Hades' Return Read Online Free PDF

imprisoned. But obviously the god had a long reach.
    Jessica tried to chant a healing spell, but the pain made her catch her breath. She heard someone call her name, but it sounded as though it was coming from a great distance.
    “Jessica?” She managed to raise her head and found Sabrina watching her, concern on her face.
    She opened her mouth to reassure her friend, but nothing came out beyond a low moan of pain.
    “What happened?” Sabrina’s arm came around her. “Sit down.” She eased Jessica down onto the folding chair. It seemed like it was a long way down. Jessica doubled over, still clutching her arm, trying to breathe through the pain.
    She heard her friend talking to someone in the background but only heard one voice. The phone. Sabrina must be on the phone to Arand.
    “It’s okay,” Sabrina told her. “Everything will be just fine.”
    Jessica didn’t want to disagree with her friend but knew she was mistaken. Whatever Hades’ minion had done to her wasn’t good. Gritting her teeth against the burning in her wrist, Jessica made herself remove her hand from the injury and study it. It wasn’t a big mark, just a small burn. But instead of being red, it was as black as midnight.
    “What’s that?” Sabrina asked. “How did you get it?”
    “Hades,” she managed to get out through her clenched teeth.
    “What?” Sabrina yelled. Then she was back on the phone talking quickly with someone. Jessica was locked in her own hell and unable to make sense of anything. There was a flurry of activity around her and Jessica realized that Sabrina was packing up their stands and storing their gear for transport.
    Jessica closed her eyes, bowed her head and concentrated on trying to breath through the pain. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but the air around her shifted and changed, becoming denser and more charged. She knew without looking that Mordecai had arrived.
    “Let me see.”
    Jessica opened her eyes to find him kneeling in front of her. His dark hair shimmered like silk in the sunlight. His black eyes were filled with concern and banked anger.
    She licked her dry lips and tried to speak, but nothing would come out. She raised her arm, wincing as the pain shot up to her elbow.
    “I’ve got you.” His deep voice calmed her, soothing her like a cooling balm. The minute he touched her, the pain moved from critical to manageable.
    He gently removed her hand from her injured wrist so he could see it. He cursed beneath his breath. “How did you get this?”
    “A woman,” she began.
    Arand suddenly appeared. “We should take this back to the house. I don’t like being exposed here. I’ve got the car waiting at the curb.”
    Mordecai didn’t waste any time. He lifted her into his arms and started toward the vehicle. Jessica caught a glimpse of a stony-faced Arand walking next to him, carrying her belongings. They were attracting quite a lot of attention. And why wouldn’t they? Both immortal warriors were gorgeous in a dangerous way, both exuding an animal magnetism that had every woman around them very aware of their presence.
    “Don’t look at them,” Mordecai instructed. “Concentrate on me.”
    With pleasure. It was too bad she was finally fulfilling one of her fantasies—being carried by Mordecai—and she was too ill to really enjoy it. Her stomach roiled and she swallowed hard, afraid she might throw up on him. And wouldn’t that add to her misery.
    The car was waiting at the curb. Sabrina was already in the front seat. Arand threw her belongings into the trunk and slammed it shut. Mordecai eased into the backseat with Jessica still clasped in his arms.
    She was glad he didn’t release her. There was something about being in his arms that helped lessen the pain. Car doors shut and then they were moving. The city passed in a blur. She stopped looking out the window as it was making her nausea worse.
    “Someone tell me what the hell happened?” Mordecai demanded.
    Jessica