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Heavy wooden bannisters lead down to an expansive room with two chairs in front of aas I make my way down to where Hayden stands at an impossibly talltopped with a pointed arch

“Persephone nearly drove me insane” He crosses his ar the armor

“Where have you been?” My eyes fly over his clothes

He’s dressed in a tailored black shirt and slacks like he used to wear at dinner It’s topped with a red velvet jacket tied at the waist, and his nails are trilossy pale, not black and pointed

“I had business above ground Nothing to worry your beautiful head about, my queen”

Koa My throat tightens, and I’m sure whatever his business was, it had to involve my panther Keep calm What do I want to know?

“What did Persephone do that drove you insane?” My voice is still dehs

“There she is” Walking to where I stand at the foot of the stairs, he lifts a lock of ers Pale blue eyes linger ontofor irl to resurface”

Inhaling slowly, I move past him to the dark fireplace “Why do you have fireplaces and no fire?”

He’s still standing at the foot of the stairs watchingto me”

I look down and realize I’e sheath I slept in It’s essentially transparent, and I burn with sha my hair over my shoulders, I use it to cover my dark nipples

“Tell o back please” My voice is softer, less de my back to him

“For starters, she wasn’t very smart” He’s behind eneration”

“Maybe if you didn’t et to know soirl who actually wants to be with you”

“That’s not hoorks!” he suddenly shouts “I’m the Prince of Darkness Someone injures me, someone is made to pay”