Marked by Hades by Reese Monroe Page A

face.
    The Gatekeeper’s eyes went wide, and she squatted. Halena blocked Yvonne’s assault with her forearm. “Try it, demon!” She spun and swiped the legs out from beneath Yvonne. “I stabbed you once, I’ll do it again.”
    Yvonne cuffed Halena’s wrist and wrenched it back. A roar left Yvonne’s mouth as she leaped to her feet, taking Halena with her. “Heal. Him.”
    Focusing all her strength on her hold on the Gatekeeper, she forced her beside Justin. “Now, or so help me I’ll rip this hand off.”
    Yvonne’s voice was low, riddled with tension and anger. Justin regarded her with wide, shocked eyes. Her Mark pulsed, rippling down her shoulder into her forearm. He was in pain, and all she cared about was helping him.
    “Son of a bitch,” Sadie said behind her.
    Yvonne didn’t move but figured Sadie’s reaction was much like Justin’s silent one. Disgust. Maybe a little surprise, but mostly disgust.
    She didn’t have time to care. “Why aren’t you touching him yet?”
    “Damn Mates,” Halena mumbled as she laid her good hand on Justin’s side.
    Yvonne hustled to his other side and grabbed his hand. She offered a smile, but it didn’t soften his face as she’d hoped. There might be more demon left in her after all.
    “It’s okay.” She combed his hair from his forehead.
    “Is the beast in check?” Halena asked.
    “Shut up and heal him.”
    “Just thought I’d ask, because this is going to hurt, and I don’t want you to go all ape-shit on me again.” Halena closed her eyes and grimaced.
    Justin tensed. Veins bulged in his forehead and along his neck. He sat up, but Halena forced him down with a palm to his chest. Yvonne pushed her away, wanting to do it herself. She’d take care of Justin while Halena healed him. “It’s okay. You’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.”
    She glanced at Sadie, and she nodded. “Good. Good.”
    “What’s good about this scenario?” Halena asked, her voice tight. “We didn’t get a trade. The demons found their little bitch and want her back. How is this good?”
    “At least it confirms a few things.” Yvonne leaned over Justin. “Theo’s alive, and they don’t have all the Artifacts they need.”
    Sadie squatted beside her. “And somewhere in your mind, you know where they are.”
    “That means we have leverage.” Halena stood, shaking out her hand. “They’ll give us Theo if they can have you.”
    “No!” Justin vaulted to his feet.
    “Wait.” Yvonne grabbed his arm. “She’s right. They’ll keep coming after me now that they know where I am. We’ll get them to talk or something. We’ll find out where Theo is, and if not, yes, we’ll trade.”
    “We will not trade you.” He cupped her face.
    Her heart swelled at the love she saw in his eyes. Despite all the crap going on, she had Justin’s heart.
    Resting her forehead to his, she said, “But Theo’s your Gatekeeper. You’re dead without him.”
    “No. You. I can’t…” His voice trailed off.
    Even though he couldn’t admit it yet, she saw it—felt it—he was beginning to accept her as his Mate.
    “It won’t come to that,” Sadie said. “We’ll get to Theo another way.”
    Yvonne admired her hope, but she knew the truth. She’d be returning to Hades as a demon to save Justin.
    And she was fine with that. His life was worth more than hers.

Chapter Sixteen
    Justin shifted in the waiting room chair and drew in a deep breath, thankful he and Sadie were the only ones in here. Trying hypnosis was Dasha’s idea and one that didn’t really sit well with him.
    The thought of lying on a couch, not in control of your mind— He shook his head. “Why’s it smell like an orange in here?”
    “Mandarin.” Sadie swiped her phone, then frowned at the empty messages screen. She’d been doing that every few minutes, hoping to get something from Dasha or Halena on Theo’s whereabouts.
    Justin nudged her elbow off the armrest, and she looked up at him. Her eyes were