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Hades used his magic to reclaim the small, black box Hephaestus had given him. There was no way he would let something so useful and so powerful slip through his hands. As the box came to land in Hades’ palm, Amphitrite looked at him. She might be his sister-in-law, but he knew very little about her, save that she could calm the seas and Poseidon.
But right now, Hades felt her fury.
“I think it is time you left, Lord Hades,” she said.
The corner of his mouth tipped, and he nodded before vanishing.
CHAPTER XII – A GAME WITH A GODDESS
Hades returned to the Underworld and summoned Ilias. He was exhausted after expending so much energy keeping Poseidon’s magic at bay, but he had a plan to locate Sisyphus. It was the first time he had felt any kind of success since the beginning of this ordeal.
He poured a glass of whiskey and drank quickly, approaching the window to look out upon his realm, spotting Hecate walking with Persephone. The two goddesses talked and smiled and laughed, and Hades could not help thinking how perfect Persephone looked in his realm, like she belonged there, like she should have always been there.
“My lord?” Ilias asked.
Hades turned his head and found the satyr beside him, brow raised.
“Enjoying the view?” he asked, amused.
Hades would have liked it better if he had realized Ilias had arrived.
“I have a job for you,” he said.“Poseidon gave Sisyphus a relic. A spindle, to be exact.”
The satyr’s eyes widened.“A spindle? Where did he get that?”
“That is your job,” Hades said.“Trace it.”
“And what would you like me to do when I find it?”
Usually, Hades gave Ilias free rein over how he dealt with illegal dealers. The satyr would organize raids, burn shops, destroy merchandise. On rare occasions, he found someone worthy of joining Iniquity.
“I want their name,” he replied. He would be visiting them personally.
“Consider it done,” Ilias bowed, but he did not leave Hades’ side. Looking outside, nodding toward Persephone and Hecate.
“She is curious about you,” he said.
“She is eager to examine my flaws,” Hades corrected.
The satyr chuckled.“I like her.”
“I am not seeking your approval, Ilias.”
“Of course not, my lord.”
With that, the satyr departed, and Hades watched until Persephone was no longer in view, but he could feel her presence in his realm, a torch that scorched a path across his skin. He considered seeking her out but thought against it. As much as he hoped to change Persephone’s opinion of himself, he also needed her to find solace and friendship in his realm.
Not needed.
Wanted.
He wanted her to find solace in his gardens, to walk the paths of the Underworld with Hecate, to celebrate with the souls. He wanted her to, one day, think of the Underworld as her home.
A strange feeling overcame him, one he was familiar with and hated—embarrassment. If anyone could hear his thoughts, they would laugh. The God of the Dead, hopeful for love, and yet he could not help it. When he had taken Persephone into his arms in the garden, when he had kissed her, he had suddenly understood what their life could be—passionate and powerful. He wanted that desperately.
And despite her dislike for him and his bargains, she could not deny her desire. He had felt it in the pull of her fingers through his hair, the mold of her soft body to his, and the desperation in her kiss.
His head started to rush, and a warmth spread through him that went straight to his cock. He groaned; he was going to have to expel some of this energy.
