Chapter 15
PERSEPHONE
‘Iwant you to return to the Underworld. You’ll be safest there, with Tee… with all of us. We will figure something out, I promise. I shall bestow Xenia upon you,’ Hades said as he scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
I turned to him. ‘Xenia?’
‘Yes. It will keep you safe.’
I nodded at his words, worrying my bottom lip.
‘So, have you two made up?’ We turned slowly to find Matt awake on the sofa.
‘Be quiet, human,’ Hades thundered.
‘Matt,’ I barked, pushing Hades in the chest again. ‘His name is Matt.’
A muscle ticked in Hades’ jaw. ‘Did you kiss my wife?’ Hades’ eyes locked onto Matt’s, and as he shrank back against the pillows, Matt’s eyes widened to the size of spaceships.
I groaned in frustration. Kissing wasn’t the only thing I’d done with Matt, but I decided to keep quiet.
Given the look on Hades’ face, I figured it wise not to provoke him further.
‘You’re the Persephone? I—I didn’t know. Holy crap.’ Matt’s were fixed on me, clearly avoiding Hades’ lethal glare, his brow now beaded with perspiration.
‘Neither did I, Matt. Don’t worry.’ I smiled at my friend. ‘Anyway, I will freaking well kiss whomever I want, Hades!’ I turned and scowled up at him, and at my words, his shadows suddenly danced around us.
‘Go to your room, human. You will not mention seeing me.’ Matt stood, his posture rigid and his eyes cast to the floor as he walked out of the door.
‘Did you just use compulsion?’ I glared up at the irritating god.
‘No. I think I just scared him.’
‘You’re such a jerk.’
‘I know,’ he replied with a tight smile.
‘You can’t terrorise every man I’ve been with!
Anyway, your kisses are decidedly average.
So—’ My gaze collided with his, and I snapped my mouth shut because the look in his eyes caused me to take a few steps back…
but he followed. His proximity sent a wave of liquid fire pulsing through my veins and straight between my legs.
‘How many boys have you been with?’ His voice was a low rumble. Part of me bristled at his demand, but another part of me, lacking functioning brain cells, was weirdly thrilled.
‘I’ve never been with boys, Your Majesty.’ His blue eyes flared, swirling with golden aether. ‘Anyway, it’s none of your business.’
‘Oh, it is my business,’ he all but growled, lowering his head, his breath tantalisingly warm against my cheek.
I hated that it made my pulse skip. My gaze dropped to his full lips, and I stepped back again, my back hitting the wall.
He leaned in and planted his large hands on either side of my head, caging me in and making the air catch in my throat.
‘Explain that faulty logic to me,’ I managed to whisper.
A savage smile cut into his lips. ‘You’re my wife. That makes it my business. Definitely my business.’
Fire of a different kind pulsed through me, and I flipped.
‘Get out of my face, you asshole!’ I shoved his chest, solid as stone.
He didn’t budge. ‘I am not your wife. And if I were, you betrayed me…’ He flinched, but I was past mercy.
‘You fucked Minthe!’ I seethed, every word laced with venom.
‘You touched her while claiming to belong to me.’
His nostrils flared, jaw flexing with the force of his restraint. Then his hand wrapped around mine—huge, hot, possessive. The shadows exploded around us like a storm unleashed, curling up my arms, brushing my skin like ghostly fingers, swallowing us whole in that velvety-dark magic.
His voice came rough and low, nearly trembling with the effort to keep it together. ‘I never belonged to her.’ A beat. ‘I’ve only ever belonged to you.’
I hadn’t seen Hades since he unceremoniously dumped me on my ass back in ‘my’ bedroom yesterday.
His words swirled in my mind. ‘I never belonged to her. I’ve only ever belonged to you.’ Was that the truth? And even if it was… it was the original Persphone he meant. Not me.
When I’d walked into my kitchen in Islington and saw him standing there, I was dumbfounded.
As his gaze fell to the mark on my neck, his eyes flashed pure gold, and his mouth slammed into a hard, thin line.
I’d unconsciously touched the mark, and the memories of him kissing me caused flames to lick deep in my stomach and between my thighs.
As one side of his mouth tilted upwards, I remembered his words: I can taste your arousal. That was the point at which I wanted to stab him with my blade… in the eye. Gods, he was such a self-important tosser.
So here I was, back in the Underworld. That annoying, horny, whooshing sensation in my chest was back with a vengeance—which meant he was close, and the anticipation of seeing him infuriated me.
I couldn’t control the longing, even though he embodied fire, ash, and death.
I knew there was something real between us.
Something real and godsdamned inconvenient.
Tee had been delighted I was back, but she’d also been scarce. I was bored out of my mind—yet apparently ‘safe’.
I was trying to read—still swotting up on the gods—but still brooding when a knock at my door jolted me from my reverie. I answered to find Tee standing outside with another woman.
‘Sephy, I’d like to introduce you to Hedone. I thought she could have a chat with you about, erm, matters.’ Tee appeared flustered. ‘And about decorum in Olympus. You know. Preparing for Aphrodite’s welcoming party? She’s helping me with your makeup and outfit, too.’
The beautiful stranger tilted her head as she examined me from head to toe, causing me to shuffle self-consciously. Wearing yoga pants and a crop top, with my hair loose, I wasn’t elegant. I awkwardly ran a hand through my tousled curls.
She had incandescent amber eyes that regarded me warmly, even in my state of disrepair; her skin was a rich ochre colour with warm orange-red undertones.
Her hair, black-as-night, cascaded in waves down to her waist, and her sharp, silk trouser suit clung to her curvaceous body.
Hedone was the goddess of pleasure, enjoyment, and delight, the daughter of Eros—love—and Psyche—soul, and more specifically associated with sensual pleasure.
Heat swept across my cheeks as I scowled at Tee.
‘Persephone, charmed to meet you.’ Hedone smiled kindly. ‘Shall we go and make tea?’
I nodded mutely, glancing between her and Tee. ‘But I want to walk, please.’
Tee sighed, and this time, as we walked to the kitchen, I memorised the route.
When we entered through the wide grey doors into the expansive space, memories of Hades flooded my mind.
Recalling what he’d said to me the last time I was here with him caused me to fist my hands.
You were the brightest star in an endless night.
Stop thinking about him, Sephy. For the sake of every baby alpaca ever born! But that bond in my chest keened for him like a sulky little bitch. I was missing him. Dammit.
As we sipped tea and nibbled sweet biscuits, we chatted. ‘So, tell me about Xenia?’ I said, placing my cup down.
‘Well, Hades wanted to protect you from Zeus and the other gods,’ Hedone replied. ‘Now his binding is dissolved… it’s only a matter of time before one of them, most likely Zeus, claims you, and believe me, that’s the last thing you want.’ She pressed her lips together.
‘Agreed,’ Tee added. ‘The goddess Hestia is inherently tied to the concepts of Xenia and generosity. So for Hades to offer it means that you are a guest in his realm—’
‘What? I’m not his prisoner?’ I snapped.
Tee ignored me. ‘You are under his protection, for now, and no one can force you to do anything you don’t want to while he invokes Xenia upon you.’
‘So, how do I get out of this mess? I can’t stay here forever!’ I threw my hands up in frustration.
Tee and Hedone exchanged glances. ‘Worry not, Persephone. Hades will think of something,’ Hedone reassured as she stroked my hair.
Worry not? I was worried sick. Having several Greek gods coveting me for marriage wasn’t just worrisome—it was downright menacing. I gulped and clasped my fists in my lap, trying to hide the tremor in my hands.
‘We’ll get through this, Sephy. I promise.’ Tee leaned into me and kissed my hair. I gave her a slight nod and momentarily closed my eyes.
‘So…’ Hedone interrupted my musings, and I opened my eyes to see her holding a conical-shaped ice pop.
‘About pleasing a man.’ She gave me a devilish smile and proceeded to lick and suck the offending item like it was a dick, moaning and making guttural humming noises.
My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped as I released a short, startled laugh.
Well, this was all kinds of awkward.
Tee snorted behind me, mumbling, ‘Subtle.’
‘Erm, I’m not twelve,’ I said, feeling blood rush to my cheeks. ‘I don’t need sex ed lessons, thanks.’ My eyes darted to Tee, and I bared my teeth in a silent snarl. Tee smothered her laughter behind her hand.
‘I only wish to prepare you, Persephone, for when you choose a husband. Have you ever pleasured a man with your mouth?’ Hedone lowered the ice pop and tilted her head to the side as she studied me. Heat seared through my cheeks again, and I bristled.
‘Of course I have,’ I ground out as she gave me a look as if to say, Really? ‘It was revolting.’
Hedone tittered. ‘That’s because you haven’t been with the right person, Persephone. Oral sex is about giving and receiving pleasure willingly. Executing it well requires skill and practice for both partners. I want to help you.’
‘Well, I’m not planning on giving anyone a blowjob, so don’t bother.’ I jutted my chin at her as I silently screamed.
‘Maybe we should focus on the etiquette of Olympus, Hedone,’ Tee intervened, eyeing me warily. I shot her a look that said, Wait until I get you alone later, you grass. She just smirked.
Hedone’s answering smile flickered across her face like a hologram.