Chapter 8
HADES
My cock twitched at the thought of touching and smelling Persephone again. At last. The bond between us was growing stronger; I could feel it. I was sure she felt it, too, but she was resisting.
This Persephone made me furiously angry and impossibly turned on at the same time, and I didn’t like the feeling one fucking bit.
Looking out of my window, the life Persephone had begun to create in the Underworld uplifted my mood. She was the goddess of life; the goddess of my heart. I slammed my hand down on the desk. She belonged to me.
Persephone’s dark power was growing while she was in the Underworld—it all but purred in my presence like a siren’s call.
I sighed and poured myself another Scotch, downing it in one gulp.
I was pouring my fourth when Tee materialised in my study.
I poured another and handed it to her. It was difficult for a god to become drunk unless we drank rapidly in substantial quantities, but as I was apparently hosting a dinner this evening, I decided it would be best to avoid arriving rolling drunk.
‘I hear lunch went well,’ Hecate said with a straight face.
I glared at her, then looked down at my drink. ‘Persephone is infuriating, yes.’ I downed another Scotch. ‘She’s feisty and insolent, and I don’t know whether I want to fuck her or send her to Tartarus.’
Hecate guffawed with laughter. ‘You definitely want to fuck her, Hades.’ She sank into a chair and took a sip of her Scotch. ‘She’s pissed off that you kidnapped her.’
I let out an exasperated sigh. ‘I know. But what other choice did I have? I’ve messed up, haven’t I? Binding her to me for three months and bringing her here?’ I lifted my eyes to hers, then closed them.
‘Don’t behave like another Demeter, boss.
Keeping her locked away like a prisoner and compelling her to fulfil your demands will extinguish her spark.
’ I brooded on her words. I was tempted to take the easy option—keeping her regardless of her wishes.
After all, she was mine. But I longed for Persephone to choose me of her own free will, just as she had the first time.
Gods, this was a mess.
‘Do you sense her dark power growing stronger?’ I lifted my gaze to Hecate, and she nodded.
‘It’s like a sleeping dragon yearning to be awakened. I’m starting “magic” training with her. Would you like me to chat with her about it?’
I shook my head.
‘You sure? It's simmering, fighting for release.' I tilted my head towards her. ‘She needs to be able to control it.’
‘Okay.’ I sighed. ‘Speak to her about it.’
Hecate stood, then paused and turned back to me. ‘Oh, she feels the soul bond.’
My head snapped up. ‘Has she told you?’
Hecate nodded. ‘She’s confused, Hades. Give her time to come to terms with it.’
‘But Zeus wants to hold the first “event” for Persephone in fifteen days. What if she falls for another god before she “comes to terms”?’ I grunted.
‘That meddling asshole,’ Hecate bit back. ‘You’ll win her heart, Hades. Stop doubting yourself. Maybe lose the attitude if you want to charm her, though.’ I narrowed my eyes at the goddess. Rude. ‘Come on. I’ll meet you there.’ She vanished, still clutching her Scotch.
I blew out a frustrated breath. ‘They can wait for me,’ I grumbled, finishing the last of the bottle, my heart clenching at the thought of Persephone ultimately rejecting me.