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“That’s not necessary.”
“It is,” he insisted.
Hades was not in the habit of trusting the world. He knew too much about what lingered beneath its surface.
“Fine,” she snapped.
He frowned. She was probably more than ready to leave, except that he was not quite ready to see her go. Not on the heels of his last thought.
Keep her safe, he thought as he grasped her shoulders, sealing the space between them. He had thrown her off-balance, and her fingers clenched the front of his shirt, nails scraping his chest. He pressed his lips to her forehead, and the heat from her skin rushed to the bottom of his stomach, making his cock throb and his thoughts turned chaotic. He wanted to tilt her head toward his, to kiss her mouth and taste her tongue.
Focus on the task, he told himself angrily, and bestowed his favor upon her. In ancient times, Greek heroes were favored by the gods, given special weapons and aid during battle, and on rare occasions, even a second chance at life. In modernity, favor could mean anything—access to exclusive clubs, insurmountable wealth, or protection from harm.
Hades offered Persephone the latter, along with access to his realm. He released her from the kiss. Inches apart, she looked up at him.
“What was that for?” she whispered.
Hades smiled, brushing a finger across her heated cheek.
“For your benefit. Next time, the door will open for you. I would rather you not piss Duncan off. If he hurts you again, I will have to kill him, and it’s hard to find a good ogre.”
“Lord Hades,” Minthe’s voice interrupted.“Thanatos is looking for you—Oh!”
The nymph’s presence frustrated him, because it meant Persephone was no longer looking at him. She tried to pull away, but Hades held her tighter, refusing to let go.
“I did not know you had company,” Minthe said, her voice dripped with judgement. Perhaps Hecate had been right when she had suggested he tell Minthe about his future bride.
“A minute, Minthe,” Hades gritted out without looking at her.
When she was gone, Persephone’s gaze returned to his, and he studied her, lips pressed together.
“You haven’t answered my question. Why are you using your mother’s magic?”
He wanted to see if she would admit what he already knew—that she had no magic of her own. Instead, she surprised him by smiling.
“Lord Hades,” she said, her voice breathy and sensual. She drew a finger down his chest, and the movement stirred his desire for her once again. He was going to have to find release by his own hand after this. He could not stand it. Did she know her power?“The only way you are getting answers from me is if I decide to enter into another gamble with you, and at the moment, it’s not likely.”
Then she took the lapels of his jacket and straightened them before leaning in, much like he had done earlier in the foyer, and whispered,“I think you will regret this, Hades.”
Her eyes fell to the red polyanthus flower in the pocket of his suit jacket, and as she brushed it with her fingers, the petals wilted.
CHAPTER VI – A SOUL FOR A SOUL
Hades escorted Persephone downstairs. He wanted to ensure she accepted the ride home he had offered and introduce her to Antoni, his driver.
The cyclops waited patiently, dressed in a black suit and tie. When he saw Persephone, he smiled, his eyes alight.
“Lady Persephone,” he said.“This is Antoni. He will ensure you make it home safely.”
While he knew the cyclops would take care of her, he felt the need to make his point by holding Antoni’s gaze as he spoke.
She is important.
“Am I in danger, my lord?”
Her question drew his attention, and he found her looking up at him. Despite the sarcastic tone in her voice, he sensed her unease.
No one will harm you, he wanted to say, but those words would only inflame her fear. In truth, Hades was being overly protective. Perhaps it had something to do with the mortal he had tortured last night—the man who had threatened war from Triad.
