Page 304 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
Worry etches the soft lines of Persephone’s expression.
My gaze flicks to Mors who looks equally concerned.
Zeus stares blankly at me with wide eyes, seated directly in front of me less than a foot away, tail swishing against the floor, as if barely managing to restrain himself from leaping into my lap.
The sight breaks the tension and the sound that breaks free from my chest is both a laugh and a sob. Zeus barks in reply, getting to his paws and thrusting his head under my arm as I clap my hand over my mouth to stifle my emotion.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me.”
Persephone and Mors exchange a look, before she returns her gaze to mine, hand rubbing the length of my forearm in reassurance.
Tears line her eyes, chin wobbling as she speaks. “It’s okay. You’re allowed to feel this way.”
My jaw tenses as I force myself to draw in steadying breaths, and finally, I can manage some semblance of... grace. Whatever fragment of doubt I’d felt at not following through with this plan has burned to ash.
My eyes dance between each of them, trying to pour every ounce of sincerity into my gaze. “Congratulations, darlings. I am... immeasurably happy for you.”
Their brows tighten with pity.
Akash almighty.
My gaze collapses to Zeus and I continue to stroke his coat. “Truly.”
Persephone’s hand moves up my arm to my shoulder, rubbing soothing circles.
“I’m sorry that things didn’t work out differently, Azrael. Please know that it’s not because I didn’t want them to. Despite all the times I ran or hid from you, it wasn’t because I didn’t wantyou.It was just because of..."
She pauses for a moment, the word sounds bitter on her tongue.
“Fate.”
The fist in my chest eases its grip. Shoulders I hadn’t realized were rigid, relax.
Not merely for her apology, though some old, bitter part of me finds closure in those words, but because I finally surrender.
“I came to ask a favor of you..."
My eyes lift to Mors. Persephone glances up at him. His brow tightens further as if he can’t possibly fathom what I could possibly want from him. Gaze sliding to Persephone, I add, “Two, actually.”
They remain silent.
“Avernus..."
Mors’ domain.
“I need to visit it.”
Mors’ gaze narrows. “Why, might I ask?”
Sigh.
“The River Oblivion.”
Persephone gasps. “Azrael, are you insane?—”
“Yes.” My harsh tone transforms Mors’ handsome, relaxed features contort into a scowl, and for a fleeting moment, for the first time in many millenia, I see the slumbering monster beneath his calm exterior peek an eye open in warning.
Feeling like even more of an asshole, I murmur an apology as I close my eyes, drawing in another deep breath as I sink back into the couch. Zeus places his head in my lap and I absently stroke the backs of his floppy ears. “I need this. I need... reprieve.”
