Chapter 49: The Cursed Mark
Aphrodite threw her arms around my neck, her body pressing tightly against mine. Her warmth, almost overwhelming, made it impossible to ignore the intimate closeness. Her laughter, light and melodious, carried an unsettling undertone—like a breeze that seemed too gentle to carry the storm you knew was coming. "Ahaha, Hades! I'm so happy you're here!" she chimed, her breath brushing against my ear. "I never thought you'd actually visit me. Does this mean you're finally taking my advice? Maybe seeking true love?"
True love. The words grated against my every instinct. Aphrodite loved to toy with me, throwing out that phrase like a taunt, knowing how little patience I had for such things. She had sung this tune too many times before, as if repeating it would somehow make it real. But her excitement today felt different—more invasive, more desperate, even. I suppressed a shiver as her perfume, sweet and intoxicating, filled my senses.
