Chapter 9 #2
‘Well, don’t worry. I’m not staying. You can carry on shagging the god of the dead…
I honestly don’t give a shit.’ All conversation ceased, and everyone’s eyes were on me and the hoe bag.
She smiled again, and this time, it reached her eyes.
I’d hit the nail on the head, and my stomach plummeted to my pretty sandals.
As I turned away, I caught Hades’ eyes; he looked like he wanted to throttle me, or perhaps bury me in Tartarus.
I smiled brightly at him, before making my way to Tee and Hermes.
That’ll teach him to kidnap me, the tosser.
‘You’re playing with fire.’ Tee shook her head, but Hermes and Dionysus chuckled darkly.
‘This is splendid entertainment,’ Dionysus whispered, and Tee glowered at him. ‘You’re still a pocket rocket, Persephone. Poor Hades.’ He and Hermes had coughing fits, and I smiled wickedly. Then, slightly tipsy and full of devilment, I went to flirt shamelessly with Thanatos and Charon.
I insisted that Thanatos and Charon walk me to my room, refusing Tee’s attempts to take me. As I beamed at them, I linked my arms through theirs and shot Hades a haughty look.
‘Come on, boys. Take me to my bed.’ A muscle ticked in Hades’ cheek; he appeared to be grinding his jaw so hard he might break a tooth.
I hoped he did. The fucking asshole. I turned away from him, carefully trying not to wobble on my heels.
The combination of far too much wine and sore feet was a miserable mix.
‘Can you carry me? Please?’ I batted my lashes at Thanatos, who cast Charon a worried look. Charon merely smirked in return.
‘Of course, my queen.’
‘Don’t call me that,’ I hissed. He pursed his lips but bent down, slipping an arm behind my knees as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He then walked forward, with Charon following. I peeked over his shoulder and gave Hades a small wave—he appeared as if he was about to combust.
Excellent.
Once back, the boys left me, and I sank into the soft mattress, brooding. Tee appeared in a flash of white light, hands on her hips.
‘What the Fates are you playing at, Sephy?’ she ground out through gritted teeth.
‘Nothing,’ I replied, smoothing my hand over my dress.
‘He can bang Minthe all he likes. I have no doubt he will… He’s that much of an arrogant prick.
’ I chewed on my bottom lip as I stared at my clenched fists.
‘Maybe he’ll let me go home. I don’t want to be here, Tee.
’ I looked up at her, tears blurring my vision.
I was not crying over Hades; I was crying because I was his prisoner.
Ugh. I needed to stop drinking; it was making me act like a scorned housewife.
‘You’re jealous!’ She flashed me a smug smile.
‘Am not!’ I jumped up, then sighed. ‘I’m confused.
The attraction I feel for him is making me angry.
’ My irritation spiralled. ‘The gods think it’s perfectly fine to screw around, and that’s not who I am, Tee.
I refuse to be just a notch on a bedpost.’ She smiled at my words, and I quickly added, ‘Not for Hades or any of them.’
Tee sat on the bed, and I flopped down next to her.
‘He’s not screwing Minthe, Sephy, even though she’s trying her hardest to seduce him.
’ At her words, jealousy sucker-punched me again.
‘They were a couple before he met you… the first time. And when you vanished, let’s just say she’s been keen on taking your crown and is trying everything to achieve it. ’
That made Minthe number one on my people-I-want-to-kill-slowly list. ‘What a conniving cow!’
‘Mmhm,’ Tee said. ‘Don’t treat him like that, Sephy. You’re killing him.’
‘What? He walked in with her clinging to him like a barnacle. She’s like an alley cat on ecstasy around him. Ugh. But the way he smiled at her…’ I paused.
‘He was being polite. He’s known her for years, and like I said, they were once an item, but that was a long time ago, Sephy. Stop over-analysing things.’
‘I don’t care. He’s like freaking unhappy Gilmore.’ I pouted. Tee rolled her eyes and shook her head. ‘What? I absolutely do not fancy the grumpy god of death!’
I brooded a little longer. Was she right about Hades and Minthe?
And why the freaking hell was it affecting me so badly?
I was utterly bewildered. What did I want?
I didn’t know. The only thing I knew was that something about him transfixed me, and I felt like something connected me to him.
I also knew I wanted to blast Minthe with a roundhouse kick.
It’s the alcohol making you think irrationally. You don’t care if Hades is banging Minthe.
‘Let’s get you to bed. Come on.’ Tee helped me to my feet, and I staggered into the bathroom, changing into a pair of pale green silk PJ shorts and a matching cami.
I looked at my wild eyes in the mirror and released a heavy sigh.
I couldn’t think clearly. I couldn’t function. I needed water, and I needed sleep.
As soon as my head hit the pillow, I found myself back in my otherworldly garden and everything felt right with the world.
A cascade of butterflies flitted among the brightly coloured and fragrant blooms, and I inhaled deeply.
I needed the scent of nature and the feeling it gave me; it was like my life force.
I walked around, trailing my fingertips over the flowers, until I reached the vast patch of narcissi.
I bent down and took in the scent—an opulent sensation, like wet summer lawns—intense, yet cool and floral.
‘Persephone.’ That low, lyrical voice jolted me from my reverie, and I stiffened. That voice—the very one that had haunted my dreams over the past twelve months—I knew who it was, and nausea gripped me. It was his voice. It was Hades.
I rose and turned slowly. He towered over me, about six feet away, still clad in his black jeans and black shirt—looking like a character from a steamy romance book cover.
Had I imagined the mysterious man from my dreams to resemble him?
To sound like him? It was a dream, so it was highly probable.
It was my dream, after all. I had control.
‘I want my dagger back.’ I jutted out my chin.
‘Of course, my queen.’
‘Don’t call me that!’ I whisper-hissed, trying not to get lost in his captivating eyes.
His gaze dropped to my chest, and he shifted slightly. I felt my cheeks flush; my nipples were hard against the silk of my cami, and heat poured between my legs. I watched as his eyes ravaged me, and an ache in my core made my breath feel laboured.
‘You think I’m beautiful.’ His mouth quirked into a half-smile as his eyes met mine again. Wait, what? Oh, crap. I had told him so. But it was my dream, so I guess he’d know that.
‘You’re not bad.’ I offered an evil grin.
‘Persephone,’ he said again. His voice was strained. ‘I’ve missed you.’
‘Have you?’ I said, reflecting on Minthe. Why was I so bothered by Minthe?
‘Yes. May I touch you?’
‘Not until you beg.’ Gods, I loved this dream.
‘I shall never beg.’ At his words, my jaw tightened. He was still an arrogant dick, even in my dream, but before I could utter a response, his eyes sparkled with delight, a sly, relaxed smile spreading across his lips. Shadows leaked from him, swirling between us.
‘You think you can intimidate me with shadows?’
’No. I intend to seduce you with them,’ he drawled, causing my breath to still in my lungs. As the shadows started twisting over my stomach, curling around my aching breasts and over my hard nipples, I bit back a moan.
‘That’s cheating… Oh, God,’ I whimpered.
‘Gods.’ His smile was feral as more shadows crept down to my thighs and under my shorts.
I locked eyes with him. They were full of desire, causing me to gasp, filling me with a need I’d never felt before.
His shadows licked my body like a thousand tongues, teasing and stroking until my knees turned weak.
When the shadows lapped at my clit, I cried out—the twisting and licking continued until I broke into a thousand pieces.
My back arched as release tore through me—the vortex of pleasure enveloping me caused my core to pulse, and my thighs tightened as wave after wave of release crashed through me, and then my knees buckled.
My eyes flew open, and I heaved a breath.
My body tingled, and a sense of bliss enveloped me.
I was relaxed for the first time in ages, stretching and yawning like a contented cat.
Who knew dreams could be so vivid and so freaking satisfying?
I had never experienced such release. Ever.
Then my mind switched to Hades. Why him?
But I pushed the thought aside—it was just a dream. It meant nothing.
The magic in the ceiling glowed softly with tiny stars, which indicated it was still the middle of the night.
I jumped from the bed and grabbed a bottle of water, then something caught my eye.
I walked to my bedside table, and there lay my dagger.
I frowned. Shrugging, I snagged the books from my desk.
Settling down on the sofa, I leafed through the first book; it was time to learn more about the gods, Hades, and the Underworld.