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“Isn’t it? Isn’t it a choice every time you let him put his hands on you? Every time he kisses you? I know Lord Hades, and if you asked him to stop, he would—but you don’t. You never do.”
Persephone’s blush was fierce, but she managed, “I do not wish to discuss this with you.”
“No? Then I will get to the point. You are making a mistake. Hades isn’t interested in love, and he is not relationship material. Keep walking this path and you will get hurt.”
“Are you threatening me?
“No, it's the promise of falling for a god.”
“I'm not falling for Hades,” Persephone argued.
The nymph offered a cruel smile. “Denial,” she said. “It's the first stage of reluctant love. Don't make this mistake, Persephone.”
She hated her name on the nymph’s tongue and couldn’t repress a shudder. Swallowing, Persephone felt her glamour ripple.
“Is this why you came to my work?” she asked. “To warn me against Hades?”
“Yes,” she said. “And now I have an offer to extend.”
“I want nothing from you.” Persephone’s voice shook.
“If you truly wish to be free of your contract, you will take my offer.”
Persephone glared, still mistrusting, but she couldn’t deny she wanted to hear what the nymph had to say.
Minthe chuckled.
“Hades has asked you to create life in the Underworld. There is a spring in the mountains where you will find the Well of Reincarnation. It will give life to anything—even your desolate garden.”
Persephone had never heard of such a place in any of her readings of the Underworld, though that wasn’t saying much. Those books also described the Underworld as dead and desolate.
“And why should I trust you?”
“It has nothing to do with trust. You want to be free from your contract with Hades, and I want Hades to be free from you.”
She stared at Minthe for a moment. She wasn’t sure what compelled her to ask the question, but she found the words rolling off her tongue. “Do you love him?”
“You think this has to do with love?” Minthe asked. “How sweet. I’m protecting him. Hades loves nothing but a good bargain, and you, my young goddess, are the worst wager he’s ever made.”
Then Minthe was gone.
CHAPTER XVI – A TOUCH OF DARKNESS
You are the worst wager he’s ever made.
Minthe’s words rolled around in her head. Now and then they hit a cord so sensitive she felt a fresh flush of rage as she made her way to Nevernight.
Despite realizing that her garden might not succeed in fulfilling the contract between she and Hades, she felt like it would be giving up to ignore it completely so she returned, watered her garden, and then sought out her new friends in Asphodel.
Persephone made a point to stop by Asphodel every time she visited the Underworld. There, in the green valley, she found the dead lived—they planted gardens and harvested fruit. They made jams, butter, and bread. They sewed and knitted and weaved, making clothing and scarves and rugs. It was the reason they had an extensive market that twisted throughout the alleyways between the strange, volcanic-glass homes.
More than usual, the dead were out in droves and the market was bustling with an energy she had yet to experience in the Underworld—it w
as excitement. A few of the souls strung lanterns between their homes, decorating the alleyway they shared. Persephone watched them for several moments until she heard a familiar voice.
“Good evening, my lady!” Persephone turned to find Yuri, a pretty young woman with thick curls. She wore pink robes and carried a large basket of pomegranates.
“Yuri,” Persephone smiled and hugged the girl. The two had gotten to know each other one day when Yuri had offered her one of her signature tea blends. Persephone had loved it. When she tried to purchase a tin, Yuri refused her money and offered it for free, explaining, “What would I do with money in the Underworld?”
