Marked by Hades by Reese Monroe

up.”
    He didn’t want it back. Not just because a demon—or former demon—had been wearing it, but it would remind him of her. Why was she still here, anyway?
    “Sadie told me everything. Showed me the scrolls.”
    Remorse emanated from her frown. He clenched his hands into fists. No. He would not empathize with her. Would not comfort her. No matter how much he wanted to.
    “It didn’t jog any memories loose.” She slouched. “If only I could remember something, I could help. Help find Theo.”
    The short sleeve of her shirt didn’t cover all of the Ahavah Mark on her shoulder. The intricate weave of thick and thin black lines drew his attention. “You didn’t have the Mark at my hotel.”
    “I did. It showed up a few days before you found me at that convenience store.”
    “But—”
    “I covered it up.”
    “Why?”
    “It freaked me out. Just suddenly appearing like that. Then I got so sick and had these crazy dreams.” Her cheeks reddened. “And with my power, I didn’t know if it marked me for attack, or if someone saw it they’d know I was…evil and try to kill me.” She picked at her fingernails. “I was scared, so I covered it up.”
    It’d been on her all this time. No wonder he’d felt so inclined to protect and care for her. Hell, he still did. As much as he didn’t want to, the urge was still there.
    But things were different now. She was a damn demon. The very one who’d helped imprison Sadie for three months, nearly killing Theo. And she’d been with Aggie, served him. Justin couldn’t get past that, no matter what that Mark on her shoulder meant.
    Could he?
    She grabbed a damp rag from the bowl on the table beside the bed. “Here. Let me help you.”
    “Don’t come near me. Not without gloves.” Sure, that cool rag would feel good on his hot skin, but he’d seen what her touch could do.
    “Sadie thinks it’ll be fine for me to touch you since…um…since we’re Mates.”
    “We are not Mates.”
    “I think we are. Sadie…what she says rings true, Justin. At first I didn’t believe it, either, but—well—I feel it.” She fiddled with the rag in her hand and bit her bottom lip for what felt like an eternity, then looked at him. “I don’t know how this is all happening or what I was before, but I feel it, Justin. Somehow, I feel it deep down. Maybe in my soul, if I have one.”
    He sat up, bracing for an argument. She couldn’t touch him. Even if he didn’t disintegrate, which he might, he’d get his Mark, and he didn’t want it.
    Yes he did.
    No!
    “I know you don’t want me, Justin, but if I can help, I want to. Like you helped me.”
    “You can’t help me.”
    “Sadie says I’ll energize you. Help you recover faster since Theo isn’t here for you. Halena can’t fully heal you since she’s not your Gatekeeper. Sadie said I could help heal you, like she can heal Theo.”
    “I’m not a Gatekeeper. It doesn’t work that way.”
    She glanced around the room, nibbling at her lip ring. “I read up on Companions and Mates while looking through some of Sadie’s stuff.”
    Shit . Mother had told him Companion Mates fueled each other much like Gatekeeper Mates. So much information came swarming back to him now that he was face-to-face with his…Mate.
    “You’re the aide for your Gatekeeper. Both of you are breathed into life by The Great One for the sole purpose of guarding the gates of Hades. You help him get the demons that find a way out, and you’re directly linked to him. If he dies, you die.” She pinned him with a stare. “He’s got his Mate, so now it’s your turn. And since he’s not here to fully heal you…your Mate can.”
    “Mate.” He never thought he’d utter that word. Had never wanted to, but if touching her would help him heal quicker so he could go back and get Theo…then maybe he should let her try.
    No.
    But the feel of her in his arms, even when clad in leather, flashed through his mind. How perfectly in time they’d moved