Violet

Hades killed our mother. The only woman who ever loved us.

Roman’s words echoed in my mind for what felt like the hundredth time today.

I froze.

For just a second, the world around me faded as those words echoed in my head, over and over again. My gaze lifted on its own and found Hades. He was already looking at me, blue eyes soft with that familiar longing that always made my chest ache in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

It wasn’t the look of a monster. It was the look of a man who wanted, who cared, who stayed by my side.

I shoved Roman’s words...