Anarchy (Hades, #2)

by Tate James

Zed was at her side, as always, and for once I was actually happy to see him. Even if he was head over heels in love with my girl.

She was flipping gender roles like nobody's business, and I was here for it.

"If you fucking die now, kid, I'll personally take a trip to hell, resurrect your ass, and kill you all over again."

I don't have the time or patience to be manipulated by your dick right now."

"No. You listen to me, Hayden Timber. I've stood back and watched you push people away and isolate yourself time and time again, making yourself utterly un-fucking-touchable. For fucking years. Now, in the short time you've been screwing Lucas, something has changed, and I for one don't want to see it change back. You care for him. You're going to the hospital and making sure he's alive. End of discussion."

"Fuck you're beautiful," he mumbled. "I thought for a second I had died when you appeared in that room. You looked just like an avenging angel."

He'd become a weakness... because goddamn it all to hell, I cared about him.

He shot me an accusing look. "Chase took him to hurt you, which means he knows you care about the adorable little gumdrop."

"What? I would be, in his shoes. I don't blame the poor kid for falling head over heels in love at first sight."

Zed scoffed. "That's one way to put it. He looked like he wanted to fuck you right there in the hospital bed after nearly dying yesterday. Gumdrop has stamina, I'll give him that."

"Sounds like he has a filthy fucking mind hiding under all that ink, and I need brain bleach to erase the pure smut I was subjected to in delivering that letter."

"I'm not asking you for forever, Red," he murmured in that deep, husky voice that all but dripped sex. "But you'll give it to me anyway."

In a move that surprised me more than I cared to admit, Zed leaned down and placed his hands on the arms of my chair, getting all up in my personal space.

"Does that feel like an act to you, Hayden? Because to me, it feels like the most real thing I've ever experienced."

Fists clenched at his sides, he took two steps closer. "I said, no. No, I will not sit down. Not about this. I'm not goddamn overstepping, Dare, because I fucking love you. Okay? I love you."

FINALLYYYYY ZED MY BBY

"Oh my god!" she shrieked. "You're totally fucking all three of them! Ugh, Dare, did I ever tell you you're my idol?

"Shush, Detective Douchebag. The adults are talking."

"I won't lose her to you, Zed. She already loves you and has since before I met her, so there's nothing to be insecure about. Hayden has room in her heart for both of us and for the grumpy old man snoring upstairs. Either get on board or get out, but I'm locked in for the whole damn ride."

"Because you soften me, Lucas. You make me human, and I can't afford to be soft or human right now. Not here, not with Chase watching."

He was mine, and I was more than capable of defending that claim.

When you dream of me, make it rough. I can't wait to make it a reality, then hold you afterwards. Hold you forever.