tet them worship the ground you walk on\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let them worship the ground you walk on\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took me forever to calm him down. God knows what came over Hades, but he actually wanted to take me somewhere else, just so no one else could see me. After all that time, after all that effort, after enduring Sierra fussing over my hair and makeup for an hour, and after putting on the dress that nearly gave me a heart attack when I heard the price, this man really wanted to keep me locked away for himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And the worst part was that he was dead serious about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The makeup artists alone cost more than my college tuition Sierra had said their names so casually. And I still couldn\u2019t wrap my head around it around the dress. Twenty million dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty. Million. Dollars. For a fabric!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even thinking about it now made my blood pressure spike.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matthew had spoiled me before, expensive dinners, designer clothes, even that one gown he\u2019d bought that Hades had shredded the first time we slept together, but this was on another level. I\u2019d only ever accepted Matthew\u2019s gifts because there was no return policy, and at least the price had been somewhat reasonable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But this? I couldn\u2019t accept it. I\u2019d opened my mouth to ask for something else, but Sierra, with her infuriatingly calm tone, had said, \u201cIf she doesn\u2019t want this, then bring another one. I think the forty\u2013million\u2013dollar gown would be a good option.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Forty. Million.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swear I almost fainted right there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So yes, here I was, wearing the twenty\u2013million\u2013dollar gown because there was no way I was walking out in a forty -million\u2013dollar one. My heart couldn\u2019t handle it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But honestly, the money wasn\u2019t even the worst problem. The worst problem was sitting beside me in the car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man couldn\u2019t keep his hands to himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We were on our way to the venue, and what was he doing? Testing my patience, and my sanity. His hand had started innocently enough, resting against my thigh. But it didn\u2019t stop there. Inch by inch, he kept going higher, sliding over bare skin, making my blood hum with every movement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to ignore it. I pressed my nails into my palm, bit the inside of my cheek, stared so hard out the window I thought I\u2019d burn a hole in the glass. But he wouldn\u2019t stop. He was enjoying himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hated that I wanted to lean into it. Hated how easily my boly betrayed me, how my pulse quickened, and how my skin burned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why couldn\u2019t this man just sit still for once?\u00a0<\/p>\n
His hand went higher.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I flinched, every nerve in my body sparking as his fingers bushed against the thin fabric of my panties. Heat shot through me, and I couldn\u2019t pretend to stare out the window anymore. My hand flew down, clutching his wrist in panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cW\u2013wait-\u201cI stammered, finally turning toward him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was leaning back casually, one hand resting against his face, looking so calm, while my face burned so hot I\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
At them ashan the grotes\u012f\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
was sure I was seconds from combusting. Before I could even finish what I wanted to say, the car slowed and came to a stop. Alec\u2019s voice came from the front seat, flat and unterested.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t look back. It was obvious he already knew exactly what was going on in the backseat and wanted absolutely no part of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shoved Hades\u2019s hand away, heart still pounding, and face the opposite direction, desperate to collect myself. My voice came out small.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cW\u2013we\u2019re here\u2026\u201d I said, but before I could fully retreat int myself, Hades leaned toward me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instinctively leaned back, pressing against the leather seat my eyes wide. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That smile, the one that always felt like he was three steps head of me, curved across his lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll continue this later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath hitched. Continue? What did he mean by that? My face heated again at the thought, but before I could demand answers, he moved, reaching for the elegant box set on the seat between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he flipped it open, I gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside was a mask, if it could even be called that. Small and lelicate, it shimmered with glittering diamonds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d I whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA mask,\u201d he said simply, as though it wasn\u2019t the most ridiculous, extravagant thing I had ever seen in my entire\u00a0<\/p>\n
life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut-\u201cI began, ready to protest, but he didn\u2019t let me finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned in, and gently placed the mask over my face. His hands were careful as he tied the ribbon behind my head, the brush of his fingers against my hair making me flinch at the intimacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice brushed against my ear. \u201cIf I wanted to get something for you, princess,\u201d His breath tickled my skin as he pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. \u201cI\u2019ll get something so stunning, it would be worth hiding your breathtaking face.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart stuttered painfully, and for a moment I forgot how to breathe. Nobody had ever said things like that to me. Nobody had ever looked at me like I was worth something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to feel this way. I didn\u2019t want to melt under hin, didn\u2019t want to let myself be fooled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But whether I liked it or not, this man treated me like I was more than I ever expected to be. More than even Cinderella, waiting for her glass slipper. And maybe, for the first time in my life, it felt nice to be seen this way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door opened, and before he even stepped out, people were already talking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think\u2026 oh my god, that\u2019s Mr. Hades!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s he doing here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake pictures, come on, hurry!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s so good\u2013looking\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let weh worship the ground you wo on\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even with the clicking shutters, the flashing lights, and the whispers, none of it seemed to matter to him. Hades ignored them all, moving with his usual arrogance, as though the crowd existed only to fill the background\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned back toward the car, extending his hand inside teme.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, princess. Don\u2019t keep daddy waiting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes widened at his words, heat flooding my cheeks. Aurmur rippled through the people outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Is someone still inside?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s impossible, Hades never brings women to events like this!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze dropped to his hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So many people were out there. They were attention I\u2019d spent most of my life avoiding. My chest tightened with panic, but then I looked at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The way he stood there, the way his eyes pinned mine that old me no matter what happened out there, he wouldn\u2019t let anyone touch me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a deep breath, and finally placed my hand in his.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pulled me out, effortlessly, and the instant my heels touched the pavement, the crowd gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my god, it\u2019s a woman!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is she? She\u2019s gorgeous!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no idea. But look at them, he\u2019s so protective of her. I\u2019ve never seen him like this before.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
>>\u00a0<\/p>\n
The flashes blinded me. My palms were clammy, my heartbeat loud in my ears. I had never had this much spotlight on me before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With Matthew, I stayed away from the cameras, I hated the exposure. Nora, on the other hand, loved the attention and walked beside him, basking in it while people speculated about their relationship. I was always in the\u00a0<\/p>\n
shadows.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But not now, I was standing beside Hades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed, when suddenly his arm slid around my waist. The weight startled me enough to look up at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned close, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cChin up, princess. You\u2019re my date, the most stunning one here. Let them worship the ground you walk on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A shiver ran through me at his words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I unclenched my trembling hands, lifting my chin as he commanded. I didn\u2019t want to embarrass him. So I straightened my back, forced my body to relax.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mouth curved in approval. \u201cGood girl.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And with his arm secure around me, he guided me forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
The those is chways to much fun\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chase is always so much fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hades\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked her into the hall, my hand around her waist. The flashing lights and endless camera shutters meant nothing to me, I had long since grown immune to their noise. But tonight, I slowed my pace. I walked as if I had all the time in the world, savoring the sight of Violet beside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was nervous. She wasn\u2019t used to this spotlight. And yet, part of me wanted to keep her hidden, tucked away where no one else could lay eyes on her. But she wasn\u2019t meant to be hidden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was more than that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She deserved their admiration, their envy, their awe. She deserved the best of everything, and I would see to it that she had exactly that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss, can you smile!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A photographer rushed forward, far too close, shoving the lens practically into her face. She stumbled back in shock, but my hand tightened on her waist, steadying her. My cold eyes lifted to the man.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He froze mid\u2013step, swallowed hard, and stumbled back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd went silent. The cameras stopped clicking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No one dared to move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2013Im so sorry, ma\u2019am!\u201d The photographer said before running away\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside me, Violet\u2019s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden hush. I shifted my gaze back to her, softening my mouth into something resembling a smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go, princess,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nodded quickly and walked forward with me. Behind us. I heard the photographer mutter, trembling, \u201cOh my god\u2026 that was so scary. Did you see his eyes? I thought I was about to go to hell.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps he wasn\u2019t wrong. He had very nearly taken the first step into it. Only her presence at my side had controlled me, and kept me from snapping his camera in two along with his bones. For her, I\u2019d play the part of civility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet tilted her head toward me, whispering, \u201cWhat was that? He looked scared.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced down at her, my expression all innocence. \u201cI have no idea. Maybe he saw something frightening.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She studied me suspiciously for a moment before nodding slowly, clearly unconvinced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We stepped into the hall, and immediately the energy shifted. Every head turned toward us, and conversations stopped. Every gaze in the room followed our every move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat man\u2026 he looks like Hades.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my god, he\u2019s here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s the woman beside him? Her face is covered, but I\u2019ve never seen her before.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s stunning. Is she his new bride?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve heard the rumors, could it really be true?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt Violet\u2019s eyes on me. \u201cThey recognize you, even with the mask,\u201d she muttered, almost to herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
*25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
My lips curved, amused. \u201cLet\u2019s say you owe someone money. Wouldn\u2019t you recognize the face of your debtor, even in your sleep?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She blinked at me, clearly unsure what I meant. My attention swept over the room. The crowd looked uneasy, none of them daring to move closer. As if a single step forward might cost them more than they could afford.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My smirk deepened. I leaned down just enough for Violet to hear me clearly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see, princess, all of these people here owe me. So of course they recognize their debtor. Because when i finally come for their souls, they\u2019ll want to know when to run.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will let them run,\u201d I finished. \u201cBecause the chase is always so much fun.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A middle\u2013aged man rushed toward us, nearly tripping over himself in his haste. A cluster of men followed close behind, their faces pale, eyes flicking between me and Violet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man bent slightly, chest heaving as though he\u2019d just run a marathon. I stared down at him without\u00a0<\/p>\n
expression, though at my side Violet\u2019s brows pinched together. She looked as though she might offer him a glass of water if one were nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d she asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She leaned slightly forward, but I tightened my grip on her waist, pulling her closer into me. Her startled eyes lifted to mine, and I smiled at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, princess,\u201d I said. \u201cHe isn\u2019t dying.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze shifted to the man still wheezing in front of us. I tilted my head lazily. \u201cRight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man swallowed hard and straightened immediately. \u201cY\u2013Yes, sir. I\u2019m fine. T\u2013thank you, miss,\u201d he stammered quickly to Violet. \u201cBut truly, I\u2019m okay. We\u2019re all okay.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned toward the men behind him, who all nodded in frantic agreement. Violet gave them a polite little nod\u00a0<\/p>\n
back\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes came back to me. \u201cM\u2013Mr. Hades,\u201d he began, voice shaking. \u201cI\u2026 I didn\u2019t expect to see you here. I always send you invitations, but you never respond. I thought this year would be like any other\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brow arched. \u201cAre you saying you don\u2019t want me here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man blanched, shaking his head so violently I thought it might snap from his neck. \u201cO\u2013Of course not! 1 wouldn\u2019t dare! It is\u2026 an honor that you are here. Please, let me get you a seat, so we can discuss some important\u00a0<\/p>\n
matters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to. Sitting down meant entertaining them, tolerating their chatter, and desperate negotiations. What I wanted was far simpler, to keep Violet close, to watch her every reaction, to have her attention all to myself. But if I ignored them completely, she\u2019d think I\u2019d dragged her here only as an excuse to keep her near and leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I inclined my head. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was shocked. He had clearly expected rejection. Instead, he lit up with excitement and bowed hurriedly. \u201cTh- This way, sir.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned, gesturing for us to follow. My arm tightened around Violet\u2019s waist, ready to lead her forward, but her hand suddenly caught mine. I looked down at her, curious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat should I do?\u201d she asked quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
The chase Ways O much fun\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brows furrowed. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shifted nervously. \u201cWell, you want me to stay by your side, right? I know I won\u2019t talk, I\u2019ll just sit there and look pretty. But, are there other things I shouldn\u2019t do? Like should I not speak at all if someone talks to me? Or should I avoid eating anything?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A low laugh slipped from me. She looked so serious, so utterly unaware of how absurd the question was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leaning down, I brushed my lips close to her ear. \u201cPrincess.\u201d I murmured, \u201cyou\u2019re mistaken about something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes flicked up to mine, waiting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI could care less if you decide to slap every last one of them,\u201d I said. \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t bring you here to sit pretty like some accessory I plan to flaunt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can do anything you want. Even if you want to make them all kneel and kiss your pretty feet, do it. I\u2019ll make sure I\u2019m right by your side, ensuring they all obey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t my ornament. She was mine. And the world would learn exactly what that meant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nights Burn With Regret \u2014 by Nathan Perez 51 tet them worship the ground you walk on\u00a0 +25 Bonus\u00a0 Let […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-craving-the-guardian-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27967\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}