15|Are those…hickeys?!

Davina’s POV

Hades kissed me. Cyrus kissed me.

And I kissed them both back.

Technically, they were the same person. Even though I never had a wolf, this was common knowledge. Despite the distinct personalities that set Hades and Cyrus apart, they were still one.

On my eighteenth birthday, I didn’t shift like other werewolves do. Every girl and boy has their first shift at eighteen, but I didn’t. That day was the day I lost everything—everyone. A medium once told me that my wolf might have hidden away because of the trauma. She said it had gone into hiding, but I didn’t know how to unlock it. So eventually, I just gave up.

I gave up on trying to unlock my wolf and focused on finding Sebastian instead. Earlier, I had wanted to leave, to avoid getting tangled up with Hades and escape from this place. But somehow, here I was, sitting on his lap.

Damn it.

“What’s wrong? Would you rather have Cyrus here instead of me?”

 

I sat there, frozen, unable to utter a single word, with only a towel covering Hades. Earlier, when he kissed me, I’d felt his firm muscles pressed against me, and now I couldn’t stop my face from flushing as I thought about it.

“No, I’m sorry, my king. I’ll get up,” I said, trying to pull myself off him. But it was harder than I’d thought—I didn’t want to place my hands on his bare chest or anywhere on him.

He groaned in annoyance.

Before I could mutter another apology and get up, there was a sudden knock on the door, startling me. I stiffened and fell back with a thud. Ignoring the ache, I scrambled to my feet and bolted to the door.

As I opened it, I hit what I thought was a wall and nearly stumbled to the ground, a gasp leaving my lips. But before I could fall, an arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close and steadying me.

It was a familiar scent, but it wasn’t Hades this time.

“Are you okay?” Draven asked, his arms still around my waist, keeping me steady. I flinched slightly at the contact.

“Yes… thank you,” I whispered, but he didn’t let go. He seemed frozen in place as he stared at me.

A low growl resonated behind us, and I could feel Draven's attention shift, the subtle change in the air, like his gaze had shifted from me to something—or someone. His arms released me quickly, and he muttered a hasty apology, his tone now more cautious.

I could feel my face flush in embarrassment. Hades had only been in a towel, and I probably looked just as disheveled.

Oh, Goddess.

“I'm sorry for interrupting, I’ll come back later—” Draven began, but he could barely finish the sentence before I turned, rushing out of the room.

When I was out of the room, I placed my hand on my chest, breathing heavily. What—what just happened?

“Davina!”

Before I could process it, my hand was yanked, and I bit down a scream, realizing it was Eva. She had dragged me to a corner.

“Eva–”

“Oh my Goddess, you're alive! Are you okay?” she asked, practically feeling me up in her panic, checking every inch of my body as if expecting to find something broken or missing.

“I thought you were dead! Gone!” She turned me around with a dramatic flourish, and I raised an eyebrow, utterly confused.

“You were in there for so long, and I got so worried! I stood there, waiting for you, avoiding Emmanuel the whole time!” she continued, her voice a mix of concern and pride.

“Wait—why do you look like you've been hit by a bus?” Eva stared at me, leaning in closer. I leaned back, feeling heat rush to my face as memories of what happened in Hades’ room resurfaced. “Wait, did he hit you?!”

I quickly patted my hair into place and shook my head, trying to ignore the blush spreading across my face. I needed to change the subject, and fast.

“I’m fine,” I said, grabbing her hand to stop her from leaning in any closer. “Why would you think I wasn’t going to be? Did something happen to those who serve under the king?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the current awkwardness. I’d noticed the way the maids acted when I was told I’d be serving him.

“Erm… yes,” she leaned in, lowering her voice as if she were about to spill some scandalous tea. “The maid serving the king never lasts long. The last one got her hand broken for spilling tea on the king’s paperwork by mistake.”

I blinked. “Wait, broken hand?”

“Yup,” Eva said,. “You’d think spilling tea on his papers was a capital offense or something.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, her eyes wide. “Everyone’s terrified of the king. No one wants to serve under him, so Emmanuel has been doing it for a year now. That’s why everyone was so surprised when the king suddenly requested someone else.”

“Oh…” I whispered under my breath, not exactly surprised. Hades had nearly killed me on the first night. He strangled me without a second thought– not even a slight hesitation.

But then my mind wandered to Cyrus, and my heart skipped a beat at the memory of him calling me mate—and how he’d almost marked me.

How were they even remotely the same? Cyrus had been much gentler than Hades, softer even yet they were similar in a way I can not explain. 

“Davina…” Eva’s voice snapped me back to the present, her breath hitching as she moved closer. “What’s that on your neck… is that a bruise? Did the Lycan king…?”

I froze, my heart racing in my chest, a wave of panic rising in my throat. My fingers instinctively went to my neck, but before I could respond, Eva leaned in, her eyes going wide as she gasped.

“Wait a damn minute! Are those… hickeys?!”