CHAPTER 37: ON HIS BED

Lilith made her way up the stairs and into the prince’s chamber, which was eerily quiet, signaling that no one was present. Letting out a small sigh, she quickly spread a blanket on the floor in the corner of the room, her designated sleeping space.

Her gaze drifted to the large, inviting bed, and she bit her lip as a tempting thought crossed her mind.

Would it really hurt to lay on it for just a little while?

She debated with herself. The prince might not care... but then again, he might. He could quite literally throw her out the window if he found out she had dared to rest on his bed without permission.

But if it was just for a few minutes... he would never have to know.

Giving in to temptation, Lilith cautiously climbed onto the bed, sinking into its soft embrace. The warmth and comfort were too soothing to resist. She had only meant to rest for a short while, but the moment her head hit the pillow, sleep claimed her, pulling her into a deep slumber.

At exactly 11:00 p.m., the door creaked open, and Hades stepped into the room, his boots clicking softly against the carpeted floor. He shrugged off his coat, draping it over a chair before moving deeper into the chamber. His gaze immediately fell on Lilith, sprawled across his bed, her legs dangling off the side.

She lay on her side, hands tucked beneath her head, lost in a deep slumber. She hadn’t stirred at his arrival, nor had she noticed him standing mere inches away, watching her with gleaming amusement and the faintest smirk playing at his lips.

"Such an audacious little thing," he murmured under his breath, stepping closer.

With an exhale, he moved to his dresser, changing into something more comfortable before making his way back to the bed. Without hesitation, he joined her, settling onto the other side. His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling, hands locked behind his head.

A yawn escaped Lilith’s lips as she nestled deeper into the softness of the bed, savoring its warmth. It took her a few moments to realize that something felt different—this wasn’t just any bed.

Dear lord.

The prince’s bed.

Her eyes flew open, and she instantly froze, the blood draining from her face. Panic surged through her veins as she registered the weight beneath her leg—she had unknowingly placed it over someone. Slowly, almost fearfully, she trailed her gaze upward, only to meet the prince’s piercing stare.

A smirk played at his lips, his expression one of amusement and mischief.

Lilith felt her heart plummet straight to her stomach. A wave of mortification washed over her as she desperately prayed to the heavens that she would simply disintegrate into dust and vanish from existence.

Almost immediately, Lilith scrambled away from him and the bed, her movements so quick that she lost her balance and fell to the floor with a loud thud. Her embarrassment overwhelmed her, leaving her unable to even register the pain from the fall as she rose to her feet.

"Forgive me, Your Highness! I didn’t mean to... oh my... I can explain!"

Hades’ gaze turned cold as he narrowed his eyes at her. "I’m waiting for your explanation, little witch. Why are you on my bed?"

"I... I just wanted to rest for a while, but I... I ended up falling asleep. Please forgive me, Your Highness. It won’t happen again." Lilith swallowed hard, her face flushed pink as her eyes remained fixed on the floor.

She couldn’t bring herself to look up, but the sound of the bed creaking told her he was standing up. He walked around the bed, coming to stand right in front of her.

"Since you’re so eager to sleep on my bed, then you will, every night, little witch." His voice was deep and commanding, sending shivers down her spine. His words lingered in the air, and without meaning to, she lifted her head to meet his gaze, and immediately regretted it.

The prince was standing much closer than she had anticipated, close enough for her to catch his scent, the intoxicating mixture of leather and mint, and for her to see her own reflection in his golden eye. Lilith’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing as she struggled to pull her gaze away from his piercing stare. She felt a flush creeping up her neck, a wave of heat flooding her skin. His ethereal beauty left her breathless.

"Did you hear what I said, little witch?" he asked, his voice dangerously low and firm, laced with something unreadable.

It took her a few moments to process his words, the reality of the situation sinking in. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice faltered, barely above a whisper. "I... I don’t want to sleep with you, Your Highness," she stammered, her chest tightening with overwhelming uncertainty. Her heart pounded in her ears, each beat echoing louder than the last.

Hades smirked. "Sleep with me? You’re going to sleep on my bed, not with me. Do not get ahead of yourself, little witch." He chuckled softly.

With his gloved hand, he gently brushed his finger across the side of her lips, a touch so delicate, it sent a shock of warmth rushing through her. Lilith’s breath hitched in her throat, her body frozen in place as she felt his presence linger, even after he turned away.

"You drooled all over my bed. I want the bed covers changed," he ordered, his voice carrying a dark edge as he disappeared into the bathroom.

Lilith remained rooted to the ground, her heart hammering in her chest. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and butterflies swirled wildly in her stomach, What just happened?

The air around her seemed to thicken, her mind racing to make sense of the encounter, but all she could feel was the sting of his touch lingering on her lips and the heat of his gaze still burning through her.