Hades' Cursed Luna novel Chapter 72

Eve~

I sat up in bed, panting, my throat hoarse from screaming. Tears stung my eyes, and then I felt arms muscles around me, a warm mouth close to my ear.

"Shh… Red, it was a nightmare," Hades murmured. "You’re okay." He wrapped his arms that could have been tree trunks , around my waist, pulling me closer, my face pressed against his chest.

His heart was beating steadily, a complete contrast to my own, which was erratic, almost painful with each thundering beat. I jolted when he began rubbing slow circles into my back, but soon found myself leaning into his touch. I was aware of every part of him. His scent, his hard, warm body and everything else in-between.

Danielle.

Her name slithered into my thoughts, guilt and confusion swirled in my feverish mind. How could he be doing this? It would have been less unnerving—less terrifying—if he’d shown anger. He had every right to feel it. That, I could understand. But this gentle care, this warmth—it rattled me far more than anger ever could. I wanted to recoil, to push him away before his kindness burrowed deeper, but my body betrayed me, leaning instinctively into his embrace. I could feel every steady beat of his heart against my cheek, grounding me, pulling me back from the lingering shadows of the nightmare.

Danielle’s name echoed again in my mind, twisting my gut with a sense of betrayal—my own, for being here, for accepting his touch, for wanting it in some undeniable way. The guilt festered, making it hard to breathe, and I pulled back slightly, forcing myself to look at him.

"Hades," I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper. "You don’t have to… do this. You don’t have to…"

He looked down at me, his face unreadable, though his eyes softened slightly, a flicker of something that looked like understanding—or was it pity? "I’m here because I have to protect you, Red. Even from your nightmares," he said, his voice low, almost tender. "You’re safe with me."

My heart twisted at his words, both comforted and terrified by them. How could he offer me safety when all I’d done was disrupt his life? I bit my lip, searching his face for a hint of resentment, something that would allow me to cling to my guilt and keep my distance. But there was none—just that same steady calm, as if he were willing to bear the weight of my pain without question. What was this enigma of a man? A known killer, the Hand of Death himself, shouldn’t have been capable of such tenderness. It made my stomach turn.

"What are… how can you…," I murmured, barely able to look him in the eyes.

Hades tilted my chin up gently, forcing me to meet his gaze. His fingers brushed over my cheek, wiping away the stray tear that had escaped while I was dreaming. "I’ve made my choice, Red. Stop questioning it," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I swallowed hard, the intensity of his gaze anchoring me, yet sending my heart racing. "I don’t deserve this," I whispered, half hoping he would agree.