A Tale Before Two Alphas Series Book 2

“Do you need assistance?” I asked, my voice laced with caution. I was trying to maintain a polite distance from him.

His smile was constant, his eyes roving over me, a large brown mark marring his otherwise perfect pale skin from chin to his open red velvet shirt. His movements around me were casual, his touch nonchalant.

The ring Hades had given me as a warning device remained unchanged.

“My name is Spot. But in some tales, I’m known as Cerberus. I rather like that name. Cerrrrrberus. It has a certain menace to it, don’t you think?”

I furrowed my brow, crossing my arms over my chest, a futile attempt at protection if this Faerie meant to harm me. “I don’t know you.”

That was only half true. I knew the name, but I wasn’t about to admit that to a random Faerie. Especially if he wasn’t who he claimed to be. Cerberus was a three-headed dog. All I saw was a single-headed, spotted Faerie with sharp teeth.

His expression changed instantly, resembling a disappointed child who’d just been told his beloved goldfish had died. “I’m Hades’s favorite.”

“Hades doesn’t play favorites,” I retorted firmly.

He laughed at that, throwing his head back as if my statement was the funniest thing he’d heard. “He’s quite the actor.”

Hades had never shown kindness or compassion in court, even to his subjects whom he kept at a distance. While he had always been somewhat kind to me, it wasn’t as if I was a favorite either. It was simply in his best interest to keep me compliant, which worked well enough for me.

This was the most freedom and joy I had ever experienced in my life, so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

At least that’s what I kept telling myself until I could finally find or tell him about Persephone.

“You truly don’t know Hades if you’ve never heard of me. Every time he visits the Underworld, he makes sure to bring me a gift at the gate. He even spends time with me. Except for recently, the last few times, and this time not only was there no gift but he mentioned he had to go back to a Kore. He doesn’t even bother to learn his wife’s name. Isn’t that…interesting? I find it interesting.” He rubbed his chin, studying me, inching closer, his tone excited and breathless.

His words sent a chill down my spine.

Hades had mentioned me by name?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know you, so if you’ll please—”

Suddenly, where there was one, there were three—all identical copies of the same Faerie blocking any exit. The one in the middle looked apologetic while the other two started to close in on me. I instinctively stepped back, feeling trapped against the side of the arch.

“I’m sorry, but I do have a goal, and you escaping me will not be one of them.”

I tried to suppress my fear, knowing I was no match for a Faerie intent on harming me. While most of them adhered to the laws of their courts, I had seen firsthand that even in a court, Faeries, like people, could have a mind of their own.

I had to trust in Hades’s magic, and that he really didn’t mean me any harm.

“What exactly is your goal?” I asked, my fists clenched, trying to appear annoyed rather than intimidated. “Keep me here until Hades comes to find me? You know he wouldn’t waste his time; he’d probably send someone else to do it.”

All three of them grinned simultaneously before two seemed to shimmer and disappear. “To get Hades’s attention. I just want to follow you around, and if you won’t let me, I just won’t let you out of my sight. That’s all. There’s really no escape.” His grin was almost unsettling.

I blinked a few times, trying to process his words. “Hades…attention?”

“Don’t worry, I don’t mean any harm, just to tag along.” His eyes tried to convey sympathy, but his grin never faded.

It made him look almost unhinged, but I had to remind myself these were Faeries. Everything here was bound to be a bit off.

Trying to appear unfazed, I turned back through the archway to the left where one of him had stood. “Very well then,” I mumbled as I walked past.

Cerberus made a small noise of delight, quickly stepping to keep pace with me.

Trying to ignore him, I navigated through the stacks. My eyes barely skimmed over the junk and the stones. I didn’t feel comfortable walking with this creature, regardless of his claims or the ring’s lack of reaction. Something told me Hades would be very unhappy with this person, let alone me if I entertained his antics.

As the castle slowly came into view after several minutes, I felt a bit more relieved. A familiar calm washed over me just being closer to Hades’s realm. Out of habit, I stopped to pick up a rock or two that was flawless white or black. Cerberus was quick to notice, flipping around to inspect me, his hand going to his chin as he looked me up and down.

“Well, that’s already interesting,” he noted as I placed the rocks in my bag.

I wanted to ignore him but at the same time, I was just as curious about who this person was.

A brother? A cousin? Some weird adoring fan?

His actions seemed almost aggressive when three of him had appeared and all of a sudden, he was like a human puppy following me through the piles of lost things, close at my heels but not enough to bother me.

Was he really Cerberus?

“Are you sure you’re a human?” he asked cheerfully.

“As human as my mother and father,” I replied blandly, bending to pick up another round white rock. But as I flipped it, I realized there were black speckles and tossed it back, continuing to walk back.

The tightness in my chest began to lessen as I saw the piles of lost things start to shrink. The light between the stacks and the piles making the paths wider, bringing the castle more into view. “Why would you ask that?”

“Because this is a Beach of Lost Things. Humans love to try and find lost things. They’re always looking for them. You’re just looking for rocks, you didn’t even take that pretty comb back there.”

I gave him a quizzical look. “You do realize when humans are looking for them it’s typically because they have a use or a need for it.”

“Really?” Cerberus asked, wrinkling his nose. “That sounds very inconvenient. Losing things that are needed. Humans should be more organized.”

It took everything in me not to rub my temples. It wasn’t as if humans went about losing things on purpose, though the way he made it sound as if it were our fault simply for being silly humans. “If you’re Hades’s favorite, why haven’t I seen you around here in almost a month?”

“I have a very important job to guard the main gate. I’m also under very, very strict orders not to leave the Underworld when he takes a bride in the castle. He thinks I’ll grow too attached.” The last part said in a high whine, making me glance at him quizzically.

“To his bride?” I lifted an eyebrow unhelpfully.

The idea of a Faerie, even one in human form, forming an attachment to a person just because of a contract seemed strange. But then again, this was the world of Faeries. I kept telling myself to stop being surprised, but every time I started to feel at ease, something would change.

Perhaps that’s why humans usually lost their minds before they returned.

“He claims that, but has Minthe not been trying to get with him for years? I can’t stand that little nymph. She’s worse than a redcap, so whoever he picks is bound to be worse than her. I don’t understand why he even responds to her advances. There are millions of other Faeries he could be with, something he promised to stop once he started this new world.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine.

Minthe? Who on earth was Minthe?

“Well, then you have nothing to worry about.” I was seething with jealousy. I could barely keep it in check, avoiding Cerberus’s gaze as I headed toward the hidden entrance in the distance.

Cerberus wasn’t stupid, he knew something was up.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, not at all. I’m just hungry,” I lied, quickening my pace. I had thought I was Hades’s only hope, but it seemed there was already a Faerie, not his wife, who was the real stand-in.

The sooner I found Persephone, the better. At least that’s what my anger was telling me as I stormed back to the castle, consumed by irrational rage.