Hades' Cursed Luna novel Chapter 52

Eve~

Dinner the next day was less tense, especially with the Beta, Kael, conversing with me. Felicia was scowling as usual, but she did not speak. Elliot, on the other hand, was simply watching. Each time my eyes went to him, he would look away. I hoped he didn’t believe I was mad at him.

"How much to commission a painting?" Kael asked. "I need one that can capture my prowess."

I had come to like the blond man with the infectious laugh.

"Of course, but it’s gonna cost ya," I replied.

Kael grinned, leaning back in his chair with a smug look. "Name your price, princess."

I chuckled. "I’ll need some supplies, and your full cooperation for those long, grueling hours of posing."

Felicia scoffed from her seat. "You mean you’re going to spend hours staring at him?"

Kael shot her a look, unfazed. "Can’t blame her for wanting to capture this perfection." He gestured to himself dramatically, making me laugh again.

"Don’t flatter yourself," I said, but my smile lingered. "I’ll do it on one condition though."

"And what’s that?" Kael asked, leaning forward now, intrigued.

I glanced at Hades. He was silent, as always, but his gaze was fixed on me, piercing and unreadable.

"I want to paint the king too," I said, my voice steady as I attempted to bring him into the conversation.

Kael’s brows shot up, and Felicia’s scowl deepened, but I ignored them. Hades hadn’t moved, hadn’t reacted, but I could feel the shift in the air between us.

He tilted his head slightly, as if considering my offer. His cold, calculating eyes locked onto mine. "I am not interested," his tone was curt.

Something sharp pierced my chest, and my face burned with embarrassment as Felicia burst out laughing.

Each time Felicia laughed, Hades would tense up further. After greeting me, he hadn’t spoken to me at all or even looked at me. I bit my lip, guilt and shame washing over me. It must have been my abrupt kiss that had caused this distance between us.

When he began being civil, I hadn’t trusted it. I believed he was playing games with me because I could easily imagine someone like him doing just that. But his actions... Was it possible that someone could fake it to this extent? Hiring a therapist for me, the night of my heat, trying to make amends for not believing me, taking me out to my favorite place, and gifting me the art supplies. Along the way, I had let myself get carried away. I needed to apologize.

Hades stood abruptly, the scrape of his chair against the floor startling me. His face was a blank mask, the cold, distant persona slipping back into place effortlessly. Without a word, he turned and left the dining hall, his long strides carrying him away as if he couldn’t bear to be in the same room any longer.

I froze, shame and frustration bubbling up inside me. I glanced at the others—Kael was frowning, confused by the sudden shift, while Felicia wore a smug smile. She seemed to enjoy the sight of me wilting under Hades’ rejection.