Eve
I managed to block his attacks, but he adapted faster than I could think, forcing to push past the limits I thought I had.
"Not bad," Hades said, a low hum of amusent in his voice as I deflected his elbow strike and narrowly dodged a jab to my ribs. "But predictable. You keep telegraphing your moves. Makes it almost boring."
"I'm fine," I snapped, my breath hitching as I threw a quick jab of my own.
His smirk widened, sharp and infuriating. "Fine? Sure you are, little wolf." He sidestepped with ease, his movents as smooth as water. "But I can see that shoulder of yours is slowing you down. Care to tell how long you plan to hide it before it gets you killed?"
"I'm not hiding anything." I aid a kick at his side, but he caught my ankle mid-air, holding it with infuriating ease before letting go.
"Liar," he said, circling again, his gaze raking over like he could see every crack in my armor. "You think stubbornness will save you? It'll get you killed faster than hesitation."
"Thanks for the advice," I ground out, stepping forward with a flurry of strikes. For a mont, I almost had him, my knuckles grazing his side before he caught my wrist mid-swing.
"Better," he murmured, his voice dark and low, like a predator playing with its prey. "But still not good enough." He twisted my arm just enough to make wince, but not enough to do real damage. His gaze locked onto mine, and for a mont, I forgot to breathe.
"Are you going to cry, Red?" he taunted, his lips curving into a mocking grin.
"Not a chance," I hissed, wrenching my arm free.
His laughter rumbled, deep and warm, as he stepped back. "That's more like it. Show so teeth."
I lunged again, this ti catching him off guard with a feint. My elbow connected with his ribs, not hard enough to do damage, but enough to wipe the smirk off his face.
"Interesting," he said, his tone still laced with amusent, though his eyes glead with sothing sharper. "You might actually have so bite in you."
"Keep underestimating ," I said, breathing hard but refusing to back down. "See where it gets you."
His grin widened, his fangs flashing. "Oh, I don't underestimate you, Red. I just enjoy watching you struggle." He sounded genuine.
He moved faster than I could react, sweeping my legs out from under . This ti, I rolled with the impact, coming up onto my feet in one fluid motion.
"Better," he said, his smirk softening into sothing almost resembling approval. "But you're still too slow."
"Then stop talking and fight ," I shot back, raising my fists again.
His laugh was low and taunting as he stepped closer, his gaze pinning in place. "Fight you? I thought that's what I was doing. Or are you getting distracted, little wolf?"
Heat flared in my cheeks, but I ignored it, refusing to let him get under my skin. I lunged again, aiming for his side, but he caught my arm and twisted around so my back was pressed to his chest. A horrible shudder racked my body from the agony. White hot pain blood in my injured shoulder and bit back a scream. If he found out that I was hurt, and I lied, he would just go ahead and check those caras. Jules would be implicated. I could not afford that.
"You're improving," he murmured against my ear, his breath warm and maddening. "But not fast enough."
"Let go," I ground out through the horrible ache, struggling against him.
His chuckle was deep, vibrating through . "If I wanted to hurt you, I would've already." He released with a push, making stumble forward. "But I'll admit—you're more fun than I expected."
I spun around to glare at him, my chest heaving. "You're insufferable." I fought back the urge to run my shoulders.
"And you're still standing," he said, his tone lighter now, almost teasing. "Barely. But I'll give you that much."
We paused the session, only when I dropped to my knees, my body screaming for rest. Hades stood over , his gaze sharp and appraising. The vulnerable man that had held my hand to his face was gone. There was not a sliver of fragility in his hard, cunning gaze. I must have been hallucinating, yet I rembered the searing heat of his body. It had made it hard to sleep.
"You're not bad," he said finally, his voice losing so of its edge.
I would never be able to figure him out. Suddenly, I was struck by how much a constant contradiction Hades was. Like ...
That was because I had sothing that I was hiding, another face under the one I was wearing. I wondered what the Hand of Death had to hide.
The door opened and I breathed a relieved sigh when familiar, warm green eyes t mine from across the room. "Good morning, Beta Kael," I greeted as he ca forward with a smile. He glanced at Hades.
Hades face instantly hardened, he gave a pointed look. I shrugged. "My condition," I reminded him.
With the way his jaw locked, he did not like the sound of that. "I would do it on my ti."
"You did not give that option," I said.
He opened his mouth but I cut him off.
"And don't tell that is different."
His mouth snapped shut, his shoulders bunching. As Kael entered the ring, Hades ran his hand through his hair. He swallowed, his jaw working. Was it an apology that had him so agitated? He had little problem apologizing to .
"Good morning, your majesty," Kael's voice was light but his gaze was intense.
"Morning," Hades all but growled.
Kael's lips quivered in the shadow of a smile.
The silence that followed was as heavy as lead. I tried to be patient with the proud Lycan king but after a few monts, I could no longer take the uneasy quiet.
"Hades," I said softly.
His head snapped to , his icy glare flickering to . "What?"
"My condition."
He sighed deeply before turning to Kael. "I am sorry," he murmured but it ca out as more of a whisper.
Kael stiffened, his eyes widening. His brows disappeared into his hairline. "Hades...your majesty..." For the first ti, Kael was stunned into silence.
"I am sorry for losing my anger with you." Hades voice was louder now, rough and jagged like it hurt him to utter the words. "I am sorry for hurting you."
Kael let out a shaky breath. "Guess there is truly a first ti for everything," the amusent in his voice had faded, lting into sothing soft and unreadable. His green eyes searched Hades' face, his earlier composure giving way to a flicker of vulnerability I hadn't seen before.
"Don't get used to it," Hades countered but his tone lacked bite.
Kael's shoulders shook as he laughed, all at once, he stiffened. The color drained from his face, leaving him pale and stricken. His gaze locked onto Hades' face as if he'd just seen sothing he couldn't comprehend.
"Kael?" I asked, my voice sharp with concern. I stepped closer, but he didn't react, his body rigid as stone.
Kael's lips parted, but no sound ca out. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his eyes scanning Hades' features as if searching for sothing.
"What?" Hades snapped, his frustration breaking through. He stepped closer, his towering fra looming over Kael. "Speak, damn it."
Kael blinked, his gaze flicking to briefly before returning to Hades. Whatever he saw there made his expression crumple for the briefest mont before he masked it with a forced smile. "It's nothing," he said, but his voice trembled ever so slightly. "Just... unexpected, I guess."
Hades' scowl deepened, and his sharp gaze narrowed. "Unexpected?" there was a genuine question in his voice.
Kael hesitated, his fingers twitching at his sides. "I—it doesn't matter," he said quickly, his smile tightening. "I think I'm just tired. Long night, you know." he took a breath. "Let's hug it out and make up." He said.
"Hug it out?" Hades' voice was laced with horror.
But Kael was already moving forward, his arms outstretched. Before I could comprehend what he had just said, he wrapped his arms around Hades who stilled. Their hug was drawn on until I heard Kael whisper. I caught the word 'seven' . Then he pulled away.
"See you at the dining table." He said quickly.
He turned away too fast, his movents almost frantic as he busied himself with adjusting the cuffs of his shirt as he walked out, leaving us alone.
"What was that about?" I asked Hades.
"None of your business," He snarled.
The harshness caught off guard.
"I didn't an to pry,"
But he cut off. "Let's continue." He ordered, cracking his neck. He turned to him, and imdiately detected tension in his face but I minded my own business..
Still, I was so deep in my thoughts that I did not see him coming. Almost. I attempted to protect my face but I was too slow and too late. His closed fist connected with my shoulder instead.
This ti, I could not endure the pain that exploded in my shoulder. I let out a horrible scream, stumbling back as I clutched my injured shoulder. The pain was white-hot, shooting down my arm and making my knees buckle. I tried to recover quickly, but my body betrayed , trembling under the strain.
Hades froze mid-step, his expression darkening as he took in my reaction. "You're injured," he said, his voice sharp and accusing. "Who hurt you?"
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