Chapter 33
PERSEPHONE
‘Oh, my gods!’ I squealed, clapping my hands and bouncing on the spot. ‘A real-life Pegasus!’
Apollo chuckled at my excitement. ‘This is Astra, which means “star”. She is one of my most prized possessions. Or maybe I’m her possession?
I’m not certain.’ I giggled at his declaration as I gently stroked the mare’s face.
She was pure white, with a small cream star shape between her eyes.
‘Poseidon gifted her to me when he was in a good mood.’
I snorted at his words. ‘A good mood? He’s even grumpier than Hades.
’ Mentioning his name made my heart clench.
‘She’s beautiful,’ I murmured, planting a kiss on her velvety muzzle.
Her wings were tucked in, and a golden chariot secured her in place.
‘Are we flying?’ My wide eyes met Apollo’s stare, and he cleared his throat.
‘We are… my lady.’ He extended a hand, and I walked around the Pegasus before stepping into the chariot, followed by the god of the sun. ‘Here.’ He draped his jacket around my shoulders. ‘I don’t want you to catch a chill.’
‘Thanks,’ I muttered, heat pricking my cheeks.
Apollo turned to me. ‘Hades isn’t keeping you… against your will, because—’
‘Oh, gods. No,’ I gasped. ‘I’m there of my own volition.’ He studied me for what felt like an eternity, then gave a slight nod.
He took the reins, and Astra’s hooves clip-clopped as she pulled the chariot into the open air.
‘Hold on,’ Apollo said as he issued a command in Greek, and the Pegasus galloped and launched.
Her expansive wings took my breath away—a wonderful blend of cream and gold, speckled with white—radiant, like the colours of the warmest sunset.
The smaller feathers blended intricately with the larger ones as they rounded the delicate, narrowing curve towards the bottom tip.
Her long white mane and tail fluttered in the warm breeze.
She soared swiftly and nimbly through the skies—she was majesty personified.
The court was immense and breathtaking. A mountain range in the distance, beautiful lakes, forests, towns, and villages passed us by as we flew through the skies.
‘I would love for you to be my consort, Persephone.’ Apollo shot me a sidelong glance, and I tried to swallow the boulder in my throat.
‘We were close friends before…’ He hesitated.
‘And the thought of us being more is why I want to be considered.’
‘I really like you, but—’
‘You still love Hades.’ He smiled kindly.
Did I? Love Hades? I didn’t respond because, if I did, it would be unrequited.
And unrequited love is a bitch. He didn’t love me—he loved the woman I used to be.
The goddess he lost, not the one reborn.
I knew he felt limerence and lust… but that was the bond’s influence.
I inhaled deeply through my nose. I needed to escape this place and return to London and my life.
‘Aphrodite warned me, but a guy can hope, right?’ He smiled sadly, his eyes holding mine for a heartbeat.
‘I’m sorry,’ I breathed. ‘Can we still be friends?’ He nodded and changed the subject as he explained his court to me.
I gasped when a flying ship passed us, the passengers nodding and waving. ‘A ship that flies?’ My gaze was fixed on the vessel, and Apollo belly-laughed at my wide eyes and slack jaw.
He spoke again once he’d caught his breath.
‘Olympus is a blueprint of the Earth, Persephone, in a different dimension. Instead of the sea separating the land masses, we have the sky. Airships serve as a means to travel from one island to another in Cyclades and, sometimes, to different courts. That vessel is a Borasco.’ He gestured towards the large flying ship.
‘It takes passengers. Some more affluent people possess private vessels, such as a Mistral, which is much smaller. Not everyone can teleport, Lady P.’
‘Oh,’ I replied, meeting his eyes. ‘I have much yet to learn about Olympus.’
His megawatt smile returned, and he whispered, ‘Cyclades will always welcome you. I will always welcome you, should you ever need us.’
I dropped my gaze and smiled. ‘Thank you,’ I said as I touched his hand.
As we returned to the stables, a groom came to take Astra and the chariot, but not before I thanked her again with a kiss on the muzzle.
‘That was such fun,’ I said as I turned to Apollo. He raised his hand as if to cup my face, and I felt a sharp whirl of tingles ripple across the back of my neck.
‘If you touch a single hair on her head, you will find yourself in Tartarus… after I’ve disembowelled you.’ Hades stepped out from behind a pillar. His voice was laced with barely leashed anger. Apollo opened his mouth to speak, but Hades’ low guttural growl uttered one word… ‘Mine.’
Hades was possessive and vicious, but also kind and gentle, and my stupid little heart fluttered like it was begging to be ruined.
I always thought that a man threatening violence on my behalf would be a turn-off, but coming from him, it made me feel embarrassingly giddy.
What the hell was wrong with me? I should have been furious at his assumption, but I wasn’t. Go figure.
And, gods, please tell me my nipples aren’t tingling.
Apollo stared at Hades as if he’d whipped out his cock and started swinging it around but gave a slight nod, bowed to me, and walked out.
‘Persephone.’ Hades rolled my name over his tongue as if he were savouring it, and my legs felt a little unsteady as an intense pulse of desire punched me in the gut. The bond went from a ball of fuzzy warmth in my chest into a raging wildfire.
Our eyes locked, my heart raced, and as I licked my bottom lip, his eyes zeroed in on my mouth. ‘I’ve missed you,’ I whispered.
Like a flash of lightning, he was before me, and my breath snagged as his mouth plundered mine, his large hands cradling my face.
There was nothing gentle about his kiss…
He kissed me as if his life depended on it.
The kiss deepened until we were consumed by each other, tongues entwining in an erotic dance, our breaths mingling together.
He pulled away, resting his forehead against mine, and closed his eyes.
We remained still for several heartbeats.
‘We need to talk.’ His breath caressed my lips as he spoke.
I met his gaze and nodded. ‘We do.’
Hades shadow-walked me to his chambers, my mind whirling like a softball in a cyclone.
‘I want to see my granny,’ I said, making him freeze.
He sighed. ‘Fine. But one visit is all you can have, Persephone.’
His shadows enveloped us, and we appeared in a scene reminiscent of a quintessential English village: thatched cottages, beautiful gardens, swaying trees, and songbirds.
Everything was simply perfect. I spotted a woman tending to one of the gardens—a garden brimming with roses—and then moved closer, unlatching the garden gate.
She looked younger, blooming in her surroundings, and I hesitated.
The lady looked up, her eyes meeting mine. ‘Persephone, my darling. Oh, how I’ve missed you.’
‘Granny.’ I sobbed as I threw myself into her arms, embracing her as I cried. I felt Hades’ presence behind me and, reluctantly, let go, gesturing to him. ‘This is—’
‘I know who he is, darling,’ Granny said respectfully, bowing her head.
‘Oh,’ I whispered. ‘Are you… happy?’ I held her at arm’s length and studied her. That warm smile and the love shining in her eyes made my heart flip-flop.
‘I am content, my darling. Yes.’ My eyes roamed over her cottage and rose garden. It was like the place she’d always dreamed of.
‘How? This place is exquisite.’
She shrugged and smiled. ‘It’s what I wanted; what I hoped for. Elysium is a beautiful place, Persephone.’ That little pulse in my chest felt like a thousand hummingbirds taking flight.
‘Hey, Hermione.’ A tall, handsome, American Black man waved over the garden fence.
‘George, this is my granddaughter.’
George gave me a slight nod, and Hades made his way towards George.
‘I’ll catch you later, for G don’t be afraid to admit it.’
I pondered her words as she poured the lemonade.
‘I love you, Granny.’ I hugged her; tears fell, sharp as heartbreak. I c—can’t visit you again. But I miss you so much,’ I sobbed.
She held me at arm’s length. ‘Darling, I’m with you every day… I’m here.’ She placed a hand over my heart and smiled. ‘Apparently, you and Hades used to visit Elysium regularly. Before…’ She raised her gaze to meet mine.
‘We did?’ I swiped my eyes, and she dipped her chin.
‘Yes. When you were his queen. As queen, you will be able to come and go as you please.’ My eyes widened.
Did I really want to be a queen? Granny continued, ‘Many areas of Elysium are similar to towns and villages. Depending on what people desire in the afterlife—the sea, the mountains, or, like me, a quaint English village—that’s what we have.
’ I inhaled a breath and stared at her, then started crying again as she laughed and held me.
After chatting and sipping her homemade lemonade, Hades appeared again.
‘Go and live a good life, beautiful girl. Make me proud. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon, darling.
’ I gave her a shaky smile, and with one final squeeze of my hand, Hades shadow-walked me back to the castle.
He poured two glasses of nectar and handed me one, which I accepted gladly.
I sipped the fruity drink, and my trembling nerves settled a little.
‘Just let me catch my breath a moment,’ I said as I collapsed onto the sofa.
‘No.’ He moved to stand before me, and I frowned.
‘I want it to remain lost. I want to be the man to catch it.’ I felt a snag in my breath, and my pulse thundered.
‘Please, Persephone,’ he rasped, voice rough with need.
‘Sleep in my bed. I can’t bear the thought of you slipping further away.
I want you… need you to want me the way I burn for you.
I’d tear the world apart just to keep you here.
Please, love me again. I’m begging you—don’t walk away from me. ’
The force of his need unnerved me. ‘I thought you didn’t beg?’ I searched his eyes. The intensity of his gaze seeped into my gut, settling over my skin like smoke, and I swallowed tightly.
A muscle in his jaw ticked as he regarded me. Our tension was contagious. ‘I want to prove I’m worthy of you,’ he muttered.
‘What? To prove to me you’re not an arrogant, egocentric asshole?’
‘No. I am all of those things. I want to prove I’m much more than just that. I will beg, Persephone. If loving you is my ruin… then let me burn in the fires of Tartarus.’
‘Me’—I hesitated—'or the original Persephone?’ I held my breath when his eyes filled with a caged emotion.
After a long beat, he spoke. ‘You, Persephone. You. Only you. I’ll beg. I’ll lay myself bare for you. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I love you, agapi mou.’
‘What does agapi mou mean?’ I breathed.
‘My love.’
‘Oh.’ My breath hitched, and he smiled.
‘I don’t want to be in the dark anymore. I need your light. Your love. You are the sun’s rays that burn through the darkest of nights.’ His voice rumbled through me. ‘I hunger for you. I crave you. Even if you never accept it, you are mine. My queen of light.’
My pulse pounded, my head a swirling mess, and my thoughts were muddied with a sensual haze of confusion.
He hesitated, his eyes downcast. ‘Being your friend was all I ever wanted; being your lover was all I ever dreamed. What can I do to make you love me again?’
That pull in my chest was like a riptide dragging me out to sea, threatening to drown me. I didn’t care about anything but him; that realisation took my breath away.
Sweet goddess. I couldn’t fight it—what scorched through me wasn’t just need, it was love, raw and reckless. I craved his body, his mouth, but it was his heart I’d already surrendered to.
I freaking loved the King of Death and Shadows.