Hades Rewound (Hades Series #2)

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

I stiffen in shock, so completely and utterly baffled by what this stranger is doing that my mind actually goes into shut-down for several long seconds. Axel and Spencer seem to react enough for me though, because they both leap into action with audible curses and pull the nymph away from me.

Only once he's several feet away from me do I finally come to my senses enough to stare at him, a mixture of disgust and horror churning inside me. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"The name is Dorian, your royal hotness." He smirks, seemingly unruffled by the events that just transpired. "The wonderfully heroic saviour these three were just gushing about."

"How about I just call you jackass?" I snap, barely able to contain my fury.

"Come now sweetheart, that's not nice." He tuts, running a hand through his blonde hair and ruffling up the sea-blue tips. "You can call me Do, or maybe Rian. But 'jackass' is just rude; it's almost hurtful."

I shake my head in incredulity and repeat my question. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

He tilts his head to the side. "What's that supposed to mean sweetheart?"

"Don't call me that!" I seethe. Spencer notices my fingers slowly curling into fists and starts trying to desperately tug Dorian out of my punching range with wide eyes. "It means, what the hell do you think gives you the right to kiss me like that? Do you even know who I am?"

"Of course I know who you are Evie." He winks at me. "Why do you think I kissed you?"

"Oh, stop talking. Please stop talking." Axel mutters under his breath.

"Why?" Dorian raises his eyebrows at him.

"Dude." Spencer hisses. "Have you seen the look on her face?"

Dorian glances over at me - and I mean really looks at me - and scoffs dismissively. "She wouldn't be able to harm a fly."

Oh, that's it. I narrow my eyes at him and abruptly go invisible right before his eyes. Dorian's eyes widen.

"Well, that's a neat trick." He says slowly, trying to play off as casual. "Where did she go?"

"Here." I simper, blinking into view right in front of him just so he can see me suckerpunch him in the face. Dorian yelps in surprise, stumbling back.

"Kiss me again and I will toss you around like a salad." I threaten, glaring at him. He stares at me, his hand touching his nose, and then bursts out laughing. This just fuels my anger even more. "Do you think I'm joking?"

"No sweetheart, I know you're fully serious." He laughs. "You just still look as harmless as a baby rabbit, it's hard to take your threats seriously."

"Alright, that's it." I lunge at him, but unfortunately it's at this point that Selene decides to intervene.

"Evie." She grabs my wrists, giving me a look. "Calm down."

"Calm down?" I splutter. "Calm down? First, he insults Hades by kissing me, and then he insults me by calling me a harmless baby rabbit? I'm not a harmless baby rabbit! I just broke his goddamn freaking nose; what harmless baby rabbit does that?"

"Okay, I'm sorry." Dorian holds his hands up, his eyes twinkling impishly. "You're a very scary baby rabbit."

I growl and throw one of the bloody rags at him.

"Evie!" Selene scolds, while Axel and Spencer both roar with laughter.

"Okay, okay." I tug my beanie down over my hair and fold my arms over my chest. "I'm fine. I'm cool. I'm fine."