades responds. Then he vanishes.
Typhos growls.
Which only makes Ossa snarl.
Az looks at me. “Mother-in-law?”
“Demeter.” I fold my arms. “We’ll handle the cleanup here. There’s no need for you to hang around.”
“This is still my realm, Maliki,” Typhos responds, his voice holding an edge to it. “And I am still your king.”
“Well, I’m mated to two Gods now,” I tell him. “So if you have any feedback you’d like to provide, you’re welcome to share it with my Alphas.”
Az’s expression conveys his amazement. “You joined a mate-circle?”
“Surprised?” I drawl.
“Not really,” he admits. “You did open a portal to another world filled with mate games. Seems appropriate.”
I roll my eyes. “Another item for you to take up with Hades.”
“I have,” Typhos cuts in. “He’s not the forthcoming type.” His ocean-blue eyes dance over me. “Which I suppose is the theme for your circle.”
My lips curl. “It is. So if you were hoping for a long discussion on what’s occurred, that hope is in vain.”
“However, I’ll provide a swift summary while tending to your list,” Hades adds as he materializes once more, this time in a fresh all-black suit. Even his hair is combed.
Did you and Morpheus finish the palace already? I ask him mentally, wondering where he changed.
No. He’s only just started working on the foundation. It’ll take hours, maybe days, Hades replies into my mind. I just misted into Serapina’s old hut to freshen up. I would never leave you to handle the Hell Fae King alone.
He doesn’t scare me.
I know, Hades says, his amusement humming through our bond. Your inability to fear powerful beings is why we’re friends.
I thought we were best friends, I tell him.
He glances at me, the amusement now showing in his features. “You make a good subordinate, Enforcer,” he says aloud.
I roll my eyes again. “It’s like you want me to stab you, my lord.”
“Sparring can be fun,” Hades murmurs. “Perhaps you can practice on Azazel while Typhos and I discuss the state of the kingdom.”
My brother arches a brow.
He’s always in a fighting mood, his inner Black Phoenix adoring violence.
“I can’t,” I inform both Hades and Az. “I’m on guard duty.”
Hades’s lips twitch. “A task I know you’ll take very seriously.”
“Always,” I reply, meaning it. “It’s my favorite assignment to date.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for the future,” he muses.
“Don’t bother.” I sit on the bed beside Sera. “I have a new boss now, remember?”
He just shakes his head, but I hear the humor in his mind.
However, it doesn’t show at all as he faces Typhos. “Orcus is waiting outside for a debrief. Shall we?”
The Hell Fae King’s jaw ticks. “I’ve never been fond of Mythos Fae.”
“A lie,” Hades murmurs. “We’re allies for a reason, Hell Fae King.”
Typhos doesn’t respond, but a flicker of understanding seems to flash in his features. Then he starts toward the door, only to pause and look back at me. “Next time… I’ll knock.”
“Good.” I cross one of my ankles over the other. “Because next time, I won’t be nearly as polite.”
Ossa snarls in agreement.
I reach over to pat her head again. This time, she doesn’t try to bite me, just leans into my touch as a show of solidarity.
Fleur is going to hate this, I think.
Hades must hear the thought because his lips twitch. She’s asleep on Serapina’s old bed, none the wiser.
Good. And Athena? I wonder at him.
Flying around with Morpheus, I assume, Hades replies.
“What about Pip?” I ask, shifting our conversation to a vocal one rather than a mental one.
“Guarding Omega souls,” Hades tells me. “We’ll see him again… when Serapina needs him. But for now, he’s protecting what our Goddess has built.”
With that, he leads Typhos from the hut.
Only my brother lingers for a beat, his gaze flickering between violet and black as his inner beast studies me. “I’m happy for you, little brother,” he says, the words sounding belittling, yet his tone reeks of sincerity. “Mateship looks good on you.”
He doesn’t stay to hear my reply, just slips outside and quietly closes the door behind him.
I look down at the female asleep only a foot away from me and smile. “Yeah,” I agree. “Yeah, it does.”