Chapter 42

Hades p.o.v
“is there any other thing?” I looked at Cerberus impatiently. I needed to get back to Val.
Did she eat the food? Did she take my threat seriously?
“You seem troubled my Lord, is anything the matter?” he said. Taking his seat across me.
“Valerie” I said in a breath. “she seems mad at me for some reason and she stopped eating.” I buried my head in my hands.
“Are you worried about her my lord?, why?” I did not answer that, not immediately. There was no reason why I was worried. It was simply because.
“Do you need a break? You seemed carried away from duties sire. Clear your head while I run your duties for you?” it did not seem strange for cerb to ask. But....
I could not see it in me to ask that of him, not again. My mind flashed to the memories of the past where he worked overtime because he wanted to help me out. “There would be no need for that. I would just go Check if she had her meal and then I would get back to work” I said, smiling at him despite feeling like shit.
I made my way to her room, her scent more prominent in the air. It scented of vanilla and musk. I took in an unhealthy amount of air as I breathed her scent in.
I reached the familiar doors that kept the only person that made me lose my shit and also make me want to lose my façade when I was near her and did pleased.
I stood there for a whole before entering. Trying to put on my cold unyielding face before opening the door.


I had hoped that the meal would eventually win out over her anger. That she would eat, regain her strength, and we could talk about what was making her act up, surely the kiss could not be the problem.

I reached her door, pausing for a moment before I knocked lightly. There was no response. An unease settled in the pit of my stomach. I knocked again, a bit louder this time.
“Stinky, i hope you are not putting on another of your atti... tude”

“Valerie?” My voice seemed to bounce off the walls, the silence that followed unnerving me. As I saw the sight before me.


My heart, if it could still beat, would have stopped.

“Valerie!” I rushed to her side, my hands trembling as I reached for her. She lay there, her body crumpled on the cold stone floor, her skin pale. Her chest barely moved, each breath shallow, fragile. The plate of food I had brought earlier lay beside her, half-eaten, its contents now cold and unappealing.

Panic surged through me—a sensation that I was quite familiar with. It was the garden all over again. I stilled my shaking hands as I carried her, careful not to mal-handle her.

I knelt down, gently lifting her into my arms. Her body was limp, unnervingly so, and for a moment, I feared the worst. But then I felt it—a faint pulse, weak but steady.

It was not enough. I needed more. more if I needed to make sure that she would be okay.

Her body already gave up her soul once, this would be a miracle. If she came back.

“Valerie,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “i really cant take my eyes from you can I?” I scolded, hoping that she would open her eyes and reply me with that sharp tongue she seemed to have grown over the months here.

She didn’t respond, her eyes closed as if in deep sleep, but there was no peace in her expression. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips parted as if she was caught in a nightmare she couldn’t escape.

I carried her to the bed, laying her down as carefully as I could. She felt so fragile in my arms, so different from the fierce, stubborn woman who had stood before me earlier, defiant and unyielding. I couldn’t lose her—not like this.

I had been a fool to leave her alone, thinking she would eventually eat and regain her strength. Her anger, her pride—they were stronger than I had anticipated. She would rather starve than accept anything from me, especially now. I should have known better.

My fingers hovered over her pulse, feeling the faint thrum beneath her skin. It was there, but it was getting fainter by the moment. I swallowed the panicked that tried to swallow Me.

I took her hand in mine, squeezing it gently. “Please, Valerie,” I murmured, more to myself than to her. “Please wake up.”

I knew she couldn’t hear me, but I couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out. I needed her to fight, to hold on, to find that strength I admired so much in her. But as I sat there, watching her shallow breaths, a terrible realization settled over me.

If she didn’t wake up, if she slipped away from me, there would be no bringing her back. She would be gone, truly gone, and that was something I couldn’t—wouldn’t—accept.

I looked down at her face, so peaceful yet so far from life. My mind raced, searching for anything I could do to pull her back, to save her from this brink. And then it hit me, a desperate idea, reckless and dangerous,


I placed my hand over her heart, feeling the faint rhythm beneath my palm. Closing my eyes, I focused, drawing on the power within me.

Her body shuddered slightly, and for a moment, but then, nothing. I did it again and again and again,
Nothing
My powers did not work on her, so I could share some of my powers to make her pulse stronger.
“useless” I muttered, never Hating myself more than I did now.
“Valerie,” I whispered again, my voice thick with emotion, but as predicted nothing.

"my lord!" Cerb said, having this look of horror as he watched what played out in front of him.
"cerb, watching over the Affairs of Hell for me" I muttered, feeling myself slip"