CHAPTER 59: A HOT BATH

When Hades arrived at the castle, he went straight to his chamber, Lilith crumpled in his arms. The hallways were silent, everyone fast asleep in their rooms. Entering his chamber, he gently laid her down on the bed. Her eyes fluttered open, staring up at him, tired and hollow.

"You have to get rid of the bloodied dress," Hades said quietly, nodding toward the bathroom, where a hot bath had already been prepared.

Lilith murmured a barely audible, "Alright." She was too weak to protest, and the feel of the dried blood clinging to her skin made her stomach churn.

Hades helped her to her feet, supporting her as they walked to the bathroom. His fingers moved with care as he unfastened the buttons of her dress, letting it slide from her shoulders and fall in a soft heap at her feet. Her undergarments followed, each movement unhurried and respectful.

She stepped into the tub and slowly lowered herself into the warm water, a soft sigh escaping her lips as the heat wrapped around her body. Leaning her head against the edge of the tub, she closed her eyes.

A soft cloth began to move over her skin—first her face, then her neck, down her arms and legs. The touch was so gentle, so deliberate, that she felt herself relax further, sleep threatening to take her. Her heart, however, thudded erratically in her chest. No one had ever seen her naked before, and now the prince not only had—he was cleaning her.

She didn’t open her eyes. She couldn’t. Her cheeks were already burning, and she was grateful for the dim lighting that hid her flustered expression.

The cloth never lingered where it shouldn’t, always careful, always distant. She felt him move away for a moment, then return—his fingers combing gently through her hair, massaging her scalp with slow precision. He was washing her hair.

Lilith didn’t dare move until she felt his hand take hers again. He helped her out of the bath, wrapping a thick robe around her. Only then did she open her eyes, still refusing to meet his gaze.

He excused himself to attend to something outside the room, and Lilith took the opportunity to put on the dress that had been laid out on the bed. The prince returned just moments later.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Lilith shook her head. All she wanted was to lie down and sleep off the fatigue and weakness that weighed her down.

"You should rest for a while. Get your strength back," he advised gently.

Lilith nodded and climbed into the bed, pulling the blanket over herself. She heard the prince drag a chair across the floor and sit down.

Mustering a bit of courage, she turned her head slightly to see him sitting lazily in the chair, half-shrouded in the shadows of the room. The dim light caught the subtle glow of his irises.

"Aren’t you going to sleep too?" she asked softly.

"No. I’m in no mood for sleep," he replied after a brief pause, his eyes still fixed on her.

Lilith turned back around so her back faced him. She couldn’t keep looking at him—she feared he might hear the pounding of her heart.

Time passed in silence, yet even without turning around, Lilith could feel his gaze lingering on her. It warmed and unsettled her all at once. Tucking her hands beneath her cheek, she exhaled slowly.

"Thank you for saving me, Your Highness," she whispered, unsure if he heard her. When no response came at first, she assumed he hadn’t—until his voice cut through the quiet.

"You saved yourself. And I’m proud of you."

Her heart fluttered, and a soft, uncontrollable smile spread across her lips. The butterflies in her stomach stirred wildly. With a peaceful sigh, she closed her eyes, and soon sleep pulled her under.

Hades rose from the chair, walking slowly around the bed until he stood before her. Her eyes were closed, her breathing steady—she was asleep.

Even if she believed she was hiding her reactions well, Hades saw through her. He read every flicker in her eyes, every tremble in her voice, every subtle shift in her body. Her emotions were laid bare before him.

He didn’t want to admit it, not even to himself, but there was a growing pull between them. The thought disturbed him more than he could explain. If she was truly developing feelings for him, it would only end one way—with her heart shattered, broken by his darkness.

And he would be the one to break it.

He knew it wasn’t just her. He was part of the problem too—how he looked at her, spoke to her, touched her. He wanted to push her away, to kill whatever softness she felt toward him. But every time he tried, the words caught in his throat like thorns. He couldn’t force himself to be cruel enough. Not to her.

And now, the kindness he’d shown her... was turning into a slow, lethal mistake.

The curse inside him—it was not sleeping anymore.

It stirred every time he felt anything human. Compassion. Affection. Warmth. Those were luxuries he couldn’t afford. Not when the curse hated such emotions, turning them into fuel for the rage and destruction festering beneath his skin.

Only hatred, fury, and pain kept the monster in him restrained. They were the chains that bound the demon—his only defense against the thing clawing at his soul.

But now, those chains were weakening. Every moment he spent by her side, every soft word, every gentle touch, it all cracked the barrier he’d worked so hard to maintain.

And he feared... one day, the demon would win.

Hades could never let that happen. He knew exactly what the demon inside him was capable of. He heard its dark whispers in his head—every second of every day—twisting his thoughts, urging him toward blood and ruin. It was a miracle he hadn’t lost his mind already.

He let out a heavy sigh and pulled a hand from his pocket, running it through his hair in frustration. Lilith needed to begin working on breaking the curse immediately. Any further delay was dangerous—especially now, when the curse was growing more restless, more volatile.

Without sparing the sleeping woman another glance, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.