“You, there,” one of the guards says, his deep voice rumbling through me, “you are to come with us.”
It was Eros they were searching for?
Frowning, I wonder what he’s done to have the whole city in such turmoil. Glancing up at him, he gently pushes me further behind him as he attempts to block me from the view of Hades’ guards.
Only now does it strike me that they weren’t speaking to him, but to me.
“I am afraid you must be mistaken,” Eros says as their eyes remain locked on me. “The mortal and I have only just returned to the city and have a pressing matter to attend to. Now, if you will excuse us, we will be on our way.”
He attempts to drag me past the guards, but they do not move to let us through.
One places a heavy hand on his shoulder, nearly forcing him to his knees as he staggers under the sudden weight of it.
“It was not a request,” the other guard says as their gaze once more returns to me, and I try my best not to shift uncomfortably beneath it. “By high orders of Hades, all women within the city are to be brought before him. Immediately and without exception.”
3
Hazel
“She is but a mere mortal,” Eros scoffs with a dismissing wave of his hand. “Surely, Hades cannot mean her. She is far too common a creature for his tastes—”
His words sting, but the guards are completely indifferent to his comments as they shove him roughly aside and reach for me.
“Come,” one of the guards orders even as I shrink away from them, drawing further back between the narrow walls as I glance nervously at Eros.
“Run,” the pale god breathes, and it’s all I need to hear.
I turn, my aching feet padding against the stone as I race back the way we came. Behind me, I hear one of the guards let out a roar, and the next moment the whole city seems to come alive around me. The earth and walls shake from the echoing chorus of returned voices, nearly sending me crashing to the ground as the vibrations rattle me to my core.
Thankfully, the narrow passageways between the gods’ palaces seem to be too small for the likes of Hades’ stone guards as I hurtle through them. Still, I dare not glance behind me to check.
Turning a corner, I suddenly slam straight into a hard chest and cry out in panic as arms wrap around me.
“It is only me, mortal,” Eros breathes heavily.
“How,” I gasp, the single word barely making it past my lips.
“They have no interest in me. It is you they want, hurry. If we can just make it to my bedroom—”
Swallowing, I shake my head, my legs trembling beneath me and finally give out. Eros catches me before my knees can crack against the stone, my body falling limp in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper once my voice has returned to me. “Please, let me stay here and rest a moment.”
“I am afraid that is not possible.”
“They cannot fit into the alleyways, can they?”
“No, but there are others who can, and they have already summoned them.”
My eyes widen in fear as I look up into Eros’ face, surprised to find my own trepidation staring back at me.
“What do they want with me?”
“I am afraid I do not have an answer for you,” Eros says, but I can tell from the way his jaw clenches that he may know more than he’s letting on. “Here, let me carry you.”
I don’t argue with him as he lifts me up off the stone and into his arms.
“Why not fly us out of here and to your palace?” I ask quietly after Eros pauses to check our surroundings before rounding a corner.
