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She shifted the books in her arms and took his hand, and they returned to his office. Her gaze fell on the mirror over the fireplace and then wandered to his.
“How did you know we were in there? Hermes said we couldn’t be seen.”
“I knew you were here, because I could feel you.”
She shivered visibly and withdrew her hand from his. Hades mourned the absence of her warmth. She picked up her backpack where she had left it and heaved it onto her shoulder. On the way out the door, she paused and glanced back. She looked so young, so beautiful, framed by his gilded doors, and he wondered what the fuck he was doing.
“You said the map is only visible to those you trust. What does it take to gain the trust of the God of the Dead?”
“Time.”
***
Hades saw Persephone out, despite her protests. He knew she feared being seen with him, and really, he could not blame her. The media was ruthless and obsessive, and they tracked gods like prey, hoping for a shot that would perpetuate sensationalism and gossip. Some of his fellow Olympians loved the attention, but Hades had made it a goal to avoid them completely, going so far as to post guards up and down his street, on roofs, and in buildings around his club to keep his privacy.
“Antoni will take you home,” Hades said, having already summoned the cyclops. He stood outside Hades’ black Lexus. He expected Persephone to protest, but she looked up at him, a gentle expression on her face.
“Thank you.”
She climbed into the back of the car, meeting his gaze through the window as Antoni closed the door.
Watching her leave felt different this time, like they had found common ground. Like they were closer to understanding one another…and he felt hopeful.
As soon as his car was out of sight, Ilias approached, handing him a file he had created on the dryad who had followed Persephone into his club. He glanced over the content and handed it back to the satyr.
“Thank you, Ilias,” he said and vanished, appearing in the small room where the dryad had been held. She screamed when she saw Hades and shrunk against the wall, shaking.
“Rosalva Lykaios. Assistant to Demeter. Funny that your résumé does not also includespy.”
She spoke softly, voice quaking. “P-Please, my lord—”
“I will be brief,” he said, cutting her off.“You have two choices before you. Either you lie to your mistress and tell her Persephone was not here tonight, or you tell the truth.”
He moved toward her as he spoke, and the girl cowered.
“If the first, you risk the wrath of Demeter,” he said.“If the second, you risk my wrath.”
“You are asking me to do the impossible.”
“No,” he said.“I am asking you, which of us do you fear more?”
CHAPTER XV - A GAME OF TRICKERY
It was early when Hades made his way to the Underworld stables. They were located at the back of his estate and just as grand as his castle. Marble floors lined a wide aisle flanked by stalls with glossy black doors. Hades had four sable-black horses, Orphnaeus, Aethon, Nycteus, and Alastor, who occupied each pen, and as he came into view, they neighed, pawing the ground with their hoofed feet.
“Yes, yes, I know. You are wasting away in these stables, and you want to go for a run,” he said as they complained noisily.“I’ll bargain with the lot of you. Be good while I brush your coats and trim your hooves, and I’ll let you roam the realm.”
They snorted in response—an agreement.“Who wants to go first?”
They were quiet.
They were fire and brimstone, and they had seen battle as Hades had seen battle. Despite how he tried to care for them, their spirits were wild, their dreams haunted. They were tortured like he was tortured.
“Come now. The longer you wait, the further you are from freedom.”
That got their attention, and they all responded at once, knocking against their stall doors.
Hades grinned and laughed.“One of you will just have to charm me.”
