Hades’ jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened. Lilith imdiately shook off Eldric’s hand from her arm. Without saying a word, the prince turned and walked away, his hands buried in the pockets of his trousers as he strode off. Lilith’s eyes followed his retreating figure until Fiona’s voice snapped her out of her trance.
"Dear heavens, Eldric! Why would you do that? Do you not fear death?" Fiona scolded, glaring at him.
Eldric scratched the back of his neck, lips pressed together. "It’s not a big deal. The prince can’t possibly be jealous of . Besides, it was just a touch. It’s not like I was being intimate or anything... right, Lilith?" He turned to her.
Lilith blinked several tis, looking between Fiona and Eldric. "What? What are you both talking about?"
Fiona sighed. "Let’s just go ho. I can feel a headache coming on." She massaged her temples.
The trio returned to the carriage and climbed in. It didn’t take long for it to begin moving. By the ti they reached the palace, it was past six. Though Lilith was present in the kitchen, she was mostly zoned out and barely participated in anything. From serving dinner to eating it, everything passed by in a blur.
Her heart thudded with thoughts of what had happened with the prince. She waited for him to return to his chambers so she could apologize. Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, she still felt the need to explain—especially that there was nothing between her and Eldric. Eldric knew how she felt about the prince. He would never cross that line.
Lilith could barely sit still in her chamber. She kept pressing her ear to the door, trying to catch the sound of his. She’d been doing this for the past twenty minutes. Just when she was about to give up, a spark of hope appeared—the prince’s door opened and then closed.
She stepped out of her room and walked to his door, taking several deep breaths before knocking. At the second knock, the door creaked open. She pushed it wider and stepped inside.
At first, she didn’t see Hades. Then he erged from the bathroom, drying his hair with a blue towel, dressed in nothing but brown trousers that sat low on his hips—too low, in Lilith’s opinion.
Beads of water rolled down his broad shoulders and disappeared beneath his waistband. Lilith swallowed hard. No matter how many tis she saw him like this, she could never quite get used to it.
"Your Highness," she finally found her voice after ogling him shalessly.
"Aren’t you supposed to be asleep or sothing?" Hades asked as he walked to his dresser and pulled out a tunic.
"I was waiting for you. I needed to speak with you," Lilith said, her eyes tracking his every movent.
"Couldn’t it have waited until morning?"
"No. It’s important that I get it off my chest."
Hades let out a deep sigh and turned to her, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. "Go on. I’m listening."
Dear Gods. How was she supposed to hold a conversation with him when he stood there, gloriously bare-chested, water still glistening on his perfect skin, tainting—no, blessing—her already distracted mind?
"I... I wanted to apologize for earlier," Lilith began, trying her hardest not to let her gaze drop again. "I want you to know that there’s nothing going on between Eldric and . We’re just friends. That’s all."
Hades said nothing at first. He stood still, his face unreadable, the towel draped casually over his shoulders, making him look both dangerously regal and completely unbothered.
Then, with an arched brow, he said coldly, "Why are you telling this? You think I care who you choose to fool around with?"
Lilith flinched slightly but held her ground. "Yes, I do. You didn’t exactly hide your distaste when Eldric touched . And I’m not the only one who noticed. That’s why I needed to clear the air."
There was a brief flicker in Hades’ eyes. His jaw tightened ever so slightly.
"You’re mistaken. I do not care. You’re free to do as you please," he said, though the dark intensity in his gaze said otherwise. It pinned her to the spot, filled with sothing far more dangerous than indifference.
Lilith narrowed her eyes, voice daring now, "So you’re saying I’m free to court Eldric if I wished?"
"I thought you said he was just a friend. Why would you want to court your friend?"
Lilith bit back a smile. "Friendship can blossom into love, can’t it? And Eldric is kind, gentle, dependable... Honestly, any woman would be lucky to court him."
A muscle ticked along Hades’ cheek. He didn’t respond imdiately, but the tension in his body betrayed him. Lilith’s heart surged—she had struck a nerve.
"Good for you," he finally spat, each word pushed through clenched teeth. "Is that all? I have better things to do than listen to your budding romance."
"No. I’d like to tell you more about Eldric."
"I don’t want to hear you adore another man," Hades snapped, grabbing the towel from his neck and tossing it onto the chair. "I have no interest in Eden."
"Eldric," Lilith corrected sharply.
"I’ll call him whatever I damn well please," Hades growled, his eyes now burning into hers. "Now, if you’ve said what you ca to say, kindly get out."
He didn’t shout. He didn’t have to. His voice was low and cutting but Lilith could feel the heat of his fury.
"Eldric is a good-looking man, speaks softly, and has always been kind—to and to everyone around him." She took a slow step toward the prince. "He’s caring, respectful... the kind of man any woman would be lucky to have. Every woman’s dream man." Another step. The space between them thinned to a breath.
She tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes searching his. Hades stood still, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, knuckles pale with tension.
Lilith lifted her hand, her fingers grazing his torso, tracing upward until they rested on his shoulder. Her touch was featherlight, deliberate.
"But he’s not my dream man," she whispered. "He never has been. And he never will be."
Her gaze locked with his, unwavering. She could feel it now—desire simring beneath his skin, tightly leashed restraint wrapped around it. It burned between them, pulling her closer.
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