The Cursed Demon Prince-Chapter 231: Lay Together

A gasp escaped her lips as Lilith was jolted back to reality. Her eyes darted around the room while her trembling fingers threaded through her hair. Three faces hovered in her vision which belonged to Hades, Viktor, and Lucian, each one fixed on her with unmistakable worry.

"Lilith, are you alright?"

She slowly turned to Viktor, who stood on her right. "Yes," she whispered. Her mind was still hazy, her thoughts tangled and sluggish, leaving her movements a fraction too slow.

She pushed herself upright on the hard bench. "How long was I out?" she asked.

"About forty minutes," the prince replied.

Forty minutes? Lilith could’ve sworn she had spent hours in that realm.

Her gaze shifted to Hades when he placed a hand on the small of her back.

"What happened there? Did you meet the goddess?"

"Yes, I did."

Although her memories were foggy, the conversation with Urga remained painfully clear with what she had bargained, what she had sacrificed. But she wasn’t about to tell him that.

Lilith reached out and cupped his cheeks. "Are you alright? How do you feel? Do you feel different?"

Hades smiled, leaning forward until his forehead rested against hers. "I feel wonderful, love. Whatever you did, it worked, Lilith. It really did." His voice trembled with happiness and relief he could barely contain.

"Are you sure? Has it been confirmed?" Her heartbeat surged so fast she felt it settle deep in her stomach.

"Yes, it has. Salistra said so the moment I woke up." He brushed his thumb along her jaw. "I have no words to express how I feel. I never thought I’d see the day I was free from the curse." He swallowed, his voice thick with emotion. "You’ve given me hope... a reason to keep living. I owe you my life, Lilith."

Lilith’s jaw trembled as she pulled him into a tight embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. Being held by him, feeling his warmth always soothed her, grounding her in a way nothing else could. Right now, she clung to that comfort.

"But..." he murmured as he slowly pulled away, his gaze shifting to Viktor, who stood across the room speaking with Lucian and the witch.

It was only then that Lilith noticed Salistra again. For the briefest second, their eyes met and a cold shiver raced down Lilith’s spine. There was something in the witch’s stare she couldn’t name, something sharp and unsettling. But Salistra looked away before Lilith could fully process it.

"Lilith, what did you offer the goddess?"

Her attention returned to him, Lilith opened her mouth to lie, but Hades stopped her. "Please... don’t tell me ’nothing,’ because I know that would be a lie. I’m aware she wouldn’t break the curse without demanding something in return. I need to know what you gave her."

The worry in his eyes was back.

Lilith’s heart ached at the sight. As much as she hated lying to him, she couldn’t tell him the truth, not that she had offered her life in exchange for his. It would destroy him. It would ruin him if he ever learned what she had done.

She forced a small smile. "Don’t look so worried. It’s nothing serious, she only asked me to do something for her."

"And what could she possibly want you to do? I need every detail, love."

She swallowed hard, scrambling mentally for something believable, something that wouldn’t raise suspicion. "I—"

"Lilith needs to rest for about six hours. The ritual she performed has taken a large toll on her body."

Salistra’s voice cut cleanly through the moment, drawing both their attentions. Lilith almost sagged with relief. She knew the elderly witch had done it on purpose, stepping in to shield her from answering until later.

"I believe that’s true. She must rest, she’s been through a lot," Hades said, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I’ll take you to the chambers so you can get proper rest."

"I would very much like that," Lilith replied with a soft smile. She swung her legs off the table, ready to stand but before she could, Hades scooped her up into his arms.

Her face flushed instantly as every eye in the room turned toward them.

"Thank you once again, Salistra," the prince said before carrying Lilith toward the exit.

Lilith’s arm curled around his shoulders as she whispered urgently, "Dear goodness, I can walk, you didn’t have to carry me in front of everyone."

Hades chuckled, the deep sound vibrating through her. "There’s no need to be modest, my dear. I know you can walk, but I want to spare you the strength of doing so."

She smiled softly at his response, lifting her gaze to his face. "Are you sure you’re truly alright?"

The prince turned his head toward her. "Yes, my love. I’m more than alright. I’m blessed to have you in my life. The gods have truly outdone themselves with you." He pressed a warm kiss to her temple. "Thank you, Lilith. Thank you for everything."

Lilith looked away, blinking rapidly as tears threatened to spill. Her love for him was so deep, so consuming, it felt unreal. Everything about him could undo her in an instant, and she couldn’t even resent it. She loved it...she loved him.

When they entered Hades’ chambers, he gently lowered her onto the bed. "You should rest, love. I’ll have the cooks prepare something sweet for you."

But she caught his arm before he could step away. "Stay with me... at least until I fall asleep. I want to hold you."

His eyes softened even more. Without a word, he kicked off his shoes and shrugged out of his jacket before climbing into the bed beside her. His arms wrapped securely around her, holding her protectively as her head rested on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

No matter what happened next, Lilith knew she would never regret sacrificing her life for his. He deserved to live freely, without suffering, without pain. She would give everything she had to make that possible. That was how deeply her heart yearned for him.

Tears gathered again as she lifted her gaze to his face, finding his eyes already on her.

"What’s going on? Are you alright?" he whispered.

She smiled through the burn in her chest. "I love you, Hades." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

His eyes held hers, overflowing with emotion and tenderness, until a full smile broke across his face. "I love you so much, Lilith. With every drop of blood in my body, I love you. With every drop of water in this world, I love you. With every grain of sand... I love you."

Hades closed the distance, capturing her lips in a deep, fierce kiss that sealed his confession.