"I can't believe this," Evadne muttered irritably, eyes locked on her iPad as she scrolled through folders.
It was Monday morning, and her temper was already flaring.
They were on their way to school, inside Hades's car. He was driving with one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on her mid-thigh.
Worried, Hades shot her a quick glance. "What's wrong, baby?"
Evadne narrowed her eyes at him. Her silence alone was enough to put him on edge.
"What did I do?" he asked, voice tensing with nerves.
It was that look.
The "I'm about to chew you up and spit you out" kind of look. He'd seen it before, and it never ended well for him.
"Because your so-called 'friends' didn't even initiate any contribution or plan for the community immersion, I assigned them the task of collecting and organizing the parent consent forms of students joining the immersion," she said, her voice sharp. "Now Zaria's asking when they'll receive confirmation, because apparently, some of the SBO members are asking."
She let out a frustrated exhale, lips tight.
"And when I checked the shared folder where those forms should've been uploaded?" She turned her iPad toward him, the screen showing nothing. "It's empty. We're leaving next week, Hades."
She crossed her arms. "This is all your fault."
"What?" Hades looked genuinely confused. "How is that my fault?"
Evadne turned to him with an incredulous stare. "Because they've been SBO officers for how many years now, and they still don't know what accountability looks like. And why? Because you trained them to be useless. You taught them that all they had to do was sign off on whatever you wanted. That's it. They don't even know how to function as a team."
She rolled her eyes in pure exasperation.
Hades exhaled through his nose. "Okay, to be fair, yes. But I only did that to make things easier. Not for them, for me. Projects moved faster when I did everything myself."
"And what did that make them?" she snapped, raising a brow.
"Ungrateful sons of bitches," Hades admitted with a guilty laugh, shaking his head. "Fine. I get it. It's stressing you out, baby. I'll handle them."
He gave her a reassuring smile and gently squeezed her thigh.
But Evadne only raised her eyebrow higher, unimpressed.
"Handle them how?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from her tone. "By doing their work for them again?"
"No," Hades said, straightening up. "I'll make sure they do their tasks properly this time. No more babying."
He reached out and lightly pinched her chin. "Because I only have one baby, and it's you."
She grimaced and rolled her eyes again, but her lips twitched, almost smiling. She suppressed the urge to soften, keeping her composure intact.
She knew better than to threaten him like she usually did. Not with how fragile his confidence still was when it came to their relationship. She could feel that part of him, the uncertainty, the fear of being not enough.
So instead, she played a different card.
So instead of scolding, she smiled, slow, seductive, with a glint in her eyes.
"If they submit everything by Wednesday, and you don't do it for them," she said slowly, "then I'll cook dinner for our Friday date."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Only if you don't cheat, Mr. Falcon. I might not be able to read your mind anymore… but I can read theirs."
Her fingers slid lightly down his arm. "So I'll know if you cheat."
Hades groaned like a man doomed.
"Baby, can we make it until Friday instead?" he bargained. "Wednesday's too soon."
"Nope," she said, eyes wide and firm. "I need the list by Thursday so I can finalize everything by Friday."
Hades let out a dramatic moan, slumping slightly in his seat. "Baby, I already admitted I was wrong."
"Nope, mister," she said, smiling. "Actions have consequences. And you're going to face them."
They were already pulling through the NYE Academy gates when Evadne's smile suddenly vanished.
"I just realized…" Evadne whispered, pouting as she stared out the windshield. "I can't even put you in trouble anymore."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hades asked, half-laughing, half-stunned. "You want me to get in trouble?"
"Yes," she answered instantly, without hesitation. "It's the highlight of my day, you know."
Hades stared at her, speechless. He honestly couldn't tell if he should be offended or impressed.
"Stop the car," Evadne suddenly said, just a few meters before they reached his usual parking spot.
"Why?" Hades asked, confused, but obediently pulled over to the side.
She turned to him with a wicked smile, the kind that spelled chaos. The kind that told him he was in trouble.
But instead of worrying, his chest stirred with anticipation.
"I'm getting you in trouble," she purred.
Before he could even respond, Evadne unbuckled her seatbelt and straddled him.
"Baby..." he tried, but she didn't let him finish.
She bit down on his neck, hard, with the very clear intention of leaving a large, very visible bite mark.
"Baby, fuck!" Hades groaned, arms instantly wrapping around her waist, his arousal reacting just as fast.
The door to the passenger side suddenly opened.
"Princess? What are you doing?" Casadin raised an eyebrow, expression a mix of amusement and exasperation as he caught them mid-position.
He had seen Hades's car pull over far from the usual spot and decided to check. Now he knew why.
Evadne smirked, not the least bit flustered, and tilted her head to show off the newly made mark on Hades's neck.
"I'm putting him in big trouble," she said smugly. "Isn't it a perfect piece of art?"
Casadin furrowed his brows for a moment, then broke into a wide grin once he realized exactly what she was doing.
"Yes. A million-dollar piece of art," he said with a grin. "I want one too."
Evadne winked at him before turning back to Hades, her fingers smoothing over the fabric of his shirt.
"Wednesday, okay? No bargaining," she said, her voice back to that commanding sweetness that always made his brain short-circuit.
She kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Oh, and buy me coffee, please," she added before stepping out of the car and planting a soft kiss on Casadin's lips.
"You look pale," Casadin smirked at Hades. "Did all the blood rush to your little head?"
"Fuck you," Hades growled, eyes narrowed.
"Same to you too," Casadin shot back, flipping him the middle finger as he reached to grab Evadne's bag off the dashboard. He slung it over his shoulder and casually slung his arm over her as they started walking toward the academic building, like nothing happened.
Hades, still in the car, had to take a few deep breaths. Inhale. Exhale.
Focus.
He couldn't show up in school with a full-blown hard-on.
Once his pulse finally calmed, he adjusted his shirt and checked his reflection in the rearview mirror.
And then, he saw it.
"Fuck," he hissed under his breath.
The bite mark wasn't just visible, it was impossible to miss. Right in the center of his neck. Bold. Raw. Bruised.
Unmistakably hers.
It made his cock twitch again.
Of course, the marks they'd left all over each other yesterday had faded during their last water therapy session, just before she left with Casadin.
But this?
This one was fresh.
This one she made on purpose.
Hades couldn't stop the low, amused chuckle that slipped from his lips.
She really wanted him in trouble.
And not just with other people, but with himself.
Just the thought of walking around all day with her mark on his skin… was already wrecking his sanity.
And damn it, he loved every second of it.
No matter how hard Hades tried to keep his expression cold and neutral, a small, sweet smile kept slipping onto his lips.
And people noticed.
Everyone he passed, students, faculty, even the janitors, did a double take. The usually untouchable, brooding Hades Falcon was practically glowing. His typical icy aura had melted into something light. Almost… radiant.
But more than that, it was the bold, unmistakable bite mark on his neck that caught everyone's attention. He didn't even try to hide it. If anything, he wore it like a golden medal, like he was proud to be marked.
He was on his way back to their classroom, iced salted caramel coffee in hand, the one Evadne had requested.
Even when his eyes caught sight of Cieryl, Selena, and the rest of their so-called "friends" waiting by the classroom door, the irritation that typically rose in his chest didn't pull him out of his good mood.
Not today.
Not when he had Evadne.
"Babe?" Cieryl's voice wavered as she stepped forward, concern lacing her tone.
Her gaze was locked on the mark on his neck, and her eyes widened in shock. Selena's reaction was the same, subtle panic. The others around them exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.
"Yes?" Hades replied coolly, his tone flat and distant.
Gone was the warmth he usually gave her, the sweet, indulgent tone that soothed her every tantrum. Now, he just sounded bored.
"I haven't been able to contact you since Saturday," Cieryl said, voice cracking slightly. "Didn't you see all my messages? My missed calls?"
But Hades didn't want to play anymore.
Not when Evadne was the only one who mattered.
Not when these people didn't.
"I did," he replied, looking down at her with utter indifference.
"You didn't reply…" she said, her voice shrinking. Something felt wrong. Off. She was used to Hades giving her everything, his time, his patience, his loyalty. But now, she couldn't even read his expression.
"I was busy," he said simply. "And the Club Olympus manager was just doing his job. You know it's a members and invite-only on club. How was he supposed to let you in when I wasn't there?"
He didn't give her time to respond before continuing, voice edged in ice.
"And didn't I tell you I'm training right now? I have very limited time for anything outside school. I can't waste it on… meaningless things."
"Meaningless?" Cieryl echoed, stunned. Her voice shook.
She was the most important person in his life. At least, that's what she believed. Even if his parents didn't approve of her, even if they never really made things official, Hades had always protected her. Shielded her.
Now, he was saying being with her is meaningless?
"Anything else?" Hades asked, tone dismissive. "Class starts in a few minutes."
Cieryl forced herself to breathe. Maybe she was just overreacting. Maybe she was being paranoid.
He wouldn't throw her away like this… right?
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "Maybe I overreacted. I sounded bratty in those messages, I know… I just wanted to see you. Things have been really stressful lately, especially with all the things Vee's assigning us in the SBO."
Her voice softened, full of that pitiful tone he used to respond to, used to crumble for.
She smiled sweetly and gestured to the coffee in his hand. "Anyway, is this for me? Thank you…"
She reached for the cup,
But Hades pulled it away before she could touch it.
"No," he said, coldly. "This isn't for you."
She froze.
"And as for your tasks in the SBO," he added, locking eyes with her then her friends. "I suggest you finish them by tomorrow. If not…" His voice dipped into something darker, something heavier. "There's no need for you to keep occupying a seat at the SBO table."
He smiled.
It wasn't charming.
It was a warning.
A sharp, quiet promise of consequences.
The kind of smile that made every one of them swallow their breath.
"I think it's time you all prove your usefulness," Hades said in a cold, detached tone, still smiling as if he'd just given them a compliment. "I don't intend to keep carrying… deadweights."
And with that, he turned and walked into the classroom without another word.
His eyes immediately searched for Evadne.
She was where she always was, at the back of the room, near the window. Lounging in her seat, laughing softly with Amanda, Bea, and a few of Casadin's friends.
Several of their classmates exchanged curious glances.
For the past week, everyone had noticed the shift in the air between Hades and Evadne. They weren't clashing anymore. There were no biting insults. No tension that set the whole classroom on edge.
No war.
Just… something new. Something electric.
And when Hades walked toward her, smiling, it made a few jaws drop.
"Wife," he said smoothly, placing the iced coffee on her desk.
Bea and Amanda exchanged wide-eyed looks.
The bite mark on his neck was impossible to miss. And it wasn't subtle. It was dark. Proud. Dangerous.
Before Evadne could reach for the drink, Casadin swiped it off the desk and took a casual sip.
"Thanks, husband," Casadin said with a smirk, clearly taunting. Evadne burst out laughing.
"That's not yours, Sinclair," Hades snapped, narrowing his eyes at him.
"Too late. My spit's already in it," Casadin replied with a shrug and tossed a white handkerchief at him. "Wipe that stupid look off your face, Falcon. It's offensive. And seriously, did a vampire bite you? You wanna step into the sunlight and see if you burst into flames?"
He took another sip of the coffee with zero remorse, visibly enjoying the way Hades's eye twitched.
Hades was ready to fire back, until the homeroom teacher entered.
He gritted his teeth and settled for shooting Casadin a warning glare.
But just as he turned to head back to his seat, Casadin lifted a hand and lazily dragged a subtle middle finger down his own cheek, slow, taunting, deliberate.
Hades bit back a curse.
He walked back to his seat next to Cieryl, but subtly pulled his chair an inch away from hers.
It was a small move.
But in the language of high society?
It was deafening.
It meant distance. Rejection. Disinterest.
And everyone in that classroom understood what it meant.
Hades Falcon no longer considered Cieryl important.
Moments later, his phone buzzed.
Wife: thank you 💋
He glanced behind him.
Evadne was sipping the coffee now, lips curved in quiet satisfaction.
He couldn't help it.
He smiled.
A soft, rare smile, just for her.
Cieryl saw the message.
She saw him smile.
And everything inside her snapped.
Her hands curled into fists beneath the desk, nails digging into her palm.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Hades is mine.
He belongs to me.
I had him wrapped around my finger. I worked so hard for this.
She had played the perfect role, the sweet, innocent, supportive girlfriend. Always there, always understanding. Exactly what Hades thought he needed.
And now?
Now he was smiling like that… at her?
At Evadne?
No.
She wouldn't allow it.
She might not be a Monteverde.
But Cieryl had been the center of New York's high society since childhood. The golden girl. The darling of NYE since middle school. Evadne was an outsider, a ghost who disappeared and suddenly came back acting like she owned the place.
Cieryl hadn't even started showing her cards.
But now?
She would.
And she would make damn sure Evadne regretted coming back to New York. Regretted trying to steal what rightfully belonged to her.
Hades Falcon.
And her throne.