Hades' Cursed Luna novel Chapter 34

Eve~

"I am done, ma’am," Agnes announced.

"Thank you," I murmured. "I love it," I faked enthusiasm.

But I could feel her confusion because I hadn’t looked in the mirror, and she noticed.

"Alright." She bowed before walking out the door.

I breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind her. I glanced at the mirror but looked away again, my heart racing.

I closed my eyes and attempted to calm my raging nerves as I stood. I looked down at the emerald dress, its silky fabric clinging to my body in all the right places, its elegance doing little to calm the storm of anxiety swirling inside me. The plunging neckline, the shimmer of the material—it was all meant to make me look powerful, alluring, but all I felt was exposed. My fingers brushed over the smooth fabric as I paced the room, trying to steady my nerves. The Lunar Gala. And Hades.

I hadn’t even dared to look in the mirror.

The quiet creak of the door made me freeze, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. His presence was impossible to ignore, a shadow that filled the room with an energy that made the air feel thicker.

"You’re not ready yet," his voice, low and cold, cut through the silence. I could feel his gaze on me.

I turned slowly, forcing my eyes to meet his. Hades stood there, an unreadable expression on his face, dressed in a sharp black suit that emphasized his predatory grace. His eyes, however, were darker than usual, and they lingered on me a beat too long. He took a step closer, his gaze traveling the length of me, slow and assessing. I could feel the weight of it, like he was peeling back every layer I had tried to wrap around myself for protection.

"I’m ready," I said, though my voice betrayed me, trembling ever so slightly. I didn’t know if he noticed, but I suspected he did. He always did.

"You’re nervous," he remarked, not with concern, but with cool detachment.

I swallowed, trying to steel myself. "Of course I am. It’s the Lunar Gala. Lycans, royals… everyone will be watching." Listing them out made the fear even harder to ignore.

He moved closer until the space between us evaporated. His hand reached up, and before I could react, he caught a lock of my hair, twirling it between his fingers. The gesture was intimate, but the coldness in his eyes made it feel anything but. Something had shifted in his demeanor. I couldn’t decide whether I found it a relief to the intensity of his presence or even more unnerving. His grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me of his power. The memory of his hand around my neck flashed in my head.

The night air was crisp as we stepped outside, and I was grateful for the chill against my skin—it helped clear the fog of nerves that threatened to overwhelm me. _{freeweɓnovēl.coɱ}