CHAPTER 69: YOU’RE SO HARD

"Hmm," Lilith murmured, placing a hand to her forehead as a wave of dizziness washed over her. "So, you’re withholding me from getting married because you want me to work for you forever? That doesn’t seem very fair, Your Highness," she whispered.

A smile tugged at Hades’ lips. "Are you even listening to me?"

Lilith shook her head twice. "I’m cold... and I need to lie down," she murmured, wrapping her arms around her shoulders as she leaned slightly forward, closer to Hades.

"We should head back to my chamber. It’s getting late," Hades suggested, reaching out to steady her, but Lilith pulled away before he could touch her.

"I don’t want to go anywhere with you," she said, leaning toward him with a whisper. "Are you aware that people think we are sleeping together?"

"We actually do," Hades replied, amused. "We sleep together sometimes."

Lilith gasped, then broke into loud giggles. "Not like that, silly." She playfully slapped his upper arm. "We only sleep on the same bed, not... sleep together. Anyway, I don’t need to explain, I am certain you know what I mean."

Hades glanced at where she had slapped him, then met her eyes again. "Does it bother you? The rumors?"

"Of course it does. I don’t want people thinking I’m a mistress, or worse, a whore. I’d like to protect what little reputation I have left, thank you."

"No one will say such things about you. I’ll make sure they never speak of it again," the prince said calmly.

"Oh dear prince, you can’t just threaten to kill your people. That’s... that’s wrong," she said, beginning to pull the pins from her hair one by one, letting them fall to the ground.

"I didn’t say I would kill anyone. I’ll simply ensure they never speak again," Hades said, watching her hair tumble down her shoulders in thick waves.

"Whatever you say, prince. You are, after all, the ruler." Lilith looked up at him, studying his face. "Why do you have different colored irises? I’ve never seen anyone with eyes like yours." She blinked, tilting her head sideways as if trying to see them more clearly.

"I was born with it. It represents the union of two powerful bloodlines my father’s and my mother’s," Hades explained, keeping the details vague. He could tell Lilith wasn’t in the state to follow a deep conversation, her attention flitted like that of a child.

"Oh! I once saw a picture of a beautiful woman with golden eyes while I was cleaning your bedroom. She’s your mother, right?" Lilith asked.

"Yes, that’s my mother," he replied.

"You’re lucky to have such a beautiful woman as a mother. No wonder you turned out so beautiful too. Sometimes I wonder why a man should be this beautiful," she mumbled. "And... where’s your father? Isn’t he the king?" Her brows furrowed.

"I’m sure every woman finds me dashing. You wouldn’t be the first," Hades said with a teasing smile, dismissing her question about the King.

Lilith scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That was just a slip of the tongue. You’re not that beautiful. I have certainly seen more handsome men in my life."

Hades chuckled, the sound deep and warm. Lilith bit the inside of her cheek to stop the flutter in her chest at how strangely comforting his laugh was.

"I’m sure you have," Hades teased again.

Lilith turned to walk away, but stumbled, losing her footing. The prince caught her swiftly, his fingers wrapping around her arm as she leaned into him. One hand splayed across his torso, and she blinked down at it, feeling the hardness beneath his thick clothing.

"Dear gods, you’re so hard," she murmured, fascinated, her hand sliding up his chest. "You feel so strong..." she continued, her fingers tracing the taut muscles. "How did you manage to get this strong?"

Hades watched her with quiet amusement.

Lilith trailed her fingers over his shoulders, then down the length of his arms, back to his chest. Her touch drifted lower, exploring without shame, until suddenly, her wrists were caught in a firm grip. Startled, she looked up at him, confusion shining in her eyes

"Why are you holding my hands? I wasn’t done," she muttered in a low voice.

"You cannot touch me below the waistband of my trousers," Hades said.

Lilith’s brows knit into a deep frown. "Why not?"

Hades pressed his lips into a thin line, trying to suppress a smile. "Because...I think it’s time for you to sleep. We’re going back to my chamber." He took her hand and began pulling her along, giving her no chance to refuse or complain.

With half-lidded eyes, Lilith stumbled after him, her steps sluggish and unsteady, eyes drooping, but her body responding to the pull of his as he led her through a passageway she hadn’t seen before.

~~~

Back in the ballroom, Kathryn and her friends were enjoying themselves as they sipped from numerous glasses of wine. Unlike Lilith, it would take more than four glasses to get them intoxicated.

"What do you think the Cromwell boy is doing with Lilith?" Harriet asked, tilting her glass slightly.

"They’re probably just having an awkward conversation. The boy is too much of a gentleman to try anything with her, especially when she’s intoxicated," Calantha replied, toying with the end of a loose strand of hair.

"I’d like to say you girls should have been a bit kinder to Lilith," Kathryn chimed in. "I know she might be a little slow and naive, but it’s to be expected, she’s new to all of this."

Her friends stared at her in stunned silence before bursting into a fit of laughter.

As the laughter died down, Harriet cleared her throat. "If what the girl said about the prince not bedding her—or any woman—is true, then it’s only a matter of time before that changes. He is still a man, after all."

Seraphina and Calantha turned toward Kathryn.

"If you had him once, you can have him again," Seraphina said. "Lilith might be beautiful, but she doesn’t stand a chance against you. You’re more experienced, you know how to get the prince on his knees."

Kathryn let out a deep breath. "I understand, but it’s not as simple as that. The prince doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. He’s made it clear that whatever we had in the past is just that—the past."

"That can’t be completely true," Calantha said. "He still lets you stay in his palace, and he paid for your ball dress. There’s a part of him that still wants you—believe me."

"That might be true, but I can’t do anything about it. He won’t let me get close, and I don’t think he can be seduced. The prince has an incredible amount of self-control, it would be impossible to break through it unless he allowed it," Kathryn admitted.

Harriet leaned in closer. "Nothing is impossible. And with a little help, he could be obsessed with you before long."

Kathryn frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Harriet glanced around to ensure no one was listening. "I know a woman who practices black magic. She makes potions of all kinds. My aunt got one from her after she discovered her husband had a mistress. I was shocked when, within a week, he became obsessed—madly in love with her all over again."

"A love potion? On the prince?" Seraphina whispered. "You seem to forget how powerful he is. He drank poison that could have killed a normal man in this very ballroom, and nothing happened."

"I know," Harriet said. "But killing him is different from making him fall in love. Besides, the potion just needs to work long enough for her to get into his bed—and maybe even conceive his child."

Kathryn’s face twisted in disapproval. "A child? I want the prince, not his child."

Harriet rolled her eyes. "You don’t actually have to conceive. You can always lie about it. There’s no way he’d know, and once he gives you what you want, you can say you lost the baby or something like that."

The other three girls stared at her, bewildered. "How do you know all these tricks?"

Harriet smirked. "My sweet mother taught me—if you want something, you must be willing to do anything to get it. And you, my dear Kathryn, are meant to sit on the throne beside the prince."

"I’ll have to think about it. When I’ve made a decision, I’ll pay you a visit," Kathryn replied, lifting her cup to her lips to hide the sinister smile creeping across her face. Her eyes drifted to a man standing in the distant corner of the ballroom. He met her gaze and offered a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.

"I should be getting home now. I’m so tired, I can barely think," Seraphina said with a yawn.

"I think we should all retire for the night. I’ll see you off to your carriages," Kathryn offered.

The girls adjusted their appearances, smoothing dresses and fixing hair, before making their way out of the ballroom.