Chapter 27
PERSEPHONE
Ipracticed with Hades every day for the following week.
He’d switched up my training regimen and was almost killing me. I was exhausted. But he seemed distant… colder. I tried not to dwell on it, but it stung. Perhaps my blowjob had been too amateurish? Maybe he would turn to Minthe instead?
I needed to get a grip on myself because I was a horny abyss of sexual tension whenever I was in his proximity—my bond was a whiny, sexed-up little bitch. But the adjoining suite doors remained closed, and I was too stubborn to show I was bothered.
The clusterfuck of my life showed no signs of slowing down.
I still had to choose a husband, and the thought alone scared the crap out of me.
Hecate and I had sketched out a plan: marry Hades, but only in name, keeping my freedom as long as I agreed to spend six months of the year in the Underworld.
It was a gamble, but it was all I had. We’d tell Hades when I was ready.
One small silver lining? The longer I stayed in the Underworld, the more my powers thrummed beneath my skin—growing stronger, hungrier—and that felt intoxicating.
That afternoon, we were off to Ares’ court in Thrace. He was hosting some kind of trials, and I was the so-called guest of honour.
Kill me now.
As Hecate brushed colour across my cheeks, she launched into a crash course on Olympus politics.
‘The big three have their kingdoms, while the others rule courts. Zeus’s kingdom, Naxos, and Poseidon’s, Genesion, are the largest—though neither compares to the Underworld.
The rest of the gods have smaller courts, though “smaller” still means vast—think North America-sized.
You know, like Aphrodite’s and Apollo’s. ’
She glanced at me in the mirror, but I refused to bite. ‘Wow, okay,’ I muttered.
‘Most of the lesser gods have much smaller courts—’
‘Like Adonis? His court is called Phoenicia.’
‘Yeah, that douchebag has a smaller court. Probably about the size of Ireland, I’d say.’
‘How does it work? I mean, where are these courts?’
‘They all collectively form Olympus, Sephy. Olympus is as big as the Earth.’
‘Oh.’ I squinted at her. ‘So, which places am I meant to visit?’
‘Thrace, Ares; Naxos, Zeus; Cyclades, Apollo, and, unfortunately, Phoenicia, Adonis.’
‘Gods, I need a way out soon, Tee. I can’t face going to Phoenicia.’ I gulped a mouthful of nectar.
‘The asshole told you, didn’t he?’ she fumed.
I nodded at her. ‘Why would I do that? Why would I be… unfaithful? That’s so not me.’ I sniffed and wiped a hand under my eyes. Tee suddenly became enraptured by her nail polish as she dropped my gaze. ‘Please, Tee. Tell me. Did Hades know? And wasn’t Aphrodite also in love with him?’
Her eyes rose to mine again, and she gave a half-shrug.
‘Aphrodite used Adonis for a while, but she didn’t love him.
She was… well, a bit of a whore back then.
’ A startled laugh escaped me. ‘Then, out of nowhere, you became besotted with him for a spell. None of us could figure out why. But, I had a feeling that Eros had something to do with it. He was a mischievous little bastard when he was younger, plus he’d had a run-in with Hades.
Whether Adonis prompted him or someone else—’
She gave her head a slight shake and grimaced at the memory.
‘But the truth is, we’ll never know. Anyway, stop freaking crying; you’re ruining your makeup.
’ She scowled, and I let out a shaky little laugh, noticing she hadn’t answered my question about Hades.
Guilt wrapped its smoky tendrils around me, making the lump in my throat grow larger. I took another sip of nectar.
Tee started piling my hair atop my head into something called a ‘heavenly high bun’. A loose updo secured with a pearl hair accessory, while strands hung from the sides and nape, leaving me looking a little boho chic.
‘Nice.’ I grinned at my reflection as Hedone appeared, giving Tee a long, slow kiss, and then brandished a beautiful lilac dress.
‘I love it!’ I beamed as I ran my fingers over the material. ‘It’s lush.’
‘Are you bringing your goat friend with you this time?’ Tee said, sneering.
‘Hey. Don’t be a bitch. He’s my friend. But no, apparently, he’s already busy this afternoon.
I don’t think he fancies Ares’ trials for some reason.
He wouldn’t tell me why, though.’ I frowned.
I’d seen Simmy almost every day when I sought refuge in the library, but he’d been a little cagey about Ares’ court.
‘Anyway.’ Hedone interrupted my musings as Tee cleared her throat. ‘Let’s get you into this dress.’
‘I’ll be back shortly. Gotta get spruced up and all.’ Tee winked at me, kissed Hedone, and flashed from the room.
The dress was more of a cocktail-style, crafted from sheer fabric, and skilfully adorned with glistening beadwork, appliqués, and embroidery.
The long, slim sleeves clung to my arms, and the dress ended midthigh, with the hem trimmed with zigzag edging.
Paired with silver sandals and a clutch, it looked elegant.
The plunging V-neckline showcased my breasts, which I wasn’t sure was a good thing if I was meeting Ares.
‘Is it a bit too revealing?’ I asked, running a hand over my abdomen.
‘Be proud of your assets, Persephone,’ Hedone replied as she fussed over me, dotting my pulse points with a perfume that smelled of a floral bouquet—May Rose and jasmine—featuring bright citrus top notes and vanilla.
‘I don’t want to give Ares the wrong impression,’ I grumbled, and she scoffed at my words.
‘He will try his best with you, no matter what you wear. He’s always lusted after you.’
My head shot around to her, and I groaned. ‘Eww.’ She simply laughed again.
‘Ready?’ Tee appeared, wearing a figure-hugging, black silk, off-the-shoulder cocktail dress, and I nodded hesitantly. ‘Then let’s go.’
We flashed to a vast open-air room, surrounded by enormous, spaced-out Grecian pillars draped in climbing ivy.
Between the pillars, I glimpsed a forest, but not much else.
The trees looked like Hyperion, a coast redwood.
Glancing up at the blazing sun, I took a deep breath and smiled.
‘Oh, how I’ve missed you,’ I murmured, my gaze fixed on the ball of orange fire.
The room buzzed with smartly dressed people, all sipping fancy drinks and nibbling on canapés.
Tee grabbed a couple of glasses of the pink fizz, and I took a gulp.
‘I adore this fizz,’ I said, staring lovingly at the glass.
‘It’s champagne and nectar,’ Tee answered, and I raised an eyebrow.
I scanned the room but didn’t spot Hades. I didn’t feel the tingling at the nape of my neck when his eyes were on me. ‘Where’s Hades?’ I enquired casually.
‘He’s not coming, Sephy. It’s killing him to watch the other gods fawning over you.’
I winced, but then I thought about him treating me differently—colder—after everything we’d done, and my temper prickled. ‘Good,’ I bit out, ‘because Lord Deadly and Grumpy from Planet Infuriating is a twatwaffle.’
‘Do you know what, girl? Sometimes you’re kind, and sometimes you’re kind of a bitch,’ Tee growled softly before she twirled around and stomped off.
My mouth fell open. Was I? Didn’t he deserve it? Yet, uncertainty plagued me.
‘Persephone.’ That familiar baritone voice drew my gaze to the right.
Poseidon. I groaned internally but dutifully smiled and held out my hand, which he kissed.
‘I hope you’re not leading my brother on a merry dance,’ he murmured.
‘I vowed to flood your city if you broke his heart, and I meant it.’ His lips were nothing more than a thin line.
He cared for Hades, and that made me warm to him a little.
‘Plus, apparently, he’s excellent at oral sex.
’ He chuckled knowingly, and heat coursed through me like a fever.
I wanted to disappear into my hands, but I refused.
Standing around him, thinking about it, however, was pretty far up the no-thank-you list.
‘You’re… You’re… ugh,’ I seethed as I turned to leave. I was going to gut Hades, the fucking big-mouthed jerk.
He sighed. ‘Pearls before swine.’
I spun around again. ‘Did you just call me a pig?’ He rolled his eyes and walked off, leaving me flustered.
Of course, Zeus found me, and that melodic voice calmed my anger a smidge. We exchanged pleasantries, and as he kissed my hand to leave, he, too, narrowed his eyes at me. ‘Why did you kiss Apollo?’
His question took me aback, and irritation buzzed through my veins. ‘Why not?’ I bark-whispered. ‘And what business is it of yours?’
‘I’ll fucking destroy your city with lightning if you break Hades’ heart,’ he rumbled softly, then strode away.
Gods. London was set to be not only flooded but also annihilated by lightning. Freaking fabulous. I finished my pink fizz, and a hand placed another in front of me.
‘Apollo.’ A grin split my face when our gazes locked.
‘Lady P, may I say you look stunning?’ He bowed and kissed my hand.
Zeus and Poseidon stood together, eyeing us both.
Feeling increasingly irritated, I placed my hands on Apollo’s broad shoulders, and as he leaned down, I kissed him gently on the cheek.
Poseidon looked as if he was about to blow a gasket, his jaw bunched and his cheeks rosy, so I smiled sweetly at the god of the sea.
‘I can’t wait for you to visit my court, Persephone.’ My attention returned to Apollo, whose cheeks were now flushed.
‘Oh, me too. I’m looking forward to it,’ I replied. Apollo glanced over my shoulder, sighed, kissed my hand, and began to mingle.
‘Persephone.’ I heard Ares’ voice and turned. There he was, all broad shoulders and muscles, looking like a mountain ash on steroids.
‘Ares.’ I extended a hand, and he kissed it for so long that I had to tug it back.