HADES

THE COURT OF THE UNDERWORLD

ALESSA THORN

Copyright © 2020 by Alessa Thorn

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Editing by F. Sutton

Cover by Fiona Jayde Media

CONTENTS

Prologue

Six Years Ago

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

About the Author

HERMES

1

2

PROLOGUE

Sing, O' Muse, of the seasons of the world and how all that was lost was found again.

Sing, of how gods and mythical creatures once roamed the lands of Greece, and of how Man became powerful, and the gods were forced into hiding.

Sing, of when Greece's economy collapsed and the land was on fire with the turmoil man's governance had wrought.

Sing, of how the gods returned to build a new world from the ashes.

Sing, O' Muse, of the new city of Styx, and the monsters that govern its underworld.

Sing to me a new song, of an unyielding God of the Dead and a Goddess of Life…

SIX YEARS AGO

The club in Athens was a complete dive, but it played the type of dirty blues Hades liked, and the people dancing looked as if they were actually enjoying themselves. Anything was better than the party he had managed to escape from two hours earlier. He had never been the type to hang around a high society dinner, even on Olympus.

Times had changed…but not that much. He'd never had a problem with Demeter, and now they were business partners as she ruled from her golden and marble tower in Athens, and him from his city of Styx.

It was a decent enough arrangement. Hades had no intention of starting unnecessary fights; he only wished that he didn't have to sit through the fucking social gatherings she insisted on holding every time he came to Athens for a meeting. It had only taken a simple trick, a slight glamour conjured in the air, and he'd slipped out the back door.

Hades rolled up his shirt cuffs and looked at his watch. He knew his freedom would last another hour before his bodyguards managed to track him down. It was why he paid them, and it was why Asterion trained them so hard. Sometimes, he really hated pretending he needed them to protect him. It made the humans comfortable to think that the God of the Dead was vulnerable, so he let them believe the lie.

Hades signaled to the bartender who poured out another two fingers of whiskey. "Thank you, leave the bottle, will you?" The guy nodded without batting an eyelid.

Hades had managed to avoid the media attention, thanks to Medusa, and outside of Styx, dressed in a white button-up shirt and black pants, he could be any other middle-aged businessman needing a drink after a long week. He had to get drunk fast, the ichor in his veins would start to filter out the effects all too soon, and he felt like getting drunk. Anything but the feeling of boredom that had overwhelmed him that evening as glittering women and men with too sharp smiles had crowded him, thrusting business cards and other parts of their persons at him.

Athens was always the fucking same. Styx had its dirty cruel parts, but at least it felt real. Demeter was turning Athens into an earthly Olympus, and he fucking hated it.

"Is that all for you, or are you willing to share?" a voice asked from beside his right shoulder. He looked down in surprise to see a woman with honeysuckle hair looking up at him.

"Excuse me?" he said bristling.

She stood up on the bar's footrest and waved at the bartender, who was chatting up a brunette. "I swear, if he doesn't come back soon, I'm going to have to owe you," she said, her red lips kicking up into a teasing smile.

"I'd love to give you some, but you have no glass," he pointed out, feeling unsettled by her directness. She laughed, the sound fizzing in his ears before she grabbed his bottle. "Don't worry, I don't have germs." Ignoring his look of horror, she took a large swig and passed it back to him. "That's better. Dancing, you know, there's nothing like it to build up your thirst."

"If you're hot, you should take off those gloves," Hades said, looking pointedly at the tight black leather covering her delicate hands. She took a step back and waved a dramatic hand in front of her red dress. It clung to her generous curves in a way that showed them off to their full dangerous beauty, a black leather belt cinching in her waist before the skirt flared out.

"And ruin my dancing outfit? Not likely."

"I suppose you have a point." Hades looked away from her and took another drink. He expected her to leave, but she just stood there. After an awkward moment, he turned back to her. "Something else you would like?"

The woman took another mouthful from his bottle, her lipstick smearing on the glass. "You know what? You look like the kind of guy I could make some really bad decisions with."

Hades smiled in a way that had made men weep in fear. "The worst."

"Promises, promises," she sighed, which made him laugh in surprise and then cough in an attempt to cover it up. She held out a gloved hand. "Come with me."

"What do you-" Hades began, but she took his large hand in both of hers and tugged him off the barstool. She looked him up until her head was tilting back.

"Tall as hell too, so maybe tonight isn't going to be a total waste after all," she said, before pulling him through the crowd. The wide skirt of her dress moved in a mesmerizing way with every swish of her hips, and Hades was just drunk enough to be curious about what this tiny woman was playing at. She pulled him close to a wall covered in buttoned leather.

"What are we doing?" Hades asked over the noise of the band.

She pulled his head down and said in his ear, "Escaping." She pushed at a panel and a door opened. "Abracadabra, mother fuckers!" she shouted, her voice drowned out over the drums.

Hades was grinning again. Maybe Athens wasn't so terrible after all. She gestured at him as she disappeared through the door. He followed, a part of him wondering if he was about to get mugged in the darkness. It turned out to be an empty room with low lounges and soft lighting.

"I know the guy who owns the club, so he won't mind if we are in here," she said, closing the door behind him.

"And what if he comes back?" Hades asked.

"Then I imagine he's going to catch us in a very compromising position," she said, and with a devilish smile, she pushed him down onto the couch.

"You're a forward little thing, aren't you? Are you even going to tell me your name?" Hades asked.

She placed her hands on either side of his face. "Absolutely not." Then she kissed him. Hades stilled in surprise under the force of it. It was like wild summer storms and just as terrifying.

"Look at your face," she chuckled, her breath smelling of whiskey and honey. She threaded her fingers through the speckling of grey at Hades’s temples. "You're far too old to be so surprised."

"No one is ever too old to be surprised when a beautiful woman kisses them unexpectedly."

She bit a plump bottom lip. "Is that so? Well, then…what are you going to do about it?"

She squeaked as he grabbed her by her glorious hips and pulled her onto his lap before kissing her just as hard and twice as deep. The same feeling of hissing rain, new things and whispers in the dark rushed over him. Her hands were buried in his hair, pulling just enough that he felt the sting rush through him and become something else.

"You still want this kind of trouble, sunshine?" he asked, coming up for air. Her honey curls were a tangled mass of gold, red lipstick smeared in a tousled way that made him want things. Things he hadn't wanted in an awfully long time.

A gloved finger ran over his two-day stubble, the sensation of leather and heat strangely insensitive and erotic at the same time.

"You're definitely my kind of trouble," she said, tightening her legs around him as her pelvis ground against his erection. She lowered her lips to his. "Big, delicious trouble indeed."

Hades wasn't quite sure how it happened, but her hands were under his shirt, and she was kissing him, her tongue in his mouth and her body a maddening tease as she pushed gently against him.

"If you keep this up, I can't be responsible for what happens," he warned.

"How encouraging."

Despite her teasing tone, he didn't want it to go further than she was comfortable with, so he pulled back from her slowly, so he could look her into her stunning green eyes.

"Tell me what you want, sunshine, and I'll give it to you," Hades said. "Sound like a deal?"

"That's very gentlemanly of you," she said and lifted his hand to her mouth and sucked on two of his fingers. He felt her tongue brush against them, causing his dick to harden even more. "This is what I want," she purred and guided his wet fingers under her damp panties. If Hades would've had a god to pray to at that moment, he would have. She groaned as he slid his fingers into her, slowly exploring her wetness, the scent of flowers, and female arousal filling the air. Her breath was coming in pants between their kisses as she thrust against him, Hades squeezing her ass with his other hand and pulling her up against him.

"Oh gods, that feels good," she whispered in his ear and then cried out when he increased the pressure. "Never had someone make me come this way."

"Then you've been fucking about with the wrong kind of men," Hades said and kissed the pale column of her throat. She grabbed his shoulders as she rode him, her gorgeous breasts pressing into his face. He managed to free one from the low V of her dress, and as soon as he got a nipple between his teeth, she came so hard her whole body shook. She tilted his face up and kissed him.

"You've ruined me, you bastard," she panted against his lips.

"You asked me too, sunshine, and I always make good on my deals," Hades said, slowly moving his fingers from her. Her eyes sparkled with green fire as she smiled at him. She leaned to whisper in his ear.

"You want to know what else I want?"

Hades groaned as her gloved hand gripped his dick. "Tell me, sunshine."

"I want this glorious dick inside of me. I want you to fuck me every which way until we are both too exhausted to fuck anymore."

Hades chuckled darkly. "Oh, darling, I'm going to fuck you so hard you're going to forget your own name."

Hades had one hand bunched tightly in her hair, the other on her breast, when the door opened, making both jump.

"Busted," she said with a forlorn sigh.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Lord Hades, but you have a phone call. It's Asterion, it sounds urgent."

"Wait outside, Simon," Hades hissed in a tone so chilling his guard snapped to attention, and the woman's green eyes went wide. It was too late. She had already heard his name, a wall of coolness coming up over that cheeky, clever face.

"Too much trouble for you, after all, hey sunshine?" he said, tucking a long curl behind her ear.

"I wouldn't say that, but your bruiser doesn't seem like he's going to wait for long," she replied, slipping off him to the couch and straightening her skirt.

"Will you wait? This won't take long," Hades asked, surprising himself that he would request something as opposed to demanding it.

"Maybe," she said and laughed. Hades lifted her gloved hand and kissed the small skull that was tattooed on the inside of her wrist. It tasted as delightful as the rest of her, the scent of her skin calling out to him.

"Thank you," he said softly. He ran his hands through this hair and tucked in his shirt before stepping out into the club. Simon was looking at him in a mixture of shock and fear as he handed over the phone.

"What?" Hades demanded, pressing one hand over his ear. Asterion was shouting something about getting angry calls from Demeter and the media catching on that Hades hadn't been at the party in his honor.

"Get Medusa to fucking fix it and stop bothering me." Hades tossed the phone to Simon and opened the door back to the secret room.

There was no woman, only her floral and sex perfume in the air, and a single black glove on the low table arranged to give him the one-fingered salute for walking out on her.

1

It had been six years since meeting the woman in the club in Athens, and yet, every so often when Hades was alone, he would catch the faint scent of her skin. It was maddening that his curiosity about her hadn't left him even after he sobered up.

After the first week, Hades had contacted the club for any footage they had of that night. She had avoided the club’s CCTV and those that did get her, her image had blurred out of focus. Impossible. If it weren't for Simon confirming the woman had been real, Hades would have thought he'd imagined her. It would hardly be the first time a god had created such an illusion, but madness was something to be cautious of in a god, especially in himself.

"You're lost to the void today, old friend," said Medusa. It was a rare in person visit, not on a screen. She was wearing her glasses that deflected her dangerous gaze, not that it had ever worked on Hades.

"Something like that. I must say I find it strange to see you out and about like this," said Hades, avoiding her question as best as he could. Medusa smiled a sickeningly, infatuated smile.

"Blame Perseus. He's the one that is slowly forcing me out of my tower. It turns out I don't entirely hate being among the humans as much as I thought."

Hades made a disapproving sound. "Now is not the time to be complacent for your safety, my dear."

"You think I don't know that? They sent a thief after me, almost killed Asterion, and hurt my girls," Medusa hissed angrily. 'Her girls' was what she had taken to calling Ariadne and Dany, both full of fire and undoubtedly Medusa's favorites.

"So, what are we going to do about them? I'm tired of Pithos fucking with my business and my family," Hades demanded.

Medusa raised a perfect red brow. "Is that what we are now? Family?"

"You know that we are. A family that each other has chosen, so it's worth more than blood. Asterion ripped through part of Pithos's forces on Knossos, and we've shut ARGOS down, but we still have no idea who is funding them and where they built such a cage to try to house him. If they had gotten him in there…"

"But they didn't. They couldn't get my necklace for immunity so they could attack me, and they didn't get their infernal face mask on me permanently either. We have beaten them when they've come at us."

"Come now, Medusa. You don't believe they were real attempts on us, do you?"

"No, they were tests, and they use other people, innocent people in Dany's case, as collateral." Medusa leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "What are you thinking?"

"That their gadgets were trial models for something bigger. What have your tech people figured out?" All the equipment that they had recovered from ARGOS was now residing in one of the basements in Serpentine Tower. Medusa let out a huff of breath.

"I know that they are brilliant and dangerous. Asterion's cage is letting off a frequency that somehow reacts to his aura. It drains his energy and keeps him weak."

"Is it electronic?"

Medusa shook her head. "That's the part that's brilliant. I don't know what causes the vibration. There's nothing electrical built into it to cause the frequency. We are one step closer to taking it apart, but I'm holding off just in case whatever causes it can't be turned on again. If that happens, we'll have lost the way to study it."

"And the mask they managed to get on you?" asked Hades. A soft, dangerous hiss came from Medusa.

"It has two rows of needles which would have kept a dose of acid inside of it, so that when I opened my eyes, it dripped into them." Medusa kept her tone steady even though fury was radiating off her in deadly waves.

"Brutal and clever. I'm extremely interested in knowing who their inventor is, as it takes a singular mind to create such objects," Hades mused.

"They are very specific. I wonder what they have made for you, darling," replied Medusa. She reached into her sleek handbag and pulled out a yellow envelope. "I wanted to see what kind of mood you were in before I gave you this. You're not going to be happy about what it contains, so you must promise not to lose your temper."

"What did you find?" He knew she had to have had a reason to come herself. Whatever was in the envelope, she didn't trust it to go through her own servers.

"I've been tracing the files and history of the laptop that Pithos gave Ariadne. Theseus shot up the Pithos IT room in Lethe, but my girls were able to recover pieces from it and the servers at ARGOS. I won't bore you with details that you won't understand, but I found transactions from certain banking accounts."

"Who do they belong to?" Hades said, his tone icy.

"You must understand how big these businesses are and…"

Hades’s power slashed out of him, ripping the envelope from her hands. He tore it open and studied the pile of bank statements.

"They are all in Athens. Someone is funding them, siphoning money out of different companies, usually smaller unnoticeable amounts, but the smaller companies are owned by one big one," Medusa explained.

"Morning Harvest," Hades growled, fighting the urge to crush the documents in his hands. "Fucking Demeter."

"Look, you know I have never liked that vanilla, self-righteous bitch, but we shouldn't jump to her as the perpetrator of this until we know for sure," Medusa tried to reason.

"She's using Pithos to try to destroy us, Medusa. You really believe I'm going to let that slide?"

"No, if you were that weak, I wouldn't have followed you out of the darkness on Lesbos, Hades. I want you to be smart about it, though. Pithos's rhetoric so far has been against the gods and magical beings. Demeter is a goddess and her daughter is a demigoddess. It doesn't make sense that she would help fund a hate group against herself."

"Maybe they don't know who is funding them. A human hate group would be the perfect cover. It means I wouldn't question a goddess's involvement. Demeter might not want to risk open war with me, but she wants the port, she always has, and it's my territory. If I'm weakened enough, she could make a play for it through financial means," Hades said, his mind connecting possibilities. Then another one occurred to him. "I forgot about the daughter. Her father was human?"

"Yes. Demeter took over his family's company after the crash and married him to keep all parties happy. From what I can tell, it was a good marriage until he was killed trying to stop some muggers. It was in the shady part of Athens, so there were rumors he was there for the hookers. Who knows? Persephone would be…oh gods, maybe thirty-something now? She helps run Mommy's kingdom," Medusa said, tapping her nails against the arm of her chair. "She always seemed less uptight than her mother, but that's not exactly hard."

Hades frowned. "I don't recall ever meeting her."

"That's not surprising, since you aren't exactly social when you go to Athens. You sign whatever agreements with Demeter, and then you get out of there before she can organize a dinner," Medusa said shrewdly. She would always keep close tabs on Hades’s movements, so it didn't surprise him that she knew his agenda.

"Perhaps, I should have paid more attention to treachery at her parties."

Medusa got to her feet. "I can't convince you not to start a war prematurely, and I'll always back every decision you make, Hades, but please try to think this through rationally. Look at Asterion, Theseus was his best friend for years and he betrayed him. Demeter might have moles of her own. Try to get more information before you go after her." She gave his shoulder a pat before she left his office, her red heels clicking on the polished floors.

Hades read through all the documents, writing notes in a black notebook. Minutes later, his cell phone started to ring. "What?" he answered.

"Uncle, I've been told you're fixing to do something stupid," Asterion said. There was music on in the background and a feminine voice singing as a pot banged.

"Talked to Medusa, did you?"

"You know, Susa, she has a big mouth. Babe, you're going to burn that if you don't stir it," Asterion called. "Sorry, back to what I was saying…"

There was a scuffle, and a new voice said, "Are you going after Demeter or not?"

"Good evening, Ariadne," Hades said, feeling exhausted by the domestics of his nephew's life.

"Hey, are you?"

"I'm thinking about it."

"You want some help? I could do with an outing."

"No murdering!" Asterion called in the background.

Ariadne's voice dropped an octave and she whispered, "Seriously, Hades, you need to give me something to do, or I'm going to start terrorizing your nephew in ways he won't enjoy."

"It sounds like he needs to find a way to help you get rid of all of that energy of yours, Ariadne. Shall I tell him you are unfulfilled?" Hades said.

"Oh, we are having plenty of sex, but we both know murder is a different kind of kick, don't we?"

Hades smiled. "We do, little Spindle. If I feel the need for lethal action, I'll call you."

"What about non-lethal? We have to do something now that we know their money is coming from Demeter," said Ariadne.

"What would you do in my position?" Hades asked, curious to see what the ex-assassin would consider.

"Me? That's easy. I'd go for the daughter."

"Ariadne!" Asterion said angrily.

"What? You were thinking it too. I don't mean to kill her. At least not yet. She would be the best person to get proper answers from. She runs part of Demeter's business, so she'll have the insight, and she'll be a good bargaining chip should Demeter be the one behind Pithos."

"Hmm, your idea has a lot of merits," said Hades thoughtfully.

"Give me that phone before you start a civil war," Asterion demanded. "Hades, if you take Persephone, Demeter will go ape shit. Aim for someone of lower ranking."

"What if Demeter doesn't know who has taken her? I don't mean to advertise my intentions. Demeter is a billionaire. We can make it look like a kidnapping by some organized crime group for a ransom, and we get what information we need," said Hades, liking the idea more and more.

"You are willing to risk everything to do this, because if you're wrong, Hades…"

"I have no intention of harming the girl, Asterion. I just need to have a talk with her, and if she knows nothing, I'll give her back. I don't suppose I could borrow your beloved to run the team?"

"Absolutely fucking not."

"Fine, put Erebus onto it."

"I respect you more than anyone, Hades, but this is a bad idea."

"Noted. Now get it done," Hades said before hanging up.

2

The place settings were peach and pink, the china was white with a filigree gold trim. Pale yellow and pink roses sat in the center of the table in a decorative crystal vase.

Persephone, in a pair of cream leather gloves, was clenching her hands underneath the table so hard that her fingers were aching from blood loss, from the leashed magic burning in them, and the growing urge to flip the goddamn table over. She imagined the horrified look on her mother's face and the Japanese businessmen that they were meeting with. All that perfection; fine china, flowers, and delicate pastries she wasn't allowed to eat, would scatter and smash across the black and white marble tiles…

"Isn't that so, darling?" Demeter said, her tone snapping Persephone out of her chaotic daydream.

"Absolutely. Your investment would double its returns within the year, and it would mean less of a reliance on the Americans and their ever-increasing trade disputes," Persephone said smoothly as she unclenched one hand and reached for her tea. Peppermint, because it didn't have the caffeine in it that made her irritable. God, she hated it. She smiled her warmest smile, throwing in a little something extra behind it to get the meeting over with. The man's cheeks pinked ever so slightly before he turned back to Demeter.

"Send us through the agreement, and we will have our lawyers do a final review," he said, eyes darting back to Persephone. The pointed toe of Demeter's high heel nudged Persephone's calf, and she quickly lowered the intensity of her smile.

"Wonderful! Please send through any questions you might have over the clauses, and we can get everything signed and made official," Demeter said, handing the man a white leather document portfolio, and they all shook hands. The smiles and politeness lasted only as long as they had company. As soon as the private room in the teahouse was empty, Demeter whirled on her daughter.

"What is the matter with you today?" she demanded.

"I don't know what you mean, Mother. You told me this meeting was important, and here I am." Persephone poured out another cup of the infernal tea.

"It was important-"

"And they agreed, so why are you so pissed off?"

"I felt you use…it… when you smiled. It was silly and dangerous. You know the humans are suspicious of us enough as it is. We can't afford for them to realize you're playing games with them."

"All I did was smile. Nothing was intended by it. I'm allowed to smile at men, Mother. After all, I'm a thirty-two-year-old woman, remember?" Persephone didn't mean to goad her. It was more trouble than what it was worth with the way her mother held onto petty insults, but she couldn't help it. She was frustrated and bored, and if she was forced to keep looking at the pastel décor that haunted her life, she was going to scream.

"You're not just a woman, daughter, you're a demigoddess. Thirty-two years is nothing for our kind. I know you find me overbearing and cautious, but it's because I've seen firsthand what man is capable of doing to us, and you have not."

Demeter reapplied her peach lipstick and reached up to smooth one hair into place. Persephone's hands itched to dig into her mother's perfectly coiffured caramel and honey hair and rough it into snarls.

Do you have the devil in you today? Persephone shut down every memory the wayward thought inspired, including that night's previous dream of being back in the club, hands under Hades's shirt, and his tongue…Don't think about it!

"You're right, Mother. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for the magic to happen, it leaked out," Persephone said dutifully, knowing the apology would soothe Demeter's mood.

"It'll take time to master it. Perhaps another hour in the pool tonight after the guests leave will help calm it down?" Demeter suggested as she rose from her chair and straightened her pale pink skirt and jacket.

Demeter was scarily beautiful in her perfection, nearly 6ft tall with a slender figure and delicately precise in every movement. Persephone was half-human, barely five feet tall and everywhere curved, and would never be able to come close to that kind of statuesque, steely grace. That didn't stop Demeter from trying to make Persephone into a 'better version' of herself.

Persephone gathered her things, and when Demeter had her back turned, she snatched one of the pink macarons from the table and shoved the whole sugary treat in her mouth at once. She really was in a mood that day, and she knew it was the dream's fault.

PERSEPHONE HADN'T ALWAYS BEEN a dutiful daughter. She'd tried to heed her mother's warnings about the magic in her veins and the dangers it brought with it, but that dark part of her needed to get out and play.

Demeter had done her best by keeping Persephone closeted away with private tutors and not letting her mingle too much with human children for their own safety. The gloves had been a fixture in her life since her powers started to manifest. After they did, Persephone was forced onto a diet of no sugar or stimulants of any kind. There was limited and carefully watched interaction with other children, and the dreaded exercise to keep her adrenaline and magic to a minimum. That was what Demeter said, but she was privately ashamed that her daughter had a curvy body by the time she was thirteen, and so had always maintained exercise was the best answer to both problems. Persephone hated everything but swimming, so Demeter had an indoor lap pool built on one side of the compound for Persephone's private use.

She was only doing what she thought was right, Persephone reminded herself as she walked through the gardens, heading for the pool.

It had been another draining night, a business dinner with Morning Harvest's Board members and partners that had dragged on a painfully long time. Persephone's eyes had drifted too often to the card in front of the only empty place at the long dinner table. Hades Acheron, the name said in swirled calligraphy. She knew he'd never turn up, which was one of the reasons that she agreed to go. She'd been very, very careful to avoid meeting the Lord of Styx, and she intended to keep it that way.

In her twenties, Persephone would have her moments of quiet rebellion where she would sneak off her mother's compound and down into the streets of Athens. She had gotten the tattoos on her wrists on one such outing. Mostly she found a lot of cake and club or bar in the less upmarket parts of town where she wouldn't be recognized. A night of dancing, drinking, and if she felt like it, a quick fuck with a random guy. Then she would sneak back up the hills to the compound, and her mother would never know she had been gone. Those nights had kept Persephone sane, she had lived for them, and she hadn't had one in six years.

Persephone opened the glass door to her pool and went into the change rooms. She unzipped her dress that she'd only manage to get one stain on that evening and kicked off the heels that made her feet ache no matter how much she wore them. Finally, she pulled off her cream gloves, and she almost wept with relief as she shook out her hands. She tugged out the handful of pins that kept her tumble of curls up and rubbed her aching scalp, moaning aloud at the sensation. She stripped off her purple underwear and pulled on the plain black swimsuit.

Gripping the sides of the sink, Persephone took three deep breaths. "You're okay," she told her reflection before she dug into the cupboard under the sink for her makeup remover wipes and her dirty secret. Most rich kids would have kept a stash of coke, but Persephone's tastes were more obscure. Instead of drugs, she pulled out a tiny packet of seeds. She couldn't go out, but at least she could do this.

The sun tattoo on her wrist flashed as Persephone tipped one seed into her left hand and held it up to the light. She smiled, and the rush of sweet tree sap, wet black earth, and spring sun hummed through her. The tiny seed twitched and then began to grow. The green worm of a root shot up in seconds until Persephone was holding a narcissus flower, its yellow center bright in its bed of white petals. Persephone's smile slipped into a smirk as she passed the flower to her right hand.

It was the hand that Hades Acheron had taken six years ago and kissed her skull tattoo. She hadn't known it was him until it was too late. It had been on one of her freedom nights that she'd needed so fucking badly. The hilarious irony of it was that it was meant to be the night that Demeter introduced her daughter to him. Demeter had always been overprotective, but the one person she never dared expose Persephone to was Hades.

Persephone had learned from a young age to fear the God of the Underworld more than any being in Greece. And it was all because of the power of her right hand.

Persephone gripped the narcissus tighter and unleashed the seething darkness in herself. The magic was a rush of danger, like driving too fast, or drinking too much, and kissing dangerously bad men. It was power and shadows and dreams and death. It sucked the life right out of the flower and turned it to ashes. It was this side of her magic that scared the shit out of Demeter and made her especially careful of Hades. Death was his domain, and all its magic belonged to him. Demeter was not the kind of goddess to share, especially not her daughter, with a god that was in turns business partner and rival.

Persephone unclenched her hand and carefully turned on the taps and washed the sooty mess down the sink. Her heart was pounding, and like the seeds, she allowed herself to dwell on the memory she kept hidden at all times. She had never seen a photo of Hades Acheron. He was more careful of the cameras than she was even with the glamour that Demeter had cast over her. That was why she had no idea who it was that she had tangled with until it was too late.

Persephone had seen him sitting at the bar across the club, her magic and lady parts snapping to attention. Neither had played up that badly at the sight of a man before, so she knew he had to be dangerous. She was in a reckless mood. Her mother had put so much pressure on her to be perfect for her first meeting with Hades that, when the bastard hadn't shown, Persephone was pissed. The sight of his back in that white shirt had dragged her straight across the dance floor. It didn't take her long to realize the rest of him was just as pleasing. Dark hair styled in a classically perfect short back and sides cut with a sprinkling of grey at the temples, silvery grey eyes, and cheekbones for days. Persephone thought all her Christmas's had come at once.

Persephone walked into the warm pool, letting the water soothe the heat that had begun to build inside of her. The pool was always the safest place to think about the way making out with Hades had made her feel. She should have known something was wrong as soon as her lips had pressed against his beautiful, cruel mouth. She thought she was going to have fun with a hot guy, and then she had felt something shift inside of her. It was like all the ichor in her veins had heated, both sides of her magic rushing in a haywire burn of life and death and sex and murder. It was as if all her darker impulses and desires had come to the surface, and she forgot all about her mother's careful years of training. The way Hades had kissed her had made every other kiss before it seem…lifeless. He had made her come so hard her body had ached afterward. It had rocked her, and she wanted more.

If his bodyguard hadn't broken them up, Persephone knew she would've fucked Hades senseless right on that couch, even if it damned her soul and dignity in the process. But Simon had broken them up, and Persephone's world had frozen from the moment she heard the words 'Lord Hades' come out his mouth. Hades had seemed just as frustrated and embarrassed by the interruption as Persephone was. He had also seen the fear in her expression, just as she had seen the sadness and regret in his as he had bent to kiss her wrist.

Persephone had a long six years to regret walking out of that room before Hades came back. It was that feral part of her that had left her glove arranged in the one fingered salute just to make him furious. Persephone had run, literally, from the club and had gone seven blocks before she dove into a cab and got back home before the Lord of Styx could catch a glimpse of her.

Six years was a long time to avoid a business partner, but Persephone had succeeded. After that night, she'd settled into the role of her mother's heir. She'd stopped her secret rebellions. She'd done everything she could to forget about Hades Acheron, even as she made sure that the next time they met across a Board room table, she'd be able to hold her own against him and make sure he'd second guess outing her to her mother. It was embarrassing that every time she ended up oddly disappointed and relieved as she stared at a name card and an empty seat. Persephone felt the pressure inside of her build up again, so she slipped under the water.

An hour later, after she had done so many laps her shoulders ached, Persephone was feeling almost back to normal. Using her magic on the seed had been enough to calm it, and her mood, down. She might even sleep that night without dreaming of Hades fucking her brains out.

Persephone wrapped a thick towel robe over her swimsuit and cut back through the gardens towards her side of the house. As she closed her hand over her bedroom’s doorknob, something pricked her sharply in the neck, and she was unconscious before she hit the wet grass.

3

It was long past midnight in Styx when Hades was informed that his package had arrived at his villa. Hades had taken Asterion's advice into consideration, but it was Ariadne's he'd chosen to follow. Demeter's daughter had been her heir and right hand for years; any dirty dealings Demeter had with Pithos would soon come to light, and he would deal with treachery wherever he found it.

Hades had given special instruction that she wasn't to be harmed more than was unavoidable to extract her. Hades smiled at the thought of the tantrum Demeter would have when she realized her security hadn't been able to stop him from taking what was most precious to her.

Hades left his tower in Styx before dawn, the roar of his Lamborghini drowning out the endless numbers and noise in his mind as he raced along the coast to his beach villa.

After Medusa had revealed all the ways money was being skimmed from Demeter's companies, he had ordered her to go through all of theirs in case of leaks. It was a tiresome job for his forensic accountants, but Hades had enough of Pithos and their games, and any lead was a good lead.

Hades had placed one hand made leather shoe onto the gravel of his driveway when he smelled it…the strange spring smell of the woman from Athens. He looked about at the flowers in the villa's perfectly manicured gardens but couldn't find its source.

You are tired, and your mind always fucks with you when you haven't rested, Hades reminded himself. He didn't always need sleep, he often went days without it, and at that moment he couldn't remember the last time he'd gone to bed. Well, there you have it.

Hades dropped his jacket over the back of a couch and his keys into a bowl when a door opened behind him.

"Good morning, sire," said Charon from his place at the kitchen bench.

"How is our guest?" asked Hades, loosening his tie.

"She's awake and very pissed off. There's quite a mouth on her for a posh girl." Charon's smile was as sharp as a blade. "I like it."

"It's probably the first time she hasn't been in control and is taking it poorly." Hades knew how easily Demeter sulked when she didn't get her way, no doubt her daughter would be the same.

Hades was in the kitchen when strange magic rippled through the house. It was the power of green, growing things, sunlight on streams, and as sweet as ripe peaches.

"Where are they keeping her?" Hades demanded.

"One of the cells beneath us. Why?" replied Charon.

"Something is wrong. I can feel magic that's not mine." Hades pushed open the door to the stairwell, too impatient to wait for an elevator.

"If she's a demigoddess, she's bound to have some abilities," said Charon.

"But nobody knows what those abilities are?"

"Demeter's forced her to live like a nun to make sure no one could have the chance to find out. Believe me, I searched for a clue and couldn't even come up with a decent photo."

"Demeter is too smart for that." Hades opened the metal fire door that led into the row of cells. Why he needed them, his men had never asked, they only knew he used them from time to time. Hades's steps froze as he looked into the cell's two-way mirror. His prisoner was still hooded, wearing a dirty bathrobe and was cuffed to a wooden chair that had sprung to life. Roots and branches had grown out from the legs and were whipping about at the guards Demeter's daughter couldn't see but knew were there.

"It appears she has a knack for nature," murmured Hades.

"You good for nothing fuckers better uncuff me or I'm going to let my branches give you an enema you'll never forget!" a woman's voice shouted, and something in Hades stilled. It couldn't be…

Hades opened the cell door, grabbed one of the branches, and gripped it tight. It blackened like it had been burned, and the stain spread, branches turning to ash as the writhing beast died back into a deformed chair. His prisoner had stopped struggling and cursing and had gone still, her shoulder's hunching tight like she expected him to hit her. His heart was racing as he reached out for the black hood. A chaotic mess of honey hair and furious green eyes appeared. She all but vibrated with leashed magic.

"Hello, sunshine," he said, trying his best to keep his cool demeaner.

"How's it hanging, Hades?" Persephone smiled in a way that promised violence. "You know, Demeter has always said you were the smartest god of them all, but taking me is the stupidest fucking thing you've ever done." Hades heard his men all inhale in shock and fear. None of them would have the stones to talk to him in such a manner.

"Charon? Please get Lady Persephone a new chair, steel this time," Hades instructed, and the rest of his guards left the cell as fast as they could. Persephone glowered up at him. She had no fear of him whatsoever. He would have to change that.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Oh, so many things," he said softly, his eyes taking in the curve of her lips. This fucking woman had haunted him for six years. He had a list of things he'd thought about doing to her as repayment for messing with him, and it was long.

"You kidnapped me for a date, old man? You could've sent a text like everyone else," Persephone mocked.

"I don't want a date. I want answers about some of your mother's efforts to screw me over." Hades thought he saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes, but he must have imagined it. She had run that night, not the other way around.

"Demeter would never try to screw you over, she's too afraid of you." Persephone started to laugh, it was tired and a little crazy.

"What's so funny, sunshine?"

"This." She waved one finger around, encompassing the destroyed room and them in it. "This is hilarious because Demeter has done everything in her considerable power to ensure I didn't end up in this exact spot."

"If memory serves, you sought me out first." Hades smiled, and she looked away.

"It wasn't like I knew it was you," she muttered.

"Why does Demeter want to keep you away from me? What interest would I have in a pampered baby demigoddess with an attitude problem?"

The barb seemed to strike home, but instead of breaking her, it made something harden in her spring eyes. "Maybe because she didn't want to subject me to a giant asshole with no manners."

Hades chuckled darkly. "What do I care about manners? I'm not one of the coddled rich boys that would fall at your socialite feet or a golden boy of old Olympus that your mother admired so greatly. Your insults are childish, and the only effect they have is to keep you chained to that chair longer than you need to be. You've had a rough night, little princess, I'll give you a few days to cool off and then we will try again." Hades turned on his heel and reached for the cell door.

"No manners and a lousy kisser," muttered Persephone. He pretended not to hear her even if he longed to turn around and prove her wrong.

"What orders, boss?" asked Charon once the door was securely locked. Hades didn't look back at the prisoner.

"We let her stew. Keep her hydrated," he said and then headed back upstairs so they wouldn't see the fury and longing raging inside of him.

FOUR DAYS LATER, Hades still hadn't gone back to the woman in the cells, but he'd watched her from the cameras. The first day, she sat on the narrow bed and stared at the wall. The second day, she threatened whoever she saw. By the third day, she began to flirt with them, causing Hades to become so furious, he punched his computer monitor. Her comments about his kissing skills still smarted, and even though he hadn't left his villa in days, he hadn't felt a moment of restfulness. In fact, he was more irritable than ever, and he blamed it all on the demigoddess in his basement.

Hades had watched the news, but he saw no mention of the Princess of Athens being kidnapped, only that they had suffered a minor earthquake the night he took her. Goddess throwing a tantrum. Demeter was smart to keep it quiet, and she wasn't desperate enough to reach out to Hades yet.

By the afternoon of day four, Persephone looked so defeated and bored that Hades felt the stirrings of pity. She might tell him what he wanted to know for a decent meal and a shower.

At nightfall, when his power was strongest, Hades dismissed the guards and entered her cell. She sat up on her bed and stared silently at him. Despite not having a shower, she had made use of the small sink to clean herself up and braid her snarled hair. She looked less like a vengeful naiad and more like the woman he first met.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, placing a plate on the steel table. Persephone held up her cuffed hands and didn't reply. "Have a seat and let's talk." He pulled out a chair for her, waiting until she had sat down. "Pick a hand to eat with, because you only get one." Persephone waved her left hand at him, and he fastened the right one down to the arm of the chair before unlocking the left. She shook out her wrist, and he slid over the plate with the ham and salad sandwich on it.

"How do I know it's not poisoned?" she asked sceptically.

Hades picked up one half and bit into it. "No one is trying to poison you, sunshine. Believe me, I made this sandwich myself. Better make up your mind quickly or I'll keep eating it."

Persephone picked up the other half. "You cut off my crusts?"

Hades looked down at the plate. "I suppose I did. I don't like them, so I just…never mind, eat the fucking sandwich." Her eyes sparkled in amusement as she bit into it. She made an unexpectedly happy sound as she chewed, and he felt guilty that he hadn't fed her properly in days.

"What's wrong with it?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's just…I haven't had real bread and cheese for six years," Persephone said around a mouthful.

"Why ever not?"

"Where do I start? Bread is full of carbs and gluten, and cheese is dairy, which is very fattening, not to mention the butter you put on it."

Hades frowned. "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Tell me about it."

"Why do it then?"

"Demeter thinks a no-carb, no sugar, caffeine, and gluten-free diet keeps my magic behaving itself," Persephone admitted, starting on the other half.

"And does it?"

"Not really."

"Then why deny yourself?"

Persephone shrugged. "Makes her happy, I guess." Hades didn't like that excuse; he liked the idea of Demeter starving her daughter for such stupid reasons even less. "What do you want with me, Hades?"

"I want to know if your mother has dealings with a group called Pithos."

"She has dealings with lots of people. Why not call her and ask her?" Persephone said.

"They aren't the kind of group that you'd admit to having associations with."

"Why? They mafia or something?"

"Something like that," Hades said, watching as she licked some stray butter from her thumb.

"Again, why take me? You should just ask her. Demeter is afraid of you like I said," Persephone replied. "What have these guys done to annoy you?"

"They are fucking with my people and my business, and all the leads I've followed have taken me straight to Morning Harvest," Hades said, trying to keep his voice steady. Persephone swallowed hard.

"That doesn't make any sense," she said with a shake of her head.

"It does to me. Money trails don't lie, and Demeter has wanted to take over my shipping routes for years. I've taken you because if anyone knows what Demeter is up to, it's you."

"I can't deny that, but she wouldn't need to hire thugs like Pithos to do it. She's certainly not dumb enough to tangle with you."

"So you say. You can understand why I'm reluctant to believe you." Hades narrowed his eyes as he studied her. Maybe a kinder touch would loosen her tongue. He didn't know what she knew, but it was something. There had been a flash of recognition in her eyes when he'd mentioned the word Pithos.

"Look, Hades, I wouldn't lie to you about something like this. Maybe you need to talk to Demeter about money going missing-"

"What would you lie to me about?" he interrupted.

"What?"

"You said you wouldn't lie to me about this. That implies you would lie about other things."

Persephone's brows drew together. "A girl has to have her mysteries."

"I'd like to know the mystery of how Demeter's protected daughter managed to escape from her prison on Lycabettus Hill, so she could go dancing and kissing strange men," said Hades.

Persephone smiled. "I would like a bath and a proper bed to sleep in."

"You seek to bargain with me, girl?"

"Seems only fair."

Hades folded his arms. "And I suppose you think it will make me drop my guard so you can escape."

"Do I look stupid to you? I know I won't be able to leave this place without your blessing. These human guards are all for show. Your power protects this place, so I’m stuck behind its boundaries until you let me go," Persephone said with an exasperated groan. Hades had to admit, he was impressed that she had felt them.

"Even though you can't escape, do you promise to behave yourself if I agree to this bargain? I treat you like a guest, and you answer my questions?" asked Hades.

"On my honor as a goddess, I swear to answer your questions, if in return, you uphold the sacred hospitality laws of xenia."

"Done." Hades held out his hand to shake on it, but she shrank back.

"I won't bite," he lied.

"But I might," Persephone said, staring at his outstretched hand. "You saw what my magic did to the chair. I don't want to hurt you."

"You didn't seem to mind touching me that night in Athens."

"I was wearing my gloves," she said as her cheeks reddened.

"Don't be ridiculous. Give me your hand," Hades demanded. She glared as she held it out. Hades's hand swallowed hers, and he felt the wild creation burning under her skin. He could tell she was doing her best to keep it under control, so he shook it once and let it go.

"We have a deal," he said in triumph. Persephone had just made the stupidest mistake of her life.

4

Hades had just made the stupidest mistake of his life. Persephone kept her head down as she followed him out of the cell so he wouldn't see the smile on her face. Hades would now have to treat her as an honored guest with every courtesy, while she had the opportunity to find the edges of his barriers and use her magic to break out of them. He didn't know about her right hand, and she needed to escape before he had enough time to figure it out.

When Hades appeared in her cell that evening, she had expected threats and perhaps even some torture. What she hadn't expected was a sandwich with her crusts cut off. It could have been a tactic to mess with her head, but she had been too hungry to care. From the stories she had heard, Persephone expected him to break into her mind and rip all of her secrets out of her. His silver eyes were brimming with questions, she could feel his curiosity and frustration, but he managed to keep his temper. She didn't know what to make of any of it.

"I don't suppose your girlfriend has any clothes I could borrow?" Persephone asked as they rode up in the elevator.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Hades replied coolly.

"Really? Not even like a fuck buddy that left anything behind?"

"No."

"Huh." Never would've guessed that. Persephone imagined he would have at least one on call. Most CEO's she knew did.

Hades arched a dark brow. "That surprises you?"

"A little bit."

"And do you have…" he struggled to say the words. "Fuck buddies, ready and waiting for whenever you need them?"

Persephone faced the steel doors, willing them to open. "That's none of your business, Acheron."

"We'll see," he whispered, so low she almost missed it.

"Does that mean you don't have any clothes I could borrow?" she asked, not liking his judgemental tone one bit.

"I'll find something you can wear for tonight, and I'll have one of my people bring you something suitable from Styx tomorrow," Hades said as the doors slid open.

The polished marble floor was so spotless Persephone hesitated to step on it with her grubby feet. Then she remembered she was a prisoner and walked over it, hoping she left marks wherever she went.

Persephone had grown up in a house of washed-out pastels and muted golds that were feminine and favored by Demeter. Hades's villa was almost jarringly masculine with its jewel blues, deep reds, and black accents. The art on the walls were abstract or impressionism, and Persephone wanted to take her time to study them. Then the hallways opened to a panoramic view of the sea.

"Oh, wow," she breathed.

"Don't even think of jumping off the deck and swimming away. The barriers stretch through the waters too, and you'll drown before you get through them," warned Hades.

"It's not that. I haven't been out of Athens city in ages, and I've missed the ocean," Persephone admitted, resisting the urge to run outside and look at waves crashing underneath them.

"Demeter really did keep you on a tight leash, didn't she?" Hades shook his head in disapproval.

"She did her best," she replied diplomatically. "Your home is very beautiful."

"You seem surprised."

"I am. Take it as a compliment, Acheron. I see a lot of nice homes, and for one to stand out enough for me to notice is an accomplishment."

Hades put his hands in his pockets, his expression genuinely curious. "Can I ask why it stands out?"

"It's very…you. Does that make sense? Many of the houses I see, you can tell that a decorator has made everything just so to show off the owner's wealth. I get the feeling you picked out every painting and piece of furniture yourself simply because you liked it."

"Of course, I did. This is my private residence, so I didn't want it to feel like an office building." Hades tilted his head, studying her. "I get the impression that your rooms wouldn't be as pastel as the rest of Demeter's palace."

"You will never know," Persephone said sweetly. Hades looked as if he would reply when they were interrupted by a deep bark echoing through the villa.

"You have a dog?" asked Persephone.

"Yes. He's another reason you should be cautious about trying to get out of the grounds. He patrols them and likes to bite-"

"Puppy!" Persephone squealed in excitement as a huge dog that looked like a mastiff had been crossed with Doberman trotted into the room. The dog froze as it studied her with sharp amber eyes.

"Come on, you big baby, I won't hurt you," she crooned at it and held out her hands for it to smell them. "Oh, look how handsome you are. Such a big, proud puppy." The dog edged forward, its tail starting to wag as it licked her fingers. "Baby boy, you're so cute, but what's this? Your Daddy has put a glamour on you! Why would he be such a meanie face?" Persephone felt the magical threads of the glamour and gave it a sharp pull.

"Did you just call me a meanie face?" Hades asked incredulously.

The air around the dog's head shimmered, and another two heads appeared, all wearing the same happy smiles.

"Woah! Triple heads mean triple the pats. Come here, baby, you must be so itchy from that binding." Persephone cast an accusing glare over her shoulder at Hades. He looked completely gobsmacked, which pleased her immensely.

"You know animals don't like glamors? Do you, baby? What's your name, it better be something noble-"

"Cerberus," Hades said, clearing his throat. "He is a terrifying guard dog."

"Sure, he is. Cerberus…you seriously named this glorious creature Spot?" Persephone demanded as her brain caught up on the Ancient Greek. Hades pointed to the patch of gold near the dog's tail. Persephone laughed and scratched it. "That's so lame. Why do you glamour him? Oh, I can feel another one-"

"Don't pull it off," Hades commanded, making woman and dog freeze. "He's…very big in his true form. The other glamour on the heads was so he didn't frighten the humans more than necessary."

Persephone turned back to trying to pat three happy dog heads at once. "Peoples are frightened of you? They are so silly. You're just a softie, aren't you? You're not scary at all-"

"Stop talking to him like that. You're embarrassing him," Hades said awkwardly. "I really should show you to your room."

"Come and find me later, cutie, when Daddy's not around to pout," whispered Persephone, getting in one more pat before turning back to Hades.

His eyes narrowed as he stared down at Cerberus. "Do you know what I do to traitors?" Cerberus gave him three goofy smiles, and Persephone sniggered.

Hades steered her towards another hallway, and she grinned when Cerberus followed. "The guest rooms are this way. So, you like dogs."

"Love them. Demeter can't handle their hair or the thought of them chewing her furniture, so I was never allowed to have one."

"It doesn't sound like you were allowed to do much at all. How you haven't gone mad or run away, I'll never guess."

"You could try, and never come close," Persephone said, thinking of her stash of seeds.

Hades opened the door to a suite of rooms with its own bathroom and thank the gods, a deep bathtub. "Can I trust you to stay here for a moment while I get you something to wear?"

"I guess you'll find out," Persephone replied as she pulled back a dark blue curtain and sighed at the view.

Persephone was filling the tub when he reappeared at her bedroom door with a black robe and a folded t-shirt.

"These should do for you to sleep in. I should've thought about this earlier-" he said, offering them to her.

"They'll do. I'm going to be happy to be clean, and I don't need underwear because I don't sleep in them. Goodnight, Hades," Persephone said and closed the door on his confused expression.

Neck deep in steaming hot water, Persephone reflected that it was perhaps not the politest way to say good evening to her host. She may be trying to be civil instead of downright hostile, but she wasn't about to forget he had kidnapped her and was now holding her hostage.

Maybe you should tell him what you know about Pithos and go home, the reasonable part of her said. If what he said about money being stolen from Morning Harvest to fund Pithos was true…saints above, she could barely comprehend the thought. There was no way Demeter would knowingly give money to people that were trying to start a war with Hades. They would have to be insane to try to mess with him. Persephone knew she was more sensitive to his aura and magic than the average human, but holy gods, he radiated power.

Even with that stinking black hood over her eyes, she'd known Hades was there the moment he opened her cell door. His magic had touched the branch of the chair, and everything inside of her had stilled under the stroke of his magic. It had radiated through her and made her want to fall on her knees in front of him. Demeter was an old god, and her magic felt like a drop in a bucket compared to Hades's power. Her right hand had yearned to reach out to touch the ashes of the dead branches, just to feel the fading echoes of it.

"Pull yourself together, he's not that impressive," she huffed at the mounds of bubbles floating in front of her.

Persephone knew they would eventually meet again, and he'd recognize her. She thought he would make a bigger deal out of it than he did. He had been into it that night just as much she had, and yet she couldn't pretend the way he'd called her a baby demigoddess didn't get to her. Like she was some dumb little girl and not a woman who could hold her own with the most powerful men in the world. You shouldn't even care.

Persephone slid under the bubbles, holding her breath for as long as she could to take her mind off her wounded pride. She had bigger things to worry about, like Pithos rearing their ugly heads. If they were after Hades and his Court, all magical beings, did that put her at risk from them too? Enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Persephone washed her hair twice and contemplated the whole mess she found herself in. She was too tired to decide whether or not she could trust Hades with what she knew about Pithos. She pulled the soft t-shirt over her head, stubbornly ignoring the ghost of his aftershave that was caught in the cotton and wrapped her hair in a towel.

She climbed into the massive bed that was almost too soft after her days on a narrow mattress and finally switched off the light.

You're in the house of Hades. You should be afraid to go to sleep. Weirdly enough, she wasn't. There was something about the crusts cut off her sandwich and the fact he'd been very careful not to touch her since he'd uncuffed her hands that reassured her that she was in no immediate danger.

In any case, Hades had also been clear what he thought about her. Remembering how she had daydreamed about their encounter in the club over the years made her cringe with embarrassment. She was about to shove her head under the pillow to hide her residual shame when she saw shadows flickering outside of her door. They seemed to hesitate for a long, heart-pounding moment before finally moving on. With a groan, she pulled the covers over her head and was asleep within minutes.

5

"You know, I've always suspected you'd lost your mind over the years, but now I know you are fucking insane." Medusa was glaring at Hades from the laptop screen.

"This from the woman who not only falls in love with the man who stole from her, but starts to play family with him. Who's really the insane one here?"

"No, it's still you. You. Stole. Demeter's. Daughter. You know that unnatural earthquake in Athens was her! People could've been killed. I thought I told you not to do anything rash until we had more information?"

"You did. Then I talked to Ariadne after you, and she said to take Persephone for questioning, and I liked her idea better."

"Ariadne is an ex-assassin and a psychopath who doesn't think like a rational person. You don't ever take her advice over mine! You don't steal people because you want to. You're not fucking Zeus."

"Low blow, Medusa. I'll have you know Persephone isn't my prisoner, as such. I've got her under xenia, and she's going to answer my questions. If I'm happy with the answers, I'll send her home to Demeter," said Hades calmly. Two of Medusa's snakes slid out from her curls and hissed.

"It doesn't matter how you spin it, Hades. You kidnapped her. You're a fool if you think she's not going to want payback for that, let alone what Demeter will do to you," said Medusa sadly.

"I told you I'll get answers about Pithos by any means at my disposal, and that's what I've done." Hades fidgeted uncomfortably in his chair. "There's something else."

"Are you serious? Is it worse than what you just told me?" she demanded.

"Yes."

"Well? Spit it out. I need to be filming in twenty minutes-"

"She's the girl."

Medusa froze and lifted the screen close to her face. "What girl."

"The girl I met…in Athens."

"The one that ran out on you and left you high and dry like a chump six years ago? The actual reason you hate Athens so much is now staying under your roof?"

Hades rolled his eyes. "I knew I shouldn't have told you or the triplets."

"I couldn't find a trace of her when you asked me to look. Me. It makes sense that she was glamored from her image being captured." Medusa lifted a red brow. "I suppose this makes things more complicated."

Hades's uncomfortable feeling chilled instantly. "Absolutely not. She's still my prisoner - under my protection – however you want to spin it! I need information from her and then our business is done. She can go home, and I can slaughter Pithos from the face of the earth."

Medusa chuckled deep and dirty. "If you say so, darling. I'll let you know if Demeter calls me to vent her fury."

"Stall her if you can. I'll only need a day or two, and then Persephone will be back home," Hades told her.

"Uh-huh. Good luck with that." Medusa cut off the call, leaving Hades even more disgruntled. Then he heard feminine laughter echoing through the house, and his curiosity pricked up. It was such an alien sound to hear. Persephone wasn't going to be a sulker, and Hades liked that. He got out of his office chair and went to find out what was going on to make her laugh so loudly.

"Oh, my god, it's so hard!" Persephone said, making Hades freeze.

"Of course, it is, doll," Charon replied.

"Can you show me again? Slower this time, I need to study it."

Charon's laughter was warm and husky. "All right, but we need to be quick before the boss comes out."

Hades's vision swam red and charged into the kitchen, ready to eviscerate the titan. Persephone let out of a startled yelp, and the coin she was balancing on her knuckles pinged to the marble countertop.

"Good morning, boss, you feeling okay?" asked Charon, sensitive to Hades's fury.

"Yes. I didn't mean to startle you. What's all this?" Hades asked, forcing his voice into neutrality.

"Charon has been teaching me coin tricks," Persephone said, snatching the coin up again. "I had to do something to keep myself amused even though I'm bloody awful at them."

"It's just practice, doll, you'll get it," Charon said, plucking one from behind her ear and making her laugh in delight.

Persephone was wearing Hades's black satin robe, and for some unfathomable reason, he couldn't stop staring at it. It swam on her, but she looked perfectly at ease, perched on a barstool, her waves of honey hair over one shoulder, and with a coffee steaming at her elbow. Cerberus was lying under her chair, staring up at her with big besotted eyes, and Hades scowled at him. Charon gave Persephone a rare smile, but then he caught the look in Hades's eyes, and it disappeared. "It was nice to meet you, Persephone, but duty calls."

"Thank you for the clothes," she said, her keen gaze going from Hades to Charon. "I didn't want to wear his for much longer, and I'm sure your taste is better anyway." She offered Charon his coin back, but he shook his head.

"Keep it to practice with. I'll come back and check your progress," he said. Hades raised a black brow at him. Charon, his ruthless fucking ferryman, never ever gave any of his coins away.

"Good to know one person of the Court is a sweetheart."

"We aren't that bad, but I'm definitely the sweetest."

Persephone battered her long lashes at him. "No doubt. I'll see you soon, Charon," she said.

"Looking forward to it, princess."

Persephone picked up the bags from the couch and walked past Hades with a small sarcastic smile on her face, Cerberus following faithfully at her heels as she went back to her room.

"She's quite charming when she's not making furniture come alive," Charon said. "You guys have come to an agreement, I see."

"I bound her with the laws of xenia," Hades replied.

"Good one. Lots of loopholes and she won't think she's a prisoner when she is. I'm quite sure I got her measurements right, a hell of a body on her, though," Charon said, an appreciative grin on his face.

"Focus. Persephone is Demeter's daughter after all and is bound to be treacherous," Hades replied. "We need her to give up what she knows on Pithos, and then we'll ship her back to Athens."

"She's got plenty of pluck and power, I'll give her that. There's something about her that makes me feel all excitable," said Charon, and his dark eyes glinted. "You want me to work on her and get some of those secrets out with a bit of honey? I'd be more than happy to seduce her for our cause-"

"Charon, she's the girl I met in the club in Athens," Hades admitted, even though he was embarrassed to do it.

Charon choked on his coffee. "You've got to be fucking kidding me. I wondered why you looked like you were going to go nuclear when you came in." He paled slightly. "I didn't mean anything by it…we were just talking, Hades."

"I know. It's fine."

"Yeah, I don't think it is. I know how hard you looked for her. I'll make sure everyone knows she's off-limits, especially Erebus," said Charon.

"She's her own woman, so if she wants to give men her attention, who am I to say otherwise. I've learned my lesson," Hades replied irritably. He knew she lied about the bad kisser comment, but it still irked him. Clearly, he'd thought about that night in a much different way than she did. Charon didn't look like he believed his nonchalance act for a second.

"So, what are you planning to do with her? You can't babysit her for days," he said.

"Why not? I have an office and can work from here. Until I get a clear understanding of her powers, I don't want to leave her unsupervised, and I'm not comfortable leaving her in my private residence alone. Who knows what she'll get into."

Charon's grin was wicked. "Hopefully, the pool. I didn't get her a swimsuit."

"Very funny. I don't need my men being any more distracted then they already are," Hades replied with a sharp look. "The sooner we get the secrets out of her and back to Athens, the better it will be for all of us."

"Sure. Whatever you say, boss," Charon laughed and grabbed his car keys. "Let me know if the princess needs anything else."

After Charon left, Hades stared a good ten minutes at Persephone's door. He could hear her in the shower, her faint spring smell still lingering in the air. He wanted to pin her down and force all her secrets out of her. He wanted to put her back in her cell. He wanted to know why, for the first time in his existence, he had met someone who simultaneously made him furiously angry and impossibly turned on at the same time. What is it about her?

Hades had mingled with gods, had seen impossibly beautiful women and supernatural creatures in his time. And this fucking girl had him twisted up for six years straight. She had to be the one to be involved with his newest enemy. It was like the Fates were purposely laughing at him because, for the first time, the bitches dared to.

Hades wanted to kill Persephone. He also wanted to kiss her. Oh, he didn't like this feeling one fucking bit.

The laws of xenia made sure that he had to provide food and shelter for her. He thought about what Persephone had said about the ridiculous diets that Demeter had her on. She had literally groaned when she had eaten butter. Maybe Charon was right, and honey, instead of vinegar, was the way to get all those delicious secrets out of her.

6

Persephone turned the page of her book and tried to ignore the rumble in her stomach. She was lying on her bed and watching the sun go down slowly over the ocean. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had such a quiet day. Demeter had always demanded a certain level of excellence from her daughter, and that meant always having a full daily schedule.

After she had got her clothes from Charon - the man did have decent taste - Persephone had taken a shower and had dressed in comfortable jeans and a singlet. She had stolen a book from one Hades's bookshelves, after making sure he wasn't around to see her, and had been in her bed ever since. This could end up being the easiest vacation you've ever had if you play your cards right.

She was hungry, but she was nervous about coming face to face with Hades again. This is ridiculous because you've wanted to see him again for six whole years.

"Stupid me," Persephone muttered. When she had gotten up that morning, she had been determined to remain low level hostile towards Hades, and it had all been going perfectly until she had heard him talking with Charon.

Charon had known about Persephone and Hades's encounter at the club in Athens, but that fact wasn't the one that had struck her dumb. It had been Charon saying, "I know how hard you looked for her..."

Hades had wanted her enough to actually look for her, and considering the resources at his disposal, Persephone was surprised he hadn't found her. The tragically stupid thing was that she had been forcing herself to go to all Demeter's dumb parties in the hope of bumping into him...and he had avoided every single one of them.

"Fucking Fates," Persephone muttered, turning the page of her book before realizing she couldn't remember a single thing she had just read. She was cursing and flicking pages when there was a knock at the door. Persephone froze but managed to say, "Who is it?"

"The big bad wolf, are you decent?" asked Hades, and he opened the door. He seemed a lot more casual than he had that morning. His suit jacket and tie were gone, and he looked the same as he had the night she met him, a slight dishevel around the edges with his white shirt sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

"You didn't wait until I answered, what if I had been naked?" she said, trying to ignore the way parts of her were suddenly excited.

"Then I would have seen you naked. Are you hungry? Or have you evolved so far in your weird dietary habits that you have decided to go straight to starving yourself?" Hades asked.

Persephone was about to sass him when her stomach growled loudly. "I could eat," she said, putting the book down. Hades read the title.

"Second book is better. Come on then, sunshine, let's get you fed," he said before turning around and walking away.

Persephone took the time to run her fingers through her hair and straighten her singlet and then hated herself for doing it. What did it matter what she looked like? She was his damn prisoner, not his date. She yanked on a pair of thin cotton gloves and followed him. She found her way to the kitchen, her stomach growling the more she smelled fresh bread and garlic. She had expected to find a chef, but instead, she found Hades Acheron, Lord of the Dead, and Bastard of Styx, pulling the lamb out of the oven.

"Now, there's something I never expected to see," Persephone said aloud before she could check herself.

"What?" Hades asked, brows furrowing.

"I thought you'd have a chef. Demeter wouldn't be seen dead in her own kitchen," said Persephone.

"I like cooking, and I don't like more people in my space than I need to have. Besides, having a chef seems like inviting someone to try to poison me," he replied, carving the meat and arranging it on a platter. "Get the door, would you? It's too pleasant a night to eat in here."

Persephone opened the glass door that led out onto the deck, where a table had been lain out with the rest of dinner. The moon was coming up over the ocean, the breeze warm and gentle. It was a beautiful night, but she couldn't believe Hades wasn't trying to play an angle.

"Why are you acting so nice?" she demanded, getting out of his way so he could put the meat down on the table.

"You invoked xenia, so you should know that means I need to be hospitable. This is me doing that," Hades said as he pulled out a chair for her.

Persephone lowered herself into it. "I'm pretty sure being hospitable also involves wine."

"Of course," he replied, not rising to her bait at all. He poured her a glass of red wine that was so dark it was almost black. She lifted the glass to her nose and smelled it.

"What is this made of? I can smell smoke and spice and not cherries, but something other than grapes," she said, her mind struggling to identify it.

"It's pomegranates. It's different, but then so are you, so I thought you might enjoy it," Hades replied as he sat down opposite her.

"By different, you mean a baby demigoddess with a bad attitude?" she asked, still sore over the comment. To shut herself up, she took a mouthful of the wine. It was surprisingly good, sweet, and smooth instead of dry.

"Your attitude isn't the worst I've encountered, and I think we both know that you're no baby."

"Nice to know you noticed," she replied.

"I had a thorough education when we first met," Hades said, and she almost sucked wine up her nose.

"To be fair, I didn't know who you were. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so forward." Persephone reached for a pair of tongs so she wouldn't get her gloves dirty. She needed to put food in her mouth, so she stopped putting her foot in it.

"Here, allow me." Hades took the tongs from where she was struggling to grip them and started serving her. "Why are you even wearing those?"

"Because I don't want to make this cutlery come to life accidentally," Persephone said, picking up her fork by its sleek wood handle.

"It's really that bad? I thought Demeter would have trained you to have better control over your power. She seems so keen to control everything else about you." Hades had a definite tone whenever he talked about her mother, and while Persephone couldn't blame him, she also thought it a bit strange that he would care.

"She trained me a little, but she wanted me to be as human as I could be, so I don't really use it except for a stress release. When I am pent up, it kind of leaks out unexpectedly, so she got me wearing the gloves," Persephone explained before trying out the lamb. Like the wine, it was surprisingly good.

"What do you do as a stress release?" Hades asked. It was an innocent enough question, but there was a glint in his eye that made her shift uncomfortably in her chair.

"I grow things," she replied. And then I kill them slowly.

"Show me," Hades said. She must have looked incredulous because he added, "Please?"

It was the please that got her. She took a whole olive from her salad and slid off her left glove as she chewed off the olive's exterior. She took the seed carefully from her mouth and held it in her palm. She hadn't had anyone watch her do her seed trick in a long time, and Hades was studying her with an intensity that made her sweat. She let out a breath and gently released the smallest amount of her power. It rushed heady and rich through her veins, and her heart began to race as the seed cracked, and a green shoot rose out of it. She let it grow until it spurted roots, and then she held it out to him. His fingers gently brushed hers as he took it.

"Nicely done," Hades said.

"I showed you mine," Persephone replied with a pointed look at the seed. She thought Hades would say no, but after a moment of considering, his mouth curled up slightly. Then she felt it, a rolling lick of shadows and darkness and all of the things done in it. Her mouth went dry, and she struggled to keep her eyes on the seedling as it slowly withered before turning to ash. A thought niggled at her, but she killed it before it had a chance to grow.

"Satisfied?" he asked, brushing the ash away.

Not for six years, Persephone thought but said, "For now."

It took until her third glass of the lovely wine before Hades decided to bring up Pithos.

"Why don't you tell me what you know of Pithos, sunshine?" he asked.

"Why don't you tell me why you want to know so badly?" she replied, deciding the third glass was probably a mistake.

"Look, I'm not trying to find out what you know to start a war with your mother, but I do know that Morning Harvest has been funding them whether she's supporting it or not," Hades said.

"Do you have any actual proof to back up that claim?"

"I do," Hades replied, before going back inside.

Persephone really didn't want to talk about Pithos, because it would mean talking about the worst night of her life and she was going to need a hell of a lot more wine. Hades was back within moments and placed a wad of papers next to her. They were financial reports. Persephone skimmed through the first few pages.

"How did you get these?"

"Medusa is friends with a very competent hacker," Hades said. "What? Surprised by honesty? You don't seem to understand how badly I want these bastards."

"While we are honest, you want to tell me what they did to you?" she asked. She wanted to buy time, but she was also interested to see how much Hades would tell her. She had wanted more information on them for years.

"Fine. This is the whole truth..." and Hades told her everything. About Asterion being murdered and Ariadne being tortured, and a cage that stole Asterion's power. Persephone had known about Serpentine taking over ARGOS but hearing about some of the horrors that Acrisius had hiding in his basement made her stomach churn.

"They are going after anyone that's like us, Persephone. That means it's only a matter of time before they get to you. Your company is funding them to go after my Court, and that's why I took you. It really has nothing to do with making a move to take over Morning Harvest or because of what happened between us in Athens. That night, I had been drinking a lot, you are a beautiful woman, and so it happened. I didn't know who you were either, though I should think that was obvious. There is no hidden motivation. I want your information, and then you can leave," Hades finished, his silver eyes so serious they were almost grey.

"You're worried about them, aren't you?" Persephone said.

"Of course, I am worried about them. The Court is my family. It took me this long to get one I actually like, and I'll do anything to protect them, including throwing you in my jail downstairs," Hades replied. "I like to think we are past that."

Persephone leaned back in her chair and considered the god in front of her. There was an earnestness burning under his calm tone, and she realized how much he was holding himself back out of politeness. The wind had ruffled his dark hair making him seem a little less intimidating and much more real and utterly sincere. Maybe you can trust him just a little bit. Cerberus's head bumped against her lap and patted him, resisting the urge to remove the glamour back on him. She let out a deep sigh.

"Okay, I'll tell you what I know. It's not much, so I don't know if it will help. I'd like to go through these banking records, but I can guarantee there's no way my mother knows about the money going to Pithos," Persephone said.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because Pithos killed my father," Persephone replied. "I'm going to need more wine to tell you this."

Hades expertly opened another label free dark bottle and refilled her glass. "I thought your father was killed in a mugging."

Persephone had a large mouthful of her wine. "It was a mugging, but it's my fault he's dead." She should've known better than to think Hades would gasp at that, but she didn't expect his gaze to soften either, and it did, and for some reason that made her heart hurt more.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

"Not really. I'm going to, though." She held up a one minute finger before draining her glass. It pushed her into feeling sufficiently buzzed and numb. "Okay, so you remember the night we met in Athens?"

"Unforgettable," Hades said, refilling her glass.

"I used to have nights like that to blow off steam. You've met Demeter. She's so perfect all the time, so you can imagine what it's like trying to live up to that when you're short and dumpy with weird powers she doesn't understand. I used to sneak out every couple of months. I'd hit the town, do stupid things like drink in dodgy places and get tattoos. It was on one of those nights that my Dad found out where I went and came after me." Persephone knew she shouldn't have another mouthful of wine, but she did, and it tasted of tears.

"He found me in a club and dragged me out of there. I was drunk and petulant and had enough of my mother's shit. Dad knew how she could get. While we were arguing, men appeared in the street. They weren't some wannabe thugs. They were in suits, and my Dad recognized one of them. He told them that he didn't want to be a part of their Pithos cult, that he wouldn't support what they were planning. One of the guys held up a gun and pointed it at me. Dad stepped in the way and got the bullet that was meant for me. He told me to run, and...and I did." Persephone drained her wine again, hoping Hades wouldn't detect the parts she was leaving out. It was mostly true and that's what mattered.

"Mom blamed me, as was her right. After the funeral, I tried to discover what I could about Pithos, and when she found out, she went mental enough to scare me into dropping it. I've kept an ear out since but haven't really come across anything else. I did my best to behave and not sneak out after that, but I needed the escape too badly because I wasn't allowed to use my magic."

"That's what you were doing that night in the club," Hades said slowly.

"Yeah, I had been groomed up to be presented to Mom's special friends that night like some prized pig. She had spent months and months training me so she could prove to everyone that her perfect daughter was just as perfectly perfect as her and that I was untouchable, and you didn't even bother showing up." Persephone laughed drunkenly and got to her feet to pace. She felt the rant bubbling up out of her, and she couldn't stop it. "And then I was so mad that Lord High and Terrible didn't show, I blew that party and found you anyway and almost fucked your brains out. Fucking Fates. Fucking parties. Fucking...you. Demeter spent my whole life keeping me away from everyone, but especially from you. Then I find you and put my tongue in your mouth, and you fucking disappeared for six years."

"You disappeared first," Hades said, very quietly.

Persephone made a sound of exasperation, and she swayed unsteadily. "You would've done the same if you had known who I was. I probably did us both a favor."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself," Hades said, getting out of his chair. Persephone forgot how tall he was and staggered backward. His hand shot out and caught her before she could fall.

"I've had too much to drink," she mumbled and then slumped forward into him. She had forgotten how good he smelled. She had failed to forget the feel of his chest against her and hated that it was still just as nice.

"It's okay, sunshine girl, let's get you to bed," he whispered in a voice of night and dark dreams. Persephone didn't fight him as he gently picked her up and carried back through the house. He placed her gently in her bed and pulled a blanket over her.

"Why did Demeter want to keep you away from me most of all?" Hades whispered in her ear. Persephone reached up and touched his hair with her gloved hands, finding yet another way to resent the stupid things.

"Because you're dark and beautiful and all the cursed things belong to you," Persephone sighed as sleep began to pull her away. "And I'm so very, very cursed."

7

Persephone didn't know what time it was when she finally opened her hungover eyes the next day. Someone had closed the dark curtains, and she had vague memories of being carried to bed. How much did I drink last night? Four glasses? Five? Certainly not enough to justify the hangover she was currently experiencing.

"God damn it, Hades, how strong was that wine?" Persephone muttered as she drank the glass of water on her bedside table and took the aspirin that was waiting for her. "Wait. What?" Persephone stared at the cup of water in her hand that she absolutely didn't have there yesterday, which meant...Hades again. Through her brain fog, she was oddly touched that he had put them there as if knowing she'd need them.

In the shower, Persephone remembered that she'd told him about Pithos, and she was pretty sure she'd yelled at him at some point. You are the worst, Drunk Persephone, she chastised herself and rested her head against the cool tiles.

Cerberus was waiting outside of her bedroom door when she finally decided to venture out looking for food.

"You are a good boy, aren't you," she crooned and patted his big head. "Is Daddy home still? No? Good, then we are going to raid his fridge, yes we are."

Persephone wasn't the best in the kitchen, but she knew how to make an omelette when she was hungover. She was digging in the fridge when she heard a voice clear behind her.

"You must be Persephone."

She yelped in surprise and turned around. A man with curling black hair and a wolf's smile was sitting on the other side of the kitchen bench. No, not a man. Persephone's dark magic all but purred in his presence. He absolutely wasn't human.

"Which one are you?" she asked, gripping the carton of eggs.

He laughed, a sound as rich as sin. "Erebus. Charon told me a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you, daughter of Demeter."

"And you. What are you doing lurking around here?" Persephone asked, putting her ingredients down on the bench.

"Hades asked me to come and keep an eye on you while he was in town. I don't think I've ever seen him so agitated. What did you do to him last night?" Erebus asked, propping his head up with one hand. "Tell me all the sordid details."

"I drank all of his pomegranate wine, but he kept pouring, so he only has himself to blame. Are you hungry? I'm making omelettes," Persephone offered.

"I'd love one. Wait, you were drinking Night Wine?" Erebus asked, dark eyes wide in surprise.

"I don't know, it didn't have a label. Tasted good. I think I yelled at Hades. Oh well, serves him right." Persephone searched the kitchen cupboards for a mixing bowl. The man is way too organized, she thought, looking at all the freakishly arranged kitchen utensils and mixing bowls stored in size order.

"You yelled at Hades? No wonder he was all pissy. The skillets are on the right," Erebus said helpfully. "What did you yell at him about?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure he deserved it," Persephone replied. She chopped chives and grated cheese as Erebus watched her with curious black eyes. It would've bothered her a lot more if it wasn't for the fact she was so hungry she could have eaten the whole block of cheese on its own. "You want to tell me what you're staring at, titan?" she asked when the silence became too much for her.

"Nothing. You. A woman in Hades place in general. It's all a bit weird," Erebus said as he came around the counter and switched the hot water jug on. "Coffee?"

"God, yes," Persephone replied. She could almost hear Demeter shouting in despair in Athens at the thought of her consuming caffeine and dairy in the same meal. "Why is there a woman being at Hades place weird? I'm sure he's had a pile of women around, probably many at once. He's the big boss, after all."

"He is, but no, I've never seen a woman here. Charon said you'd moved in, but I wasn't about to believe it until I saw you myself," Erebus replied. "He also said if I looked at you funny, Hades would throw me back in Tartarus."

"I doubt that. Hades is a weird guy who organizes his kitchen far too much even if he is a good cook, but I doubt he'd throw you into Tartarus," Persephone said, as she poured the egg mixture into the sizzling pan.

"He cooked for you too? Now you're just freaking me out."

"He was the one dumb enough to fall for xenia. It's not like I'm a guest here. I'm a prisoner until Lord High and Mighty decides to release me," Persephone said irritably. There was something about the aspirin and closed curtains and general niceness of the previous evening that was annoying her for reasons she was sure she would understand if she wasn't so damn hungover. Now she had yet another handsome titan making her coffee, and she didn't know how to take so many immortal's in one week.

"From what I understand, you're keeping yourself here," said Erebus and gave her a flirtatious wink. "Not that I'm complaining at the feminine presence, there are way too many guys around here."

"I'm not keeping myself here. Hades wanted what I knew on Pithos, and I told him. As soon as he bothers to turn up, I intend to go home to Athens," Persephone said, flipping the omelettes and not looking at the titan beside her.

"You know Hades can detect a lie. If you're still here, it's because he doesn't believe you've coughed up all you know," Erebus replied. Persephone didn't like that, not one bit. She had told him the important stuff, the bits that mattered to him. Eat first and unravel the rest after, she prompted herself.

It was oddly easy to be sitting down for breakfast with one of the most feared creatures in Greece. No one could be more intimidating than Hades.

"Is it true that you help Demeter run her empire? You don't seem like the ditsy socialite type," said Erebus as he ate a forkful of egg. "Damn, this is a good omelette."

"Thanks. And yes, Demeter has always been rather determined for me to help her run things. Mostly, she likes to take me to meetings because I look good," Persephone replied and flinched. She had never been that honest about it before. Her time away was not helping calm the rebellious streak. If anything, it was making it worse.

"Well, you can't blame her. You're very distracting. So distracting that Hades needed to go into Styx today just to be able to get some work done." Erebus poured her coffee, a teasing smile on his face.

"The old man needs to get out more," said Persephone.

"I'm starting to get why he's all frustrated. There's definitely something about you that I can't quite put my finger on. Are you sure nature is your only talent?" he asked, his black eyes far too perceptive.

"I'm good with finances, if that counts and an okay dancer, if I get enough drinks in me," she said with a smile to throw him off. She put a little something extra behind it, and Erebus's head snapped up like a wolfhound.

"Oh girl, don't be throwing those tricks around, or you'll get me into too much shit," he chastised even if he was smiling.

"Can't get anything past you, can I?"

"Nope, not of that nature. As for your dancing skills, I'd be happy to extort those a bit down at Asterion's club if Hades decides to let you out," said Erebus, and they fell into talking about the Minotaur and Medusa and all of the other members of the Court of Styx. Erebus was as gossipy as an old auntie, and Persephone soon learned all about Perseus, the handsome new son of Zeus that had found his way into their posse after falling in love with Medusa. It was news to Persephone. Demeter would have been very interested to know that another demigod had surfaced.

"Why are you telling me all this? Seems very unwise," said Persephone.

"We aren't enemies, are we? Maybe I just want you to know some truth instead of rumor about us. We aren't all bad, even Hades," Erebus replied, and then got up and did the dishes.

"Wow, a man cleaning up in the kitchen. Be still my beating heart," Persephone said, fanning herself.

"Have you seen this place? Hades would murder me if I left his kitchen in this shape."

"I noticed he was a neat freak."

"He and Asterion are as bad as each other. It's a control thing. They need the routine and the structure to keep their shit together."

"So, if Hades pisses me off, I should move everything around and watch him have a meltdown."

"Honey, you're cute but not that cute. Try not to poke that bear any more than necessary. One encounter with you and Hades has been an asshole about Athens ever since."

"Oh, yes? And what is it that you think you know about Athens?" Persephone asked. Hades didn't strike her as the type to kiss and tell.

"I know that you two were making out rather hot and heavy. Don't worry, Simon told me, not Hades. He walked in on it and hasn't been the same since. Hades doesn't show off that side of himself very often, and it freaked the poor kid out. Then you walked out on him, and we've had to pay for his pissed off mood whenever he goes to Athens ever since. Thanks for that," said Erebus.

"He walked out on me first," Persephone replied. He doesn't know just how hot and heavy we were then. "Good to know I made an impression."

"Wish you hadn't, but I get it now. There's something about you. A puzzle or a riddle. Hades is a sucker for those and no matter what deal you think you've made with him, he's not going to let you go until he figures it out."

Persephone did her best to hide how much that thought worried her. "He just needs me to do his taxes, and the mystery will be solved."

"I'll let him know. You think you can behave yourself while I make some calls? Or do I have to follow you around like Cerberus to make sure you behave yourself?" asked Erebus.

"I'll be good. I'm going to go through those financials Hades got about Pithos. I want to know how the bastards are taking money out of my company," Persephone said, and when he didn't look convinced, she sighed. "Calm down, it's not like I can get past his wards anyway." Yet, the feral side of her added.

"True, just don't test Hades's good nature. I like you, so I’d hate to dump your fine ass back into a cell," replied Erebus. He gave her a long look and went out onto the deck with his phone.

"I don't think these boys trust me. Aren't they silly?" Persephone said to Cerberus. The dog seemed to take this as a chance to fetch his chew toy and drop it into her lap. She waggled it at him and took off his glamour, letting his three adorable heads loose. Cerberus sat and scratched at them before looking back at her expectedly.

"Okay, but if we break anything, I'm blaming you." She tossed the toy down the long hallway and laughed when Cerberus scrambled on the polished floors to chase it. On the third toss, it hit the edge of a door, and Cerberus bowled through it. Persephone waited for him to appear, but he didn't. Oh shit, he might not be allowed in that room. Erebus's words came back to her about Hades's neatness.

"Damn it, dog." Persephone hurried down the hall and peeked into the room. It was a bedroom. Hades's bedroom. The dark part of her sat up in interest. Did she dare snoop in the Lord of Styx's bedroom? It's not snooping, it's chasing the dog out so that he doesn't drool on the fancy bed sheets.

"Cerberus? Get out of there," she whispered, but the dog was too busy clawing at something. Persephone looked behind her to make sure Erebus was still on the balcony before she stepped inside the dark room. It smelled of Hades's scent, the combination of sexy man and woodsy spice that haunted her dreams. The bed was huge and made with sheets the dark navy Hades seemed to like. Like the rest of the house, there were interesting paintings on the walls, and the lamps beside the bed were black.

Persephone found Cerberus in the walk-in wardrobe, pawing at a drawer, his slobbery toy resting beside it.

"What's the matter with you? Did he hide something of yours in there?" Persephone asked and opened the drawer. Something clicked, and a nearby panel slid back on the wall beside her. When no alarm went off, she looked at what Hades preferred to keep locked up and froze. A helm sat displayed on a stand. It looked a little Spartan and was made with black metal. It was giving off an aura of such power her own rose to meet it.

Before she could think it through, Persephone slid off the glove of her right hand and touched it. Images flooded her mind so quickly that she could barely process one from the other: Hades and two other men casting lots, a forest of black trees, a silver lake. She pulled her hand back with a jerk, but it was too late. She'd felt Hades through it. Echoes of his emotions, of anger and power and boredom and control. One stood out more than all the others, and it was loneliness. She was familiar with that feeling, like a deep echo of her old pain. That hurt that she could never play with other children, never go on a date, never be able to touch anything without her gloves in case she lost control and killed them. Just like you killed all those Pithos men that shot Dad.

The niggling thought that Persephone had kept shut down since the day Hades had used his power in her cell finally came through. He's like you. Your power is the same. You're not alone.

Persephone stepped back from the helm and tried to clear her head. That was when she spotted the spark of a silver stud. "It can't be," she whispered. It was. Folded neatly under the helm's stand was the black leather glove that she'd left behind at the club in Athens. Hades had kept it.

"If he finds out what you truly are, he'll never let you go. Hades Acheron is the only being on Earth that you would never be able to escape from. He will kill you or worse if he finds about your cursed right hand," Demeter had said to her, all those years ago when Persephone was struggling so much to contain her magic. She had foolishly suggested to Demeter that maybe she should ask Hades for help, and it was one of the only times her mother had used her goddess strength to drive Persephone to her knees.

I'll kill you before I let Hades have you, Demeter had spat, full of fury. Persephone had never forgiven her mother for making her go down on her knees in front of her in submission. It was the night Persephone had taken off into Athens, so angry and powerless. Her father had followed her and met his death along with eight men who Persephone had unleashed her terrible power out on.

You need to get out before Hades pulls it out of you. You can't hide it forever. Panic seized Persephone, overriding any rational thought, and she turned and bolted from the room.

"Persephone? Where did you get to?" Erebus called, and she hurried down the hall.

"Nowhere, just looking for the dog, that's all. Never mind, I'll play with him later," Persephone said, hating how easy it was for her to slip on the calm lying mask. "I'm going to go lie down and read those financials in comfort."

"Are you sure? Can I get you anything?"

"I'm fine, but my hangover is killing me. Damn wine, you'd think I'd know better," she said, moving towards her room.

"Oh, yeah, that particular brew was made for gods, so it doesn't surprise me it wiped the floor with you," replied Erebus. "I'll be close if you want the company."

Persephone tried not to close the door too quickly to her bedroom. She looked at the pile of bank statements on her bedside table, pulling out the pages that listed companies she knew were owned by Morning Harvest. Only her mother, or perhaps Vallis her right-hand man, would have a better idea of how their money was getting used to fund Pithos. She wasn't going to let Demeter shut her down this time. She needed answers, and she needed to get the fuck out of Hades's house.

Outside, the afternoon had set in, the sun making its way down into the water. Hades is strongest at night, if you're going to make a run for it, now is the only chance you got. Persephone folded up the papers and stuffed them down the front of her bra. The windows weren't bolted shut, so Persephone opened one and checked around outside. There were no guards under the window, but she knew some had to be patrolling somewhere. Don't forget about the titan watching TV in the other room.

Persephone slid off her gloves and put them in her pocket. She didn't like the idea of hurting anyone with her power, but she couldn't stay and let Hades dig the truth out of her bit by bit. If she was honest, she also liked him too much, and he'd be able to charm it out of her sooner or later. Then you'll be well and truly fucked because he'll kill you. A smaller voice whispered to her, You're the same.

"Can't risk it," Persephone muttered, and then she swung her legs over the windowsill and dropped silently onto the grass. She crouched low, hiding amongst the decorative shrubs and trees as she hurried through the gardens. She flicked out her finger on her right hand and released some of the dark power inside of her. Something pulsed back, and she was overwhelmed with a sense of Hades's darkly intoxicating magic. His wards. Persephone took a few hurried steps when suddenly Erebus materialized from the shadows in front of her.

"And where do you think you're running off to?" he asked, voice soft and deadly.

"I'm sorry, I can't stay here. I've told Hades everything he needs to know, so I'm leaving," Persephone said.

"Can't let you do that, honey. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait for the boss to come back first," replied Erebus, taking a step towards her.

Persephone lifted her right hand. "Please, I don't want to hurt you."

"Sorry, you're going to have to go through me. Whatever has spooked you, we can talk about it with Hades. He's a reasonable-" Erebus tried to say.

"I'm sorry, but I did try to warn you," whispered Persephone, and she unleashed her terrible power.

8

That morning, Hades took one look at Persephone's door before grabbing his keys and heading out to Styx. He needed to get away from her, so he didn't do something incredibly stupid like start a war or kiss her. He had thought the wine the previous night was a good idea, now he wasn't so sure. He had kept himself together as much as possible, but he wanted to physically shake Demeter by the end of it. How could she think that stifling Persephone's power was a good idea? She couldn't have passed for a human if she tried. Persephone had also said 'powers' and not 'power' once she'd gotten a few drinks in her. What else could she do?

Persephone's information on Pithos hadn't been much, but it had been enough. They had been in operation for a lot longer than Hades had dreamed about, which didn't bode well for any of them. What else did they have hiding about the place? The collection of fucked up weapons in the ARGOS basement might not have been their only storehouse.

Hades knew only work could keep his mind busy and away from Persephone, so to work he went. It was late in the afternoon when he got a message from Erebus. SOS, she's making a break for it. Hades had taken one look at it and swore. He thought that dinner the previous night would've lessened some of her animosity. Apparently not. Hades didn't bother going to get his car, there wouldn't be enough time for that. He fixed his power on Erebus and willed himself to him. Hades took one step out of his office and into a war zone.

The villa's gardens were torn to shreds, human guards were tangled up in trees and vines, and the earth was scorched black.

"What the fuck is going on?" Hades said as he stared at the carnage. He was going to kill Erebus for letting the situation get this out of hand.

"Hades, help me," he heard the titan groan. Hades hurried through the trees and found Erebus, bound in shadows and on his knees. Pain strained his handsome face, parts of his body locked between flesh and darkness. Hades snapped the strange hold the magic held on him.

"Are you okay? What the fuck happened here?" Hades demanded, catching the titan before he collapsed.

"Your new girlfriend. She's not what you think, master. Stop her before she drives all the men mad. I'll be fine. Go!" Erebus shouted and shoved him off. Hades took off at a run, his power reaching out, searching for the signature of spring. He didn't find it. All he felt was death. That was when he heard the screaming. Hades hurried towards the sound and was suddenly surrounded by shades. He spotted Simon on the ground crying as the shade of older man shouted at him. Hades banished the shade back to the Underworld where it belonged.

"She went...that way," Simon gasped and pointed. Hades had never seen anyone with this kind of power before. A sharp pain hit him in the chest as something clawed at the warding.

"Got you," Hades hissed and bolted towards it. Persephone was pounding her fists angrily at the invisible barrier that kept her locked in.

"Stop," Hades commanded, and Persephone whipped around.

"Let me go!" she shouted.

"Not until I get answers. What the fuck did you do to my men?"

"I told them to stay away from me like I'm telling you right now," hissed Persephone. Her gloves were literally off, and for the first time, Hades saw the shadows lingering like lace around her right hand. What is that?

"You think you have the power to take me on, little goddess?" Hades asked, voice smooth as silk. Persephone turned and ran, and Hades took off after her. The earth under his feet boiled and the nearest rose bush exploded into life, thorny vines tearing at his skin as the brambles tried to stop him. His own power lashed out to kill them off and he dove, grabbing his prey around her waist and tackling her to the ground. Persephone twisted in his arms and brambles wrapped around him, but Hades held onto her as they pierced through him.

"Get off me," she snarled.

"No," Hades hissed and fought to pin her.

"You asked for it, prick," Persephone replied and grabbed him around the throat with her right hand. Instead of the raw, rich power of spring, sweet glorious darkness and death enveloped him. Shadows of her magic wrapped around him, and he shuddered with the feel of it, so perfect, so powerful.

"Oh, sunshine, you've been holding out on me," Hades chuckled and looked down at the tousled beauty on the grass beneath him. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

"I-I don't understand," she stammered. Hades let his own darkness rise and wrap around hers. She trembled beneath him, a small groan escaping her beautiful lips.

"I do." Hades smiled down at her. "You have my power."

"No, I don't! You need to let me go," Persephone whimpered.

"Don't go. Let me help you. This power is the reason Demeter has kept you so far away from me, isn't it?” said Hades. How dare she?

"She said that you'd take it from me or that I'd be a slave to you because Death is your domain and there's no way you'd ever let me be free," Persephone said, her eyes filling with tears.

"Death is my domain, yes. But you'll never be my slave, Persephone, I promise you, and I'd never, ever take this power away from you. No wonder I haven't been able to be free of you." Hades touched her cheek gently, leaving a streak of golden ichor where her vines had ripped his skin to shreds. "Don't run, let me help you. I can teach you how to control it, so you'll never have to wear those fucking gloves again."

"You don't understand. I killed all those Pithos agents that shot my father. I lost control for a second, and eight people died. I'm cursed, no one can help me. Demeter couldn't. No one can."

"I can, sunshine. I promise you. Let me prove it to you. Please, don't go," Hades whispered. He didn't care that he was begging. He would do anything to keep hold of her. The vines of the rose bushes were surrounding them, shielding them even as they trapped them. Hades didn't care that they were ripping apart the mortal form he took. The only thing that mattered was the woman beneath him.

"Why? Why would you help me? I won't side with you against Demeter if that's what you want," said Persephone, uncertainty flickering in her green eyes.

"I don’t give a fuck about Demeter. Don't you see, sunshine? We are the same." Tears tracked down her cheeks, and he bent to kiss them. "Don't cry. I'll never hurt you, Persephone. Give me ten days, and I'll prove to you that I can help. If I can't, I'll let you go. I promise."

Persephone softened underneath him and whispered, "Six days."

"Still trying to bargain," Hades laughed softly.

"Of course. Anything else you want to say, Lord High and Mighty?" she asked.

Hades unleashed his dark power, letting it pour over her as he pinned her hands over her head. Persephone moaned as her own magic tangled with his. They called out and fed off each other, magnifying their strength and intensity.

"Yes. I'm not a bad kisser." Hades didn't know who moved first, but their lips were suddenly together, and everything went still inside of him. He had thought in depth about the feel of her lips over the years, convincing himself that it was the alcohol that he'd consumed that made him think they were so good against his. That was a lie. Persephone's lips were perfection. He didn't notice his skin tear as he grabbed her by the hips and lifted her so he could feel all of her luscious softness against him. Her tongue flicked against his, and he groaned. This is not the place to do this, his common sense reminded him. Reluctantly Hades pulled back and reined in his power.

"Okay," Persephone sighed.

"Okay, what?"

"Okay, I'll stay for six days... and you aren't a bad kisser," she said with a shy smile. "And I'm sorry if I hurt your men. I did try to warn them."

"They'll get over it. Kill any of them?"

"I don't think so?" she said.

"Then, they'll be fine." He glanced around at the brambles they were trapped in. "Would you like to do something about this, or will I?"

Persephone traced the fingers of her right hand down his neck, her spring eyes going black. "Show me how you do it."

"As the lady wishes," Hades said, and shadow began to pour out of him. Everywhere it touched, the brambles died, reducing them to ash. Persephone's breathing quickened underneath him, and it wasn't from fear. It took only a moment before the vines were gone, and Hades moved off her. Persephone made a small sound of alarm. "You're hurt. Oh, shit, I never meant-"

Hades glanced down at his clothes stained with golden ichor. "I'm fine, Persephone."

Erebus appeared as Hades was helping Persephone off the grass. "Well, that was exciting," he said, eying them both warily. "Are we good, or do I get to throw her back in a cell?"

Persephone was covered in dirt and ichor, and she still smiled threateningly at him. "Do you think you could?"

"You got the jump on me, I won't be surprised again," he argued.

"That won't be necessary, Erebus. Persephone and I have come to a new arrangement," Hades replied.

"Thought you might have. Charon's on his way with Selene to help with cleaning up. Sweet goddess, if you wouldn't mind releasing the men, it would be appreciated," said Erebus.

Hades didn't leave Persephone's side as she walked back through the gardens, apologizing to people and making the garden release whatever snares they held them in.

Thanatos arrived through the crowd of shades, silver hair gleaming in the night.

"You must be, Lady Persephone," he purred, taking her hand and kissing it. "Would you like me to help you with all of these shades?"

Persephone sagged with relief, giving Thanatos a huge smile. "Please. I don't know how to make them go away. I have never been able to figure that part out."

Thanatos looked at Hades for permission, and he gave him a nod. "I'll take care of this, my lady, go with Hades and see to your wounds. I'll show you another night."

"Thank you, I'd like that. I'm feeling a little woozy…" Persephone said and swayed on her feet. Hades caught her up before she could hit the dirt.

"It's okay, sunshine. Let's get you inside."

"I can walk," she said stubbornly. "This is the second time you've carried me in two days, it's embarrassing. Your titans are going to think I'm weak." Persephone was making his titans think something, but it wasn't that she was weak. All three of them got dreamy besotted expressions on their faces when they looked at her, even Erebus, who had been literally driven to his knees by her. Yet another mystery to solve.

Hades took her into the lounge room and set her down. Her knees and forearms were bleeding from where he had tackled her, grass stains and dirt all over her.

"What are you grinning at?"

"You look like a filthy hellion," he said, sitting opposite her.

"Like you can talk. You were the one that wanted to play lions like some damn beast," she argued, with the beginnings of a smile.

"It was fun. We should play again sometime," Hades said, meaning every word.

"You wish, old man, I'd annihilate you," Persephone replied, laughing.

Charon and Selene interrupted them moments later. The nurse took one look at Hades and the frown line between her eyes deepened.

"Don't look at me like that, I'm okay. Persephone first," Hades said, waving the nurse away.

"Dare I ask how this happened?" Selene took out antiseptic wipes. "Charon? Would you get a bowl of hot water and some clean towels for me?"

"Sure thing, doll," he said and hurried away.

"Hades had a tantrum; that's how this happened. I'm Persephone, by the way," she said.

"Selene. I'm the one that gets called in whenever one of these boys hurts themselves," the nurse replied and carefully began to clean the cuts on Persephone's forearms.

"Don't let her doe-eyed innocent look fool you, Selene. She was the one that had the tantrum first. I just put a stop to it," Hades explained.

"Well, I'm sure you had it coming," muttered Selene.

Persephone's smile widened in Hades's direction. "He really did. I like you, Selene." Hades only laughed, which made Selene give him an odd look. It wasn't until Persephone was cleaned up before he gave Selene permission to see to his own wounds.

"Where are you hurting the most?" Selene asked hands on her hips.

"My side is irritating."

"Shirt off, so I can see what I'm dealing with," she demanded. Hades made a point of not looking in Persephone's direction as he pulled off the tattered ruin of shirt.

"Oh, my god," Persephone gasped, but it wasn't in ecstasy.

"What?" Hades looked down and saw a rose vine had pierced through him and came out the other side. He was about to say it was nothing, but she was off the couch in a blink.

"I'm so, so sorry, I didn't mean to do that," she said, her fingertips resting on his skin.

"You did so," Hades replied, and her concern changed to mischief.

"Maybe a little bit, but you were the one that jumped on me."

"Can you get it out? The only way I can is to cut it out," said Selene, as she studied the tracing of vines before stepping away from him.

"What do you think, sunshine? Want the opportunity to hurt me again?"

"Only because you asked so nicely," Persephone said, her fingers stroked the line of tattoos down his back. "These are unexpected."

Hades was about to give her a charming reply, but she took the exposed end of the vine between the fingers of her left hand, and pain shut him up. "I don't know if this will work, so stay still," she said.

"It will. I trust you," Hades said through gritted teeth.

"Your mistake, Acheron," Persephone said, and Hades swore as the vine whipped around under his skin, and she pulled it free.

"You could've warned me," he said when he'd finally stopped swearing.

Persephone had the nerve to reach up and pinch his cheek. "Where would the fun in that be? Do you still need me? Because I want a shower."

"It'll be fine, I can handle it from here," said Selene pulling out needles and thread. "Have your shower and then get some Band-Aids over those scrapes."

"I will, thank you, Selene."

Hades watched Persephone walk away, his perfect golden handprint on the ass of her jeans. Right where it belongs.

"Be careful you don't bite off more than you can chew with that one, boss," advised Selene. "She won't tolerate any of your schemes."

"Wise Lady Selene, are you worried about me?" asked Hades. She raised a dark brow and went back to stitching.

"You know me, I care, and you've all been getting hurt far too much lately. I do have another job, you know," she said.

"I've offered you to come work for me full time, you keep saying no."

"There are other people in this city that need help too, ones that aren't as privileged as you. I like you and the Court, you know that. But you don't need me like they do," Selene replied, tying off the ends of a knot and snipping it. She dug about in her bag and produced an aqua colored tin. "After your shower, rub this on your wounds, and it will heal you quicker. Play doctor with Persephone if she's hurting. She's a demigoddess, so it'll help her too."

"Thank you, Selene. I promise you a bonus for this."

"Just play nice for a week, will you? I get tired of patching you guys up."

Hades gave Charon a nod, and he helped Selene with her gear. He liked the nurse; there was something of the old healers about her, but no matter how much he offered, she still refused to join them full time. She knows better than to get involved in this shit.

Hades got to his feet and made for his bathroom. He had bigger things to worry about... like how to teach a goddess to use her powers in six days without them killing each other.

9

Persephone decided she had never hurt as badly as she hurt standing under her steaming shower. She was covered in cuts and scrapes, with clumps of dirt falling out of her hair and golden ichor all over her. Despite that, she was…smiling. For the first time, in the longest time, the constant pressure and fear that lived inside of her was gone. Hades finally knew about her right hand - the absolute worst had happened, and she had nothing left to fear.

You have six days to figure it out. Persephone didn't know if she'd ever give up her gloves, but the thought of one day not needing them? She was almost giddy at the possibility of it. Now she only needed to figure out how she was going to keep a straight face when Hades used his power to teach her about her own. It was distracting, intoxicating, and made her want to run in the other direction and rub herself all over him simultaneously. That was something she would have to learn to live with.

Persephone was going to put their kiss down to the heat of the moment as well. It was more out of anger than passion. His lips were as hot as she had remembered from their night at the club, which didn't help her one bit. Magic first, kisses later. One thing at a time. She wanted to know about the tattoos inked down Hades's back too. They were unlike anything she had seen before, like words or symbols that she couldn't read. She wanted to know what they meant. She wanted to know what they tasted like…Persephone flipped the taps to cold and stood under the freezing water until she couldn't handle it anymore.

Persephone managed to get pajama shorts and a singlet on before her hunger pains nearly doubled her over. "What now?" she complained. She had never been hungry after using her magic. You've never used so much at once, either. She wrapped her hair up in a towel and went looking for food.

Selene was gone, and the couches were clean and organized once more. Hades found her minutes later with her hands in the fridge and shoving grapes in her mouth.

"I knew I'd find you in there," he said. Persephone stood up quickly, so she wasn't poking her ass at him. "Sorry, I'm starving, and I couldn't wait to ask politely."

"It's completely fine, eat whatever you like. You used a lot of power today in your escape attempt, your body needs to replenish itself," Hades said. He was in a pair of grey pajama pants and a t-shirt, his hair still wet and tousled from his shower. Persephone swallowed hard.

"I don't suppose I could convince you to make me one of those really nice sandwiches. Or would that be pushing xenia a little bit too hard?" she asked.

"If you get out of my kitchen, I will," he said, and she removed herself from the fridge.

"You're a bit uptight about your kitchen, you know that, right?"

"I don't like people in my way while I'm cooking," he said unapologetically.

"Your containers have all their lids. That's unnatural, Hades," Persephone teased as she sat down on one of the couches.

"I am unnatural, Persephone," he argued. She watched as he made sandwiches with intense precision. "You said that you killed all of the Pithos agents the night your father was shot. Would you like to elaborate on that?"

Persephone pulled the towel off her head and shook out her wet hair. "I wondered how long it would take you to ask."

Hades placed a plate of sandwiches on the coffee table in front of her with a glass of juice. "Just tell me, sunshine, I'm not going to judge you."

Persephone picked up one half of her sandwich and had a bite. "After Pithos shot my father, he told me to run, but I couldn't. It was like darkness spewed out of me, this crazy despairing rage. I couldn't stop it. They tried to run, but it wrapped around them and killed them. It wasn't like when you killed off the brambles and turned them to ash. It was slow. They died in a lot of pain before they turned to ash, and then there was nothing left."

"What did Demeter do when you told her?" Hades asked, sitting on the other end of the couch.

"What do you think? She actually loved my dad, and he was dead because of me. She lost her fucking mind." Persephone's shoulders hunched in slowly. Demeter had used her power on Persephone in anger for a second time that day, and if it wasn't for the fact that she was demigoddess, she was sure she would've died. Golden power had surrounded her like vines and had slowly crushed her until she was burning down to her bones. Persephone had passed out, and when she woke, Demeter had healed her, but she had never apologized for doing it.

Hades's voice was barely a whisper. "What did she do to you?"

"It doesn't matter," Persephone said, eating more of her sandwich. "I tried to find out what Pithos was after that. I had a hope that if I found them, maybe it would make up for Dad's death. That we could get some justice. Demeter found out about it, and she made me drop it. She was going to take care of it, she said." Demeter hadn't used her power on Persephone then, but when Demeter had threatened to do it again if Persephone didn't drop her search, she obeyed quickly and without argument.

"I don't understand. If Demeter knew Pithos killed your father, why would she give them money?" asked Hades.

"I don't think she knows, which means there has to be someone in her company doing it. There's no way she'd support them, and there's no way Vallis, her head of security, would betray Demeter or do anything to endanger her. Demeter is a bitch, but she wouldn't support anyone stirring trouble with you. You are the only thing she fears," Persephone replied. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you more. Really, I am."

"You've told me enough. Pithos will come after us again, it's only a matter of time. Medusa is still running leads. We'll find them, you don't have to worry about that." Hades took an aqua colored tin from his pocket. "Selene said to put some of this on your grazes before going to bed."

"What is it?"

"Some salve she made. She's a nurse, but her natural remedies work better than anything I've seen. They'll heal you," he explained. Persephone put her scraped up leg on the couch between them.

"I'm eating, help a girl out," she said. "Pretty sure it's under the laws of xenia."

"You're pushing your luck, you know that?"

"That's okay, I'll find one of the triplets to do it. They all seem very lovely and obliging," Persephone said, but as she went to move her leg, Hades's hand came down around her ankle and clamped it to the couch.

"Stay still," he grumbled, and she hid her smile. "Why do you insist on provoking me?"

"I'm simply making the most of this xenia deal. You were the one silly enough to agree to it." Persephone wriggled her toes at him. "Besides, I think you like having a pajama party with me."

"Is that what we are doing?" Hades asked, unscrewing the lid of the tin. The salve was pale yellow, and it smelled of honey and lavender.

"We are both in pajama's, aren't we? If you have any nail polish around, I'll get you to…" Persephone lost her train of thought as Hades gently massaged the salve into her chapped skin. She sighed as the stinging went numb, and she leaned back against the couch. "Wow, that stuff works quickly."

"Selene is the best, which is why she is on my payroll," Hades said and gestured for her other leg.

Persephone wriggled around and got comfortable as he worked on her other scrapes. "Hades?"

"Yes, Persephone?" he said, not looking up.

"Thank you for taking care of me," she replied.

"You're welcome. Arm next," he said, and he rubbed the salve on her cut forearms.

"Do you really think you can help me control my power? You saw what I did today. I called up all of those poor shades and had no idea how to release them."

"Has that ever happened before?"

"Once, when I was about ten years old. It hung around the house for two years before it finally disappeared. Only I could see it," Persephone said softly.

"Demeter should have swallowed her pride and asked me to help you. You were only a child. You should never have had to suffer through that," Hades replied through gritted teeth. "I will help you, Persephone. I don't know how you're not mad."

"Seeds mostly."

"What do you mean?"

"You know how I grew the olive tree? That's my coping mechanism. Growing flowers with one hand and then killing them with the other," Persephone explained.

"I'm surprised that it was enough to keep it under control. I felt what you wielded today, Persephone, that power was deep. Something that would challenge Demeter's and then some. She's kept you under her perfect high heel not because she's afraid of me, it's because she's afraid of you," said Hades.

"That's not true. She's an Olympian and I'm a half breed, Hades. She's not afraid of me," Persephone argued. She didn't want to believe it. Her mother could be a bitch, but she still loved her in her way.

"Just be careful when you go home. Demeter was always hungry for power, even in the old days. She won't like her daughter being able to challenge her, and when I'm done teaching you, you'll be more than a match for her." Hades lifted her chin. "And she'll never be able to hurt you again the way she did after your father died."

"S-she didn't mean it," said Persephone, moving her face away.

"Yes, she did. I'm sorry if it hurts you to hear the truth of it, but no immortal releases their power by accident. I don't need to know details. I can see in your eyes how much it hurt you. She's kept you scared and chained up like a trained fucking poodle."

"Unlike you? You're keeping me prisoner here, Hades!" Persephone argued.

His eyes narrowed. "You agreed to stay."

"So, you can train me to contain my magic, so I don't lose control, just like Demeter said she was going to."

Hades gripped her shoulders, anger flaring in his silver eyes. "I'm not interested in teaching you to contain your power, Persephone. I'm going to fucking unleash you so you can be who you were meant to be."

"What if you do and I destroy more than your garden? What if I wreck everything around me," Persephone asked. She'd had nightmares about going nuclear and wiping out Athens.

"Then I'll rebuild it," said Hades, as if it was as simple as that. He loosened his grip but didn't let her go. "And you can create me a new garden. I was getting tired of the old one anyway."

Persephone tried not to smile. "What if I make one that's super ugly and isn't perfectly ordered the way you like it?"

"Then I'll kill it and make you do it again. It'll be good practice for you," Hades replied, settling back down on the couch. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," said Persephone.

"Why did you run today? Am I such a terrible host?" he asked softly.

Lie, Persephone. Don't ruin this peaceful moment, her common sense commanded her as her mouth said, "Why did you keep my glove?"

Hades's expression snapped closed. "You went through my things?"

"No, I was playing with Cerberus, and he wouldn't get out of your room. I went to chase him out and I saw it. I didn't go through your stuff, Hades, I'm not like that," she said quickly, as he got to his feet and headed for the hallway. "Don't walk away. Just tell me why you kept it!"

Hades didn't turn around. "To remind me that it happened," he said, and then he was gone, his door shut firmly behind him.

10

The next morning, Persephone woke to a quiet villa. She didn't see Hades anywhere, though she doubted he would've left her alone after the previous day.

You should have kept your mouth shut about the glove, she chastised herself for the hundredth time. She had lain awake for hours the previous evening, wondering if she should go after him. And say what? You have nothing to apologize for. So, she had left the awkward moment alone, and had gotten intimately acquainted with the plaster moldings on her bedroom ceiling. Persephone made a coffee as quietly as she could and slipped out of the door and into the gardens.

In the light of day, Persephone was stunned at the devastation she had wrought. Huge furrows of earth crossed the manicured lawn like whip slashes, trees were torn in half, hedges and flower beds were exploded, and every now and again the ground was scorched black. She was contemplating where to begin her repairs when a Ferrari roared down the driveway, and Medusa stepped out. She spotted Persephone, and her red lips smirked.

"I have to say I love what you've done with the place," Medusa said as she joined Persephone out on the lawn and didn't lift her sunglasses. So, she doesn't want to kill me yet, that's a good sign.

"Hello, Medusa, lovely to meet you at last," Persephone replied, and they shook hands.

"You too. I do wish it were under more pleasant circumstances, but Hades ignored my advice." Medusa's disapproval radiated off her as she took in Persephone's scraped forearms. "Please tell me that he didn't do that to you or I'm really going to lose it."

"If it makes you feel better, I gave as good as I got," said Persephone.

Medusa looked around her. "I can see that. I'm quite sure Erebus is in love with you, Thanatos was thoroughly impressed, and Charon, well he gave you one of his coins. I thought it past time that I came out and saw you for myself and give you some female company. I would've brought Ariadne too, but she was the one that suggested Hades kidnap you and Asterion…let's say he's protective of his little assassin."

"Understandable but unnecessary. I wouldn't hurt Ariadne for something Hades did. After the stories Erebus told me, I'm actually looking forward to meeting her," said Persephone. It was true. She had never met an assassin before, and to be able to take on the Minotaur? That was impressive.

"Is that so? I can't help wonder what the gossipy little titan said about me," Medusa replied.

"That you're formidable, which I knew, and that you're dating a demigod painter who has an amazing ass," said Persephone, making Medusa laugh.

"Well, that's true. Perseus's ass is perfection. I suppose you're going to tell Demeter about his demigod nature?" she asked, a challenge in her tone that Persephone didn't fail to miss.

"She'll find out eventually, especially because she knew Zeus and will recognize one of his kids when she sees him. I don't think you'll need to worry about my mother's interest in him, as soon as Demeter knows where I am, she'll be too busy having a meltdown to worry about your sexy artist," said Persephone.

Medusa folded her arms. "Do you think she'll try to challenge Hades for you?"

"It won't matter if she does. I agreed to stay for another six days with or without her permission," Persephone replied, straightening her shoulders.

"Is that so? I knew Hades must have a charming bone somewhere in that body of his-"

"I'm not sleeping with him," Persephone said, a little too quickly. "He's going to help me with my power."

"How uncharacteristically generous of him," Medusa replied slowly and looked back at the garden. "You want to show me what you got? I have to admit I'm curious after the triplets gushed about you."

"They aren't nearly as terrifying as their reputations make them out to be," said Persephone with a laugh.

"Actually, they are. Why do you think they are so attracted to you? Because you're so pretty? It's because you are a death bringer, and they are creatures of darkness," said Medusa.

"Well, I should try to fix some of this damage first," Persephone replied with a grin. "Before I kill it again anyway." She tried not to think of her audience as she bent down and placed her left hand onto the wet earth. Persephone shut her eyes and focused on all the green and growing things, sweet sap and flowering seeds. The ground shuddered, and she opened her eyes as the broken fissures sealed, grass grew, trees healed and bloomed.

"This is…incredible," Medusa breathed, and Persephone reined in her power. "Are you strained at all?"

"Not really, no," admitted Persephone bashfully.

"Have you ever tested your limits?"

"Um, no? Demeter never would allow it, and it's not like I could just walk into a desert just to see if I could make it bloom."

Medusa put her hand on her hip. "Why not?"

"It would draw too much attention," Persephone said. It was one thing Demeter hated and had fought hard to protect their privacy.

"It could also save a drought-stricken nation," Medusa argued, looking about at the wild trees around them. Persephone was about to reply when she felt it; a rush of dark shadows and whispers of death rolling across the grounds. Medusa didn't give any indication that she felt the change, but Persephone knew Hades was coming.

Might as well make him feel welcome. Persephone held out her right hand and let the death power out of her. Medusa swore, but Persephone didn't stop as the ground around them withered, cutting a path to where she felt Hades moving. His power wrapped around hers, gentle as a kiss, and everything crumbled to ash, leaving only the God of the Underworld strolling towards them in the morning sunshine.

Hades was in his usual perfectly pressed black trousers and a button-up shirt, and Persephone really wished she could get the visual of his tattooed body out of her head. She would've felt a lot steadier if he had been wearing a tie, and she couldn't see the curve of his collarbone between the top few undone buttons of his shirt, but no, the Fates just didn't want to throw her a bone. Hades fixed her with his silver eyes, and her heart rate went up as the taste of his power burned in her mouth.

God, you're so hopeless for him. Persephone knew it, but she still forced her face into pleasant neutrality and refused to drop his gaze for a second. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. If he wanted a staring competition, he could bring it on.

"Well, this is awkward," whispered Medusa.

"Susa, I didn't expect you this morning. Did we have a meeting?" Hades asked, finally moving his eyes to the gorgon. Persephone couldn't stop the small victorious grin that he had lost their little stare-off. Hades noticed it and gave her a frown that said, Don't test me, baby demigoddess.

Persephone made an amused sound that made his nostrils flare. "I'll let you talk business," she said, turning away. "Let's catch up soon, Medusa."

"You will fix my fucking garden first," Hades shot back.

Persephone lifted her middle finger up as she walked away, leaving flowers blooming in her wake.

HADES BIT down his frustration as Persephone disappeared amongst the trees. That fucking finger reminded him of the night in the club, and her attitude made him want to pounce on her again and spank some manners into her.

"Earth to Hades. If you keep staring at her like that, she's going to catch fire," Medusa said, snapping her fingers in his face.

"Good," Hades muttered, focusing on her. "What are you doing here?"

"The triplets told me what happened last night, and I thought I'd better come and check things out for myself."

Hades folded his arms. "I've got the situation under control."

"Hmmm. Doesn't look like it," Medusa replied, surveying the wrecked landscape.

"Don't make that sound at me. Persephone is fine. I'm not mistreating her even if she likes to purposely irritate me."

Medusa laughed softly. "I don't think that is irritation you are feeling, old friend. She was perfectly pleasant until you turned up and started throwing your power and sexy glares around. The triplets said her power was like yours. I thought they were exaggerating. How is it possible?"

"I don't know. Her father was human. Persephone's spring abilities could've easily been inherited from Demeter, but that death power? I feel like the Fates are fucking with me," said Hades.

"It does explain why you've been obsessed with her for the past six years, and why you were so drawn to each other to begin with," Medusa replied.

"Demeter should've come to me to help Persephone, not hide her away from me," he growled.

"Maybe she knew you'd act like this and try to claim her as one of yours."

"She is one of mine," Hades snapped before he could stop himself. "All death belongs to me."

Medusa gave his arm a pat. "Good luck telling Persephone that. She's not just death, buddy, she's radiating life."

"I know, and Demeter hasn't taught her to use it either. Just kept her locked up and hoped it would go away." He wanted to throttle the goddess so much his hands hurt.

"So that's why you made the six-day deal to help Persephone. You actually like her," Medusa said with a smile.

"When she isn't provoking me. You saw her just now! I hadn't said a word to her, and she was just-"

"Eye fucking you?"

"She was throwing her power around to get a rise out of me," corrected Hades.

Medusa shrugged. "She was doing both. I don't know why you can't flirt without killing everything in the process."

Because it feels so fucking good when she uses her power. Hades didn't say it, but Medusa laughed as if she could read his mind anyway.

"I'm no love expert, but maybe try to lose the attitude if you want to win her over. Don't forget we aren't Demeter's enemy, and we don't want to be. Persephone will have to go home to Athens eventually, and we don't want Demeter to pull out of all of our deals," she said.

"If she's been working with Pithos against us, I'll grind her into the dirt," Hades replied.

"You'll lose Persephone if you do."

"I don't have Persephone in order to lose her. She swears Demeter wouldn't work with Pithos, which means you need to dig into her inner circle," Hades instructed, and Medusa nodded.

"Can I offer you some feminine advice in regard to the girl?"

"If you must."

"Don't act like another Demeter. Don't keep her locked up and isolated from people like her. Do some training with her as promised and bring her out to the Labyrinth. She's lonely, Hades, like we all were before we had each other," said Medusa. She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. "I'll look at Demeter's cronies and let you know what I find."

"Thank you, Susa," he replied, and she walked back to her Ferrari.

"Be the charming bastard I know is in there somewhere!" she called out her window before driving away. Hades sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel Persephone's power on the other side of the property, and like a siren song, he gave in to the inevitable and followed it.

HADES FOUND Persephone laughing as she threw a stick for Cerberus, then grew obstacles in his way to confuse the hound. Hades knew he needed to find Pithos and be done with the ugly business. He needed to go back to his office and deal with the million things on his to-do list.

Instead, Hades smiled and leaned against a tree to watch them play. Persephone yelped as an over-exuberant Cerberus bowled her over and started licking at her face. Persephone wiped the dog slobber off her cheek with the back of her hand.

"You are the worst, dog, stop that," she complained.

"Leave her be," Hades told the dog and moved to help her off the grass. Persephone hesitated. "Allow me," he said, and she took his hand.

"Thanks, he's massive but adorable. What happened to Medusa?" she asked.

"She had to get back to work," Hades replied, and then remembering Medusa's suggestion added, "You'll see her at the club tonight."

"The club?"

"She wants to give you a night out with the Court," he said. "Only if you want to. I'm not going to force you to socialize with them, especially not the triplets."

"I like the triplets, they are all handsome and charming," Persephone said, removing her hand slowly from his. Hades ignored that comment and looked out at the ocean.

"Are you going to show me how to use my power or just pick fights with me?" she asked eventually.

"All depends if you're going to behave yourself."

"You'd be too bored if I did that," Persephone said.

"I'm too busy to be bored."

Persephone looked him over. "You keep yourself busy because you're bored, and you hate it. I could see it all over you the night at the club, and six years later, you're still the same."

"And you have such an insight into my personality?" he said irritably.

"No, it just takes one to know one," Persephone replied softly.

Hades's expression softened. "You don't like being Demeter's CEO in training?"

"It has its moments, but it's...tedious. Seriously, I don't know why you came back and revealed yourself to the world only to become a CEO," she said and then reddened. "Sorry, that came out more judgemental than I meant it to."

"It's fine. I didn't really plan on creating an empire, but then it became necessary to protect the Court, and here we are," he said.

"Why did you come back?" she asked. "I thought you couldn't leave the Underworld."

"How about you do some training without fighting with me and I’ll tell you," Hades said. He was enjoying the moment, and he didn't want her to look at him in fear when he told her the truth of what he had to do to get free.

"You love your deals, don't you?" Persephone said.

"It's good for both parties to have a clear understanding of what each other gets, so there's no confusion," he replied, even though when he looked at her, all he felt was confusion.

"Very sensible of you," Persephone said with a smile. Hades wasn't sure if she was laughing at him or not, then he decided he liked her smile, so it didn't matter. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of seeds.

"Shall we?"

11

Persephone tried to get her professional face on as Hades handed her the packet of seeds. They looked like black, dried lemon pips, but she couldn't be sure what they would grow into.

"What did you have in mind?" she asked.

"I've been meaning to grow an orchard of special pomegranates from the Underworld, and I want you to help me. You've already done half the job by demolishing a space on the western side, so we'll start there," Hades replied, and without waiting for her, he turned and began walking. He clicked his tongue, and Cerberus abandoned his stick and fell into step behind him. Persephone followed, even if it were only to keep an eye on his ass and not because he told her to. At least they had stopped arguing for the moment. She didn't know why he brought out the brat in her, but she loved stirring him up. Maybe because you want to press more than his buttons.

Hades stopped at the edge of the lawn where they had ended up in the brambles. Persephone looked at the scorched ground and thought of their angry kiss covered in dirt and golden ichor. Hades didn't smile, but amusement lit his silver eyes as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"This will be an excellent spot, seeing how it's mostly clear already. Can you make six rows for me, please?" he asked, one hand casually resting on Cerberus's head.

"Sure, but I can't guarantee that they will be perfectly straight," said Persephone, crouching down.

"That won't matter once the trees are in," he replied. "If it does, I'll just make you do it again."

"Your teaching method needs work."

"Really? How would you like me to school you, sunshine?" he asked, looking down at her. She ignored the innuendo in his tone and placed her left hand onto the earth. She focused carefully on releasing a controlled amount of power and drew six careful lines in the ash beside her. Hades was about to say something, but she held up her hand to silence him. Then the ground trembled, and six rows tore into the land in front of them.

"Very nice," he said and held out his hand. "Give me half of those seeds."

"I'm more controlled with the life and growing side of things. It's the right hand that I struggle with," Persephone explained, tipping seeds out for him.

"We'll get to that, trust me." Hades took the far three rows and Persephone the others, and they quietly dropped the seeds evenly in the furrows.

"Now what?" Persephone asked, and Hades moved to stand beside her.

"May I touch you?" he said.

Persephone's mouth went dry. "If you need to."

"I need to feel out how you use your power," he replied, and slowly took her left hand. His gaze lingered on the sun on her wrist. "Your tattoos make a lot more sense now."

"That's what happens when you're young and impulsive." Persephone focused on the earth in front of her and not the warm heat down her back or the hand wrapped around hers.

"I want you to grow the trees, but not to full maturity," Hades instructed, breath tickling the tip of her ear. "Release slowly, so I can get the feel of your power and how it flows."

Persephone released a breath and focused on the link between her left hand and the ground in front of her. She could sense the small seeds in their furrows and let her power flow.

Hades stroked her sun tattoo. "Slower," he said, "Think of a trickle, not a river." Persephone did her best to shut down how distracting he was and do as she was instructed. She closed her fingers slowly, trying to visualize choking the flow of life and creation. Sweat broke out on the back of her neck as she held it, and then small green shoots began to sprout and curve, before rising slowly into saplings and thickening to trees.

"Stop there," Hades said, and Persephone closed her fist. It was still vibrating with power, and she steadied her breathing until the pressure in her hand eased.

"Why is it harder to do that than just release it?" she asked, shaking out her left hand.

"Having control isn't about stopping going nuclear. True control is being able to reserve that power, use it only as much as you need to, so you don't burn out in a confrontation or be too pent up for not using it all. Less is more, so you have a deep reserve for when you need it," explained Hades.

"Like in a fight?" she asked.

"Yes. Believe it or not, I don't want Pithos ever getting their hands on you. If they attack you, I want you to be able to defend yourself in order to get away. Not panic and hurt yourself or innocents around you. Only the bastards who are trying to hurt you," said Hades, moving a fraction closer.

"If you keep saying things like that, I'm going to start to think you like me, old man," Persephone replied.

Hades right hand slid slowly down her arm and wrapped around her wrist, his thumb stroking her skull tattoo. "You already know I like you. Probably too much. Do you think I'd bother with any of this if I didn't?"

"I guess not," Persephone said.

Hades's voice turned to black velvet as lips said against her ear. "Do you really have to guess?"

Goosebumps flew down her arms, and she hoped he wouldn't notice them. She cleared her throat. "What's next, you want to kill them off?"

Hades lifted her right hand towards the young trees. "Yes, but the same principle applies, slowly remove the life drop by drop. I'll tell you when to stop."

Persephone let the power in her right hand go, and trickles of darkness curled around her fingers like smoke. She sent it out towards the saplings, and their leaves started to slowly droop, then curl and brown. There was a rush, and they began to turn black rapidly, but Hades wrapped his fingers around hers.

"Rein it back in," he said, and Persephone tried to slow the dark power. It was begging at her to be unleashed as fast as it could, to suck out life and destroy, like a rush of adrenaline and a rough kiss by a bad man. Hades sensed the change in her, and his power released just enough to drag her’s back. Her shadows snapped away from the trees and wrapped around his arm where it touched hers.

"Damn it, why does it do that?" said Persephone.

"Because I'm still a God of the Dead, and it recognizes it," Hades replied.

"Does it feel the same as yours? Or different?" Persephone leaned back against him a little, and his left hand came up to rest on her hip.

"It's hard to explain. It is like mine, but it feels... like you. I can sense you in it, even if the abilities are similar. What does mine feel like to you?" Hades asked.

Like all the forbidden things I want, Persephone thought. She let her shadows out a little more to touch him. "It's bigger, deeper." She licked her too dry lips and tried to find the words. "Stronger, like a masculine version of mine. It's overwhelming when you use it." Just to torment her, Hades released some more of his power, and it moved up her arm and down her body. Her heart fluttered wildly as it caressed her.

"How is it overwhelming? Explain it to me," he said.

Persephone closed her eyes, her bare neck tilting in silent invitation. "It's sensations more than anything. Feelings of things, like being lost in a dark wood, or the thrill of when all the lights go off in your house at night, and you need find your way to your bedroom. It's satin sheets on bare skin, and the gleam of a silver knife in shadows, and that call to go outside at night to stare at the stars..." Hades's lips brushed the curve of her neck, and she lost control of the death power. It poured out of her, decimating the saplings and the grass under her feet.

"Focus, sunshine, I don't need you losing control and killing everything," Hades said.

"You're distracting me on purpose," she complained as she closed her right hand.

"You should be able to handle your magic, no matter what is happening. You wanted me to train you, didn't you?"

"Yes," she admitted, her voice not nearly as strong as she'd like it to be.

"Would you like me to stop?" A question…and an invitation. Persephone knew that playing with Hades Acheron would probably the most dangerous thing she ever did, but she also knew he was the most distracting thing she'd ever encountered and if she could use her power properly when his hands were on her she could handle anything.

"No, I don't want you to stop," Persephone said softly. She felt, rather than saw Hades's smile, and her own lips twitched. Maybe he liked touching her as much as she did.

"Then grow the trees back," Hades replied. She lifted her left hand and let life and spring come from it. The blackened saplings crumbled as new shoots began to rise. Hades's hand moved from her hip, fingers sliding under the hem of her singlet.

Persephone tried to shut down all the exciting signals racing to her brain as he stroked her skin, tracing the lines of her ribs and lingering on the fluttering of her heart. She frowned with the effort to keep the slow trickle of life feeding the earth around her. The competitive side of her was raising up too, and she was determined not to give him the satisfaction of making her lose control. Besides, she was curious to see just how far he would go before he gave up.

Persephone focused her power wider, making it grow a garden beside them and repair the grass, patch by patch. This is easier than I thought. Her confidence wavered as Hades's fingers brushed against the soft lace cup of her bra, her nipple hardening as his thumb moved in slow circles over it. She grew the tree saplings higher, focusing as each leaf burst.

"Your scent changes when you are using your spring power," Hades whispered, nuzzling at her neck. "It's citrus and floral and green things and warm summer nights. It's life and creation and fucking under the stars. I used to dream about it. I thought I was going crazy every time I went to Athens, and I would catch your scent on the paperwork that Demeter gave me or in meeting rooms. I hated Athens from the moment you walked out of the club. Why did you leave that night?"

Persephone kept growing each bloom on the trees. She knew he deserved a real answer from her. "Because I was afraid of staying. I wanted you so badly, but when I found out who you were, I panicked."

"Why? Did you think I would hurt you?" he asked, his hand stilling on her breast.

"No, I never thought that, and I certainly don't now." Persephone tried to sort out all the complicated thoughts and feelings she had about that night and decided to go with honesty.

"I was taught from the cradle to fear you. When I finally met you, I wasn't afraid of you like I should've been. From the second I saw you sitting at the bar I wanted you, and when you reciprocated, I couldn't keep my hands off you. I panicked not because I didn't want you the same way once I knew you were Hades Acheron. It was because of who I was. If you found out I was Demeter's daughter, I thought you wouldn't want me anymore, and I wouldn't have been able to handle that. That's why I never called or revealed who I was to you."

"And now I know exactly who you are," said Hades, his other hand went to her hip, and he pulled her ass tight up against him so she could feel how hard he was. "Does it feel like I don't want you anymore?"

Persephone's power surged so quickly the buds on the trees went from flowers to fruit in the blink of an eye, and she struggled to rein it back in. Hades chuckled huskily, his power trembling over her skin and making the thin straps of singlet and bra slid down her arms.

"You play dirty, Acheron," Persephone complained, once her own power had steadied and she could talk again.

"Oh sunshine, you have no idea," he said, teeth and stubble scraping against her bare shoulder. "Kill things for me, Persephone. It feels so fucking good." It took a few moments for Persephone to draw in the spring and release her shadows. Instead of letting them out into the garden, she let them curl around Hades, spreading the smoky tendrils over him, sneaking them in under his clothes.

"Now, who's play dirty," he said, and she bit back a gasp as his hand tightened on her breast. "Focus on the landscape, demigoddess, instead of playing this very dangerous game of chicken with me, or you might regret it." Persephone doubted that, her body was getting hotter by the second. His other hand went to her shorts and popped the top button.

Would he really go that far when anyone could come through the gardens and see them? Persephone sent a part of her shadows out to start killing the flowers in the new garden beds but kept a part of it tangled around Hades. She thought about where she would like to touch him, and the shadows slid down the grooves of his muscled chest, down his abs, and undid his belt buckle.

"Now look at how much control you're using in such a short period of time. Maybe you only needed the right kind of motivation," Hades said, the slightest waver in his voice that wasn't there a moment before. Persephone was liking this game more and more. Hades's power wrestled with her and managed to get his belt done up again.

Persephone bit down a curse as he laughed, and she went back to killing things in the gardens. She was making rose petals blacken one at a time when his hand slipped down the front of shorts and cupped her. She couldn't stop the tremble that ran over her body as his fingers stroked her, running over her slit. His other arm pulled her tight against his chest.

"You can pick fights with me, pretend that you don't want me, but this doesn't lie. You're so, so gloriously wet, and it's because it's me that's touching you, isn't? " Hades whispered, his fingers moving in slow circles. "Answer me, Persephone."

"Yes," she groaned, her head tipping back against his shoulder. Her hand reached behind her until she touched the toned curve of his ass and gripped it tight.

"Did you think about me in the past six years?" Hades asked, his fingers moving gently around her entrance.

"You know I did." Persephone moved her hips, rubbing her ass against the hard line of his erection.

"Did you think about me when you touched yourself like this?" Hades slipped two fingers inside of her, and her thighs pressed together. "Did you imagine what it would feel like to have me do this to you again?"

"Fuck...yes, I did, all the time," gasped Persephone.

"Did it feel as good when you did it to yourself?" Hades asked as he thrust his fingers harder and rougher inside of her until she was gripping his forearm, her fingernails breaking his skin.

"N-no, it never was the same no matter what I did," she said.

"Have you let anyone else touch you like this since you met me?" Hades asked, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

"No," Persephone admitted.

"Why not?" Hades's strokes slowed as his teeth nipped at her ear. "Don't you dare think about lying to piss me off."

"B-because they weren't you," groaned Persephone. Hades thrust a third finger into her and she cried out. So close. Oh, Gods, she was so close. "I knew that no one else could make me feel like this."

Hades licked the sweat dripping down her neck. "Good to know it wasn't just me having sleepless nights, thinking about the things I would've done to you and this sweet wet cunt if you hadn't run away. I wouldn't have been gentle and meek, but that's not the kind of lover you like, is it, Persephone?"

"No, it's not," she said, pulling him tighter to her as the pressure between her legs made her groan. Hades's hand tangled in her ponytail, pulling it down so her mouth tilted up.

"Good," Hades said and kissed her. His thrusts quickened, and as he pressed his thumb hard against her clit, Persephone screamed against his mouth before she came all over his hand.

Hades lifted his mouth from hers and slowly licked her bottom lip. She was trembling as he pulled his hand gently from her shorts.

"I'm so glad we got that cleared up. Now, I've got some business I need to attend to in town, so I'll see you tonight at the club," Hades said, his silver eyes were burning as he lifted her chin with one finger. "Now fix my fucking gardens, Persephone. Don't make me ask you again." And then he vanished. Persephone stumbled without him to hold her upright, and she leaned over to grip her knees to stop herself from landing on her ass.

"You bastard," she growled as she did up her shorts with shaking fingers. "You want a garden? I'll give you a fucking garden." Then she lay back on the grass, her new control measures forgotten as she unleashed herself.

CHARON ARRIVED at the villa late in the afternoon when Persephone was admiring the veritable forest she had created.

"I'm glad you left the driveway alone. Otherwise, I'd have been screwed. I almost drove past the entrance," he said with a devilish smile. "Hades pissed you off, didn't he?"

"Something like that. Honestly, his arrogance is astronomical," Persephone replied. "What are you doing here? Making sure I don't run away again."

"No, I come bearing gifts, doll, so you can put the claws away," Charon said, reaching into the back seat to bring out a large box and a gift bag. "Hades said we are having drinks at the Labyrinth, so Medusa and Ariadne picked you out something to wear."

Persephone's eyes narrowed. "Hades said Medusa had wanted us all to meet each other tonight, not him."

Charon laughed. "Susa wouldn't have been so pissed off at short notice if that was the case. She got a hold a few of the beauty places she likes who put some makeup and girlie shit together for you too."

"I see. So, Hades wants to test me, does he?" Persephone said, folding her arms.

"I don't think that's it. He wants you to meet everyone but is too emotionally stunted to tell you that," said Charon. Persephone stared at him until he caved in. "And yes, it's undoubtedly a test. Hades loves his Court and probably wants to see if you can handle all our strong personalities. He doesn't want you to go back Demeter pissed off and ready to start a war."

Then maybe he should stop blowing hot and cold and being a handsome jerk. She was still annoyed that he'd just left her in the garden, her body aching and temper hot. It was like she couldn't get one with him without the other. She wanted him, he knew it, and she hated it.

Persephone took the bag Charon offered her. His devilish smile was back.

"You know, the dress the girls picked out for you is an absolute knock out so maybe get your revenge in a way that only a beautiful woman can; by making a grown god weep at what he can't have," Charon added, and then bit his bottom lip suggestively. "Let me know if you need your zip done up, darling."

Persephone grinned. "I just might, titan. How much time do I have to get ready?"

"Two hours, though I doubt you'll need that long," he replied as they walked inside. He poured himself a drink and stretched out of the couch. "Give me a shout if you need any assistance, I'm an excellent hair washer."

Once alone in her bedroom, Persephone opened the dress box and looked at what Medusa and Ariadne had picked out for her. Then she smiled wickedly and hurried to get ready.

12

Hades sat in his office in Acheron Tower and tried to focus on the email he was writing. He had to get some work done, but his thoughts were still at the villa, his hands on Persephone, her spring scent in his nose, and the taste of her in his mouth.

What are you doing with this girl? You're acting like a horny beast. Are you no better than Zeus? His hand curled into a fist. No. He was better than that piece of shit. For starters, whatever he did with Persephone was consensual, Zeus wouldn't have even taken that into consideration. He would've seen her, wanted her, fucked her, and left her mad and broken like Perseus's poor mother. You stopped him doing that forever. That counts.

'Serpent Queen' flashed up on his phone, and he opened his message. Dress sent to the princess. I hope you know what you're doing. Don't fuck her around too much.

Hades had no idea what he was ever doing when it came to Persephone, and Medusa knew it. He wanted Persephone to like his Court. They had more in common with her than the fucking hideous socialites in Athens. He didn't like that Demeter had isolated her and kept her alone either. Kept her from you, you mean. Hades ran a hand through his hair. Maybe Demeter was right to do it.

Persephone made him feel possessive and frustrated, and he simultaneously wanted to hold her close and send her back to Athens for his own sanity. He wanted her to go out tonight, so he wouldn't have to spend another night pretending he didn't want to push her up against the wall and fuck her senseless.

So much for his legendary control. She admitted that she hadn't been with anyone since him, and he knew he had no right to press that confession out of her. She was her own woman; she could be with whoever she wanted. Just the thought of it made his fists curl. She's like you. He would never have to worry about the power under his skin hurting her. She had proven that more than once.

He needed advice.

Hades picked up his phone and rang Perseus. His newest nephew was no longer looking like Zeus to him. Yes, there were similarities, but the more he got to know the man, the less like Zeus he reminded him.

"Hades, this is unexpected," Perseus answered.

"Hello, nephew, do you have a moment?" asked Hades.

"Of course, I do, what's wrong?"

"Is Medusa with you?"

"No, I'm at the studio on my own," said Perseus. Hades was silent for so long Perseus asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes. No. I don't know. I need advice. You're the most human of us, the closest to his -" Hades almost gagged on the word, "emotions. I need you to tell me what you would do."

"Is this about Persephone?"

"Yes."

"You kidnapped her, Hades. That's not a great start to a relationship," said Perseus.

"Ariadne killed Asterion, and you stole from Medusa. Clearly, good starts to relationships aren't our forte. I don't think Persephone and I even have a relationship. This conversation feels stupid now."

"Wait, don't hang up on me just yet. You rang for advice, remember? Do you want a relationship with Persephone?" Perseus asked.

Hades squirmed. "I believe I might consider it if she is amenable to the idea."

"And you think she might be? Has she said anything that made you think she could be into you, despite the kidnapping?"

Hades thought of Persephone's breathy confession, I knew that no one else could make me feel like this.

"She could be. It's hard to tell when she's sweet one minute and downright infuriating the next," Hades said.

"Yeah, well, in my experience, you are all a mercurial bunch at the best of times. I still don't know if Medusa wants to rip my throat out or fuck me half the time," Perseus said with a laugh. "It makes life interesting; don't you think?"

"That's one way to put it. She's not boring, that's for sure. I don't know if it's possible. Her mother would never allow it, and Demeter is important to Acheron Industries."

"Look, Hades, maybe you just need to admit that you like her. Really it doesn't matter what her mother thinks. She's not a part of this. All that matters is if Persephone likes you back. You are both adults, and if you want it, then you'll make it work," replied Perseus. "Is this seriously your first crush?"

"A crush isn't what I have. A crush implies that it's a mild flirtation. I don't feel that way," argued Hades.

Perseus sighed. "Okay, then you need to figure out what you feel. I can't do that for you, but here's the last of my advice; you let her get away from you once, can you live with it happening again? Think about your answer and then...tell her."

"I will consider what you have said. You will be there tonight?"

"I wouldn't miss meeting Persephone for the world. Especially with how the triplets are talking about her. I think you might have some healthy competition on your hands tonight, Hades. Better figure out your feelings quick. Otherwise, she might think you're not interested and go with someone who is," said Perseus and hung up. It didn't leave Hades feeling comforted in the least.

BY THE TIME Hades arrived and slipped up the side steps to Asterion's private balcony, the club was packed. Ariadne looked stunning in a deep purple dress as she came over to greet him.

"Don't you look dashing this evening," she said, looking him over before going up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"I don't know what you mean, I always look dashing," he replied.

"True. I don't think you and Asterion know how to look unattractive," she said. "You can relax, Hades, Persephone's not here yet."

Hades straightened his cuffs. "I don't know what you mean."

"You look nervous," said Asterion, passing Hades a glass of ice and vodka as he joined them.

"Where is Medusa?" Hades asked, ignoring the comment. Ariadne pointed towards the dance floor. Medusa had her arms around Perseus's neck as they danced. She looked happier than he'd ever seen her.

"They will be up in a moment, she promised him the first dance of the night," Ariadne said. She slipped her arm around his. "I can't wait to meet your girl, Hades. Medusa liked her, so I'm sure we'll get on famously. If she can get over you kidnapping her, I'm sure she'll forgive me for suggesting the idea."

"You'd want to hope. She's a force when she's pissed," Hades said, draining his vodka.

"Well, maybe you should consider stop pissing her off and let her see how adorable you are under your grumpy bastard exterior," teased Ariadne.

"I am the God of the Dead, I am not adorable," he grumbled.

"Hmm, not when you pout like that," Ariadne said, taking his empty glass and breezing away to refill it.

"Remind me again why I tolerate such insolence from her?"

Asterion laughed. "Because she's fucking cute and you like that she's not afraid of you."

"Is she here yet?" Erebus asked, appearing out of nowhere. He was the neatest Hades had ever seen him, his hair carefully styled and wearing a three-piece suit.

"She tried to kill you, Erebus. I worry that you're this excited," said Asterion.

"She wasn't trying to kill me! She just managed to make me hold still. It made my shadows all excitable," Erebus replied with a dramatic shiver. He turned to look at Hades. "Charon said that you said that Persephone is her own woman and can give any man her attention if she wants. Is that true? Because I'd like to give her some of my attention."

Hades wished he had a god to pray to for patience. "Persephone is a demigoddess. Five seconds with her and you'll realize that she's determined to make her own choices. She's capable of telling you if she's interested in your attention or not," he said, trying not to give the titan a smacking.

Erebus downed a shot. "I'm going to take that as a yes. Whoo! Tonight is going to fun." And then he disappeared again before Hades could throttle him.

"Don't mind, Erebus, Master. He's never had a woman defeat him before, I think the novelty has gone to his head," said Thanatos calmly. Hades glanced across at his reaper who, like Erebus, seemed to have taken extra care in his presentation that evening, wearing his favorite gunmetal silver suit.

"Oh, Thanatos, you too?" Hades asked. He hoped that at least one of his titans could maintain a clear head.

"She is very lovely, Master. She can summon shades and control them as easily as I. There is something about her abilities that calls to us. Surely, you have felt it?" Thanatos asked, his silvery brows drawing together.

"Oh, he's felt it all right," Ariadne said, laughing bawdily, and pressing a fresh vodka into Hades's hand.

"She is.... like us," Thanatos said slowly, and then his head tilted to one side. "She is here." And then he disappeared.

"Remind me again why I don't send them all back to the Underworld?" Hades muttered.

"You can't blame them for something you're also suffering from," Asterion argued. He joined Hades at the balcony. "It's okay to be nervous. Don't worry, we'll make sure she has a good time and doesn't go back to Athens hating us all."

"Thank you, Asterion." Hades's senses prickled, and he spotted Charon leading Persephone through the crowd towards Medusa. She was...breathtaking.

"You like the dress I picked out for her?" Ariadne asked, leaning her arm against his shoulder. "Damn, she's a looker for sure, boss."

That was an understatement. Persephone looked like a queen. The dress was a deep blue that bled out to black and moved like dark water around her. The shoulder pieces were made of black leather and matched the leather belt around her waist. Her honeysuckle hair was pinned up in a tumble of curls, and Hades wanted to bury his hands in it. He wanted to trace his fingers across her collarbone and down the deep v of the dress's neckline to where her perfect breasts rested. Get it together, he cursed himself.

Persephone's beautiful mouth lit up in a smile as she greeted Medusa and Perseus, both of them leaning over to kiss her cheek. Charon's arm was looped around one of Persephone's, and Erebus appeared beside her, taking the other with a charming smile. Thanatos was trailing behind her, making sure none of the dancers got too close to her. Instinctively, Persephone seemed to know where Hades was as she glanced up at him. The ichor in his veins heated, but he forced himself to remain calm as he raised his glass to her. She gave him a sarcastic little curtsey before turning her attention back to Medusa.

Ariadne let out a low whistle. "Damn Hades, what did you do to piss her off?"

"No doubt there is a list of things," Asterion said, moving his arm around her waist. "They are coming up, try not to be a bastard for one night, Hades. This was your idea."

Hades did his best to look relaxed as Persephone came up the stairs, the triplets hovering behind her and making her laugh. Ariadne and Asterion went forward to greet her, but Hades didn't hear a word of what was said. He couldn't look away from Persephone and the silky dark material swishing gently around her curves. Then she was walking towards him, her hips swaying.

"Hello Hades, how was work?" she asked.

"Dreary," he said. He took her gloved right hand and kissed the skull tattoo on her wrist, grazing his teeth against it where no one could see. Her pupils dilated as he let her hand go. "Dare I ask how my garden turned out?"

"Well, it's not so much of a garden-" Charon began, but Persephone silenced him with a glare.

"Don't ruin the surprise! I'm sure Hades will love it," she said firmly. "He was very firm on what he wanted before he vanished so abruptly this afternoon." There was mischief in her tone, which told him he was going to be killing a lot of plants in the near future. She was also pissed he had left her. Surely not. He had left because he'd been worried he would drag her to the ground and fuck her on the grass if he didn't. Maybe you should have.

"I'm glad you're here, Persephone," said Perseus to fill the awkward silence. "It means I'm not the newest god to the group. I'd love to ask you about your magic, I've only made mine manifest the once and I've been too worried about trying again."

"Persephone needs a drink first!" Ariadne interrupted and dragged Persephone towards the bar.

"She is quite charming, Hades," Medusa said, sliding up next to him. "And she is far too good for you."

"I know," he replied.

"You need to stop staring at her."

"I can't."

Medusa stepped into his line of sight. "Seriously, don't be creepier than usual. Are you feeling okay? You look like you want to level the place."

"He's fine, love, he’s just trying to process all of those complicated emotions he's having," said Perseus.

"What emotions?" Medusa demanded.

"I want to keep her," Hades admitted, and saying it aloud alleviated some of the pressure in his head.

"Then you're doing a shit job of it," Asterion said and pointed to where Persephone was leading Thanatos down the stairs by his tie, Charon and Erebus following obediently.

"The lady wants to dance, the boys are obliging her," Ariadne said, rejoining them. "I like her, she's feisty."

"Hades wants to keep her," said Asterion, hiding his smile behind his glass.

Ariadne gave Hades's shoulder a playful punch. "Good for you, boss. The triplets feel the same way. You can be one big polyamorous dark lord family."

"They are not invited," Hades growled.

Ariadne laughed. "Do they know that?" She looked down where the triplets were dancing with Persephone, twirling her between them as she kept up with them step for step. "Certainly is the prettiest orgy in the making."

"Why do you insist on saying such things to piss me off?" Hades asked.

The assassin gave him her deadliest smile. "Because you need to stop being so passive and go after what you want. Six years is a long time to wait for someone, only to have them snatched away because you are chicken shit."

"Ariadne, honey, maybe don't-" Asterion began with a nervous look in Hades's direction.

"She's right," Medusa said.

"I didn't ask you all here to gang up on me," Hades muttered.

"No, you asked us here to tell you it's okay if you hook up with her, even though she could be the enemy. Congrats, we like her, and it is okay. Now, go get her, tiger," said Ariadne and gave his ass a smack. Hades pushed his empty glass into her hand.

"My patience has limits, assassin," he warned.

"Someone has to push your buttons and get you moving. Now grow a pair of ovaries and go after her before she goes home with the triplets," Ariadne said.

Hades straightened his tie and headed downstairs.

13

Persephone decided that the Labyrinth was her new favorite place to dance in Greece. It was her first night out in six years, and she was going to make the most of it. She had downed the martini that Ariadne had offered her and had hit the dance floor before she picked a fight with Hades if for nothing else then biting her wrist and looking so damn handsome she wanted to push him off the balcony.

Persephone was delighted that the triplets were all excellent and willing dance partners. She had been tempted to ask Hades for a dance just to see the annoyance on his face. She took her dress as being a success by the way the muscle in his jaw had clenched and the fact he wouldn't stop staring at her.

He probably thinks you're going to get lost in the crowd and make a run for it. As far as plans went, it wasn't bad, but Persephone was enjoying the club. Besides, she'd promised him six days, and she always kept her promises.

"Dip me!" Persephone shouted to Charon, and laughing, he obliged her, dropping her low enough that her hair almost touched the floor. She rose back up and collided with a chest that definitely didn't belong to Charon. Hades was holding her, and she took an awkward step back in surprise. The triplets had been pulling swapping stunts all night, but she didn't think that Hades was going to play.

"Where's Charon?" she blurted out.

"He's gone to get you a drink," Hades said, his hand sliding over the small of her back and bringing her closer. "Problem, sunshine?"

"No, I just didn't expect you to dance," Persephone replied, placing her hand on his shoulder.

Hades smiled. "Who do you think taught them?" The track changed to something slower, and Persephone did her best not to get too close to him.

"That dress…it suits you," Hades said.

"Thank you." Persephone's hands were going sweaty in her gloves. She didn't know why she could fight with him so easily, yet a slow dance undid her cool. She wished that any of the triplets made her feel half of what she did when she looked at him.

"Are you angry with me about what happened in the garden? Because you know you could've stopped me with a word," Hades said.

Persephone swallowed hard. "I'm confused, more than angry. Half the time, I honestly don't know if you like me or hate me."

"I don't know either," he admitted and twirled her before drawing her close. Persephone tried to ignore the feeling of her breasts pressing into his chest, the silk of her dress too thin to stop her feeling the warmth coming off him.

"I believe I like you. No, I know I do. I hate whose daughter you are and that there are four days left. I don't think it's enough time," Hades continued. Persephone looked up at his silver eyes to see if he was teasing her. He wasn't. She had never seen him so serious.

Saints above, don't fall for him. Persephone leaned her face against his chest, so she stopped looking at him. "I like you too, even if you're a grumpy old bastard." Persephone slid her hand underneath his jacket and stroked his lower back. "You know, it doesn't matter that I'm Demeter's daughter and that we've only got four days left of our deal. I live an hour away from Styx, it's hardly the other side of the world. Unless you do something to really piss me off, I don't see why we can't stay friends and get Pithos together." Hades's hand moved to touch the bare skin of her back, and she arched into him.

"Is that what you think I want to be? Friends?" he purred in her ear. Goosebumps exploded over her shoulders and down her arms.

"Well, it's either that or we are enemies."

"I do not want to be your enemy, Persephone."

"They are the only two options," she replied irritably.

"Is that so?" Hades chuckled huskily before he dipped her low and placed a kiss on her chest between her breasts, his stubble pricking her bare skin and making her shiver. When he lifted her again, the air was as charged as a thunderstorm, Hades's eyes like molten quicksilver.

"Dangerous ground, Acheron," Persephone said into his ear before giving his ear lobe a not so gentle bite of warning.

"We are death deities, Persephone. Danger is what we are," he replied.

"Okay, you've hogged her enough, it's my turn again!" Erebus interrupted them. Hades grip tightened on her before he released her.

"Excuse me," Persephone said and moved through the press of people before either of them stopped her.

The Labyrinth was the first club she had been to that had an adequate number of bathrooms, so there was no line for the ladies. Persephone retreated to the safety of a cubicle and clutched her head. What are you doing? Is Hades suggesting what you think he is? There was never a clear way to tell with him. One minute they were arguing, the next his hands were all over her, then they were arguing again. She needed to talk to him. Tonight, when you've had some drinks to give you courage. She was hot, her heart racing, and she had no pool for her to sink into and cool down. Breathe through it.

"Persephone? Are you in there?" Ariadne's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Ariadne, you have no concept of personal space," said Medusa, and then added, "But are you in there?"

Persephone opened the door to find the two women standing next to the basins.

"Was Hades worried I was trying to escape through a window or something?" she asked.

Ariadne laughed. "Hades didn't send us. I saw you walk off the dance floor."

"We wanted to make sure the knuckleheads didn't say something to upset you," Medusa added, and her eyes narrowed. "If they have, I'll-"

"They didn't, and I can handle them," replied Persephone.

"So, what's going on with you and Hades?" asked Ariadne, ignoring the look Medusa gave her. "I've never seen him so flustered."

"Hades isn't flustered. He wouldn't know how," said Persephone.

"Oh, he's definitely flustered," said Medusa. "I can tell them all to back off if they are making you uncomfortable. The triplets especially can be overbearing, and they have never met anyone with your abilities before. It's made them a bit giddy over you."

"No, they have all been genuinely nice. Even Hades, in his way."

"Then why are you hiding in the bathroom?" asked Ariadne. "I'm not judging you. It wasn't so long ago I was hiding in this bathroom too."

"I'm not hiding, I'm overwhelmed," Persephone said, before removing her gloves and running her hands under the cold water trying to calm the power yearning to get out.

"Hades will do that to you. If he starts to annoy you too much, I can bring you over to stay at Serpentine if you like," suggested Medusa.

"That's kind of you, but I know I can't hurt Hades, and I don't trust my power around other people when I'm sleeping," said Persephone, drying her hands and putting her gloves back on. She didn't like the way her chest clenched at the thought of leaving him either. Four more days...

"You look like you're going to be sick," Ariadne said.

"I'm okay, I'm just not used to being around people like...like me," Persephone replied.

"Demeter kept you away, but we've never been your enemies, Persephone. No matter what happens with Hades, you're always going to be welcome in Styx," said Medusa.

"And we aren't just saying that, either," added Ariadne.

Persephone smiled at the women, a weird sense of belonging moving through her. "I would like that. I must go back to Athens in four days, but I'd like us to be friends. Let's hope Hades and I don't kill each other between now and then."

"He'd probably love for you to try it just for the challenge. He's sweet on you, you know that, right?" said Ariadne. Medusa whacked her. "What? He is. You saw them dancing just now, I'd be coming in here to cool off too. Damn, I knew he had it in him." Ariadne fanned herself shot a wink at Persephone.

"I don't know about that. I'm sure he just likes to fuck with me," she said honestly.

"Hades doesn't fuck with people like that," said Medusa. "Hades understands rules, so if you just want to fuck him, tell him, and he'll do it. Don't let him think whatever is happening between you is something more if you don’t feel the same way. He's my best friend, and I don't need him moping for another six years and being shitty and difficult every time he goes to Athens because you shut him down."

Persephone shook her head. “You are reading too much into this, Medusa. He wants me because I can get the information on Pithos for him. I'm not an idiot, I know I'm a pretty dalliance until he gets what he wants."

Medusa's expression softened. "I've known Hades longer than I'm willing to admit, and I can tell you right now, he doesn't 'dally' with anyone."

"Why do you think he's so awkward at flirting with you? He doesn't know how to do it," said Ariadne. She put her hands on Persephone's shoulders. "Listen to us or don't, but let's get out of here and get another drink. Hades will tell you what he wants and then figure it out from there."

"Sounds like an excellent plan," said Persephone, liking the assassin's attitude.

THEY ENDED up in a private dining area, all sitting around a large table laden with food and Persephone telling them what she knew of Pithos. Strangely, after already telling it once to Hades, she found it easier and easier to talk about. None of them looked surprised or judgemental that she had killed the men who had shot her father.

"Do you think if you called Demeter, she would be able to look at who is siphoning the money from your accounts?" asked Asterion, opposite her.

"I like to think she wouldn't lose her mind because I'm hanging out with the Court of Styx, but she would. She doesn't trust Hades, and every time I've mentioned Pithos in the past, she has been furious," said Persephone, toying with a martini glass. Hades sat on her right, at the head of the table, letting them all talk and rarely offering his opinion. Medusa sat on the other side of her and was tapping her nails on the table.

"We are going to have to tell her where you are eventually. Otherwise, she'll get the police involved, and I'm not keen on dealing with human law enforcement. With your help, we could hack into Morning Harvest's servers and check for ourselves," she said.

"Let me have one more night, and then I'll call her and ask myself. If she objects, then I'll help you, but only to get Pithos. I expect you to stay out of our other business," Persephone replied. She knew that they weren't rivals, but the company needed to have some secrets, at least. She didn't want to feel like she was selling out her own company either.

"I can agree to that," said Medusa with a nod. "We only want Pithos, not to take over your empire."

"Good, because Demeter will probably try to kill me when she learns I've agreed to help you," Persephone replied.

Under the table, Hades's long fingers brushed against hers. The cool expression on his face gave nothing away, but the hard line of his mouth softened as she tangled her fingers around his and held on.

14

It was almost midnight when Persephone said goodnight to the Court and sat down in the passenger seat of Hades's black Lamborghini. She wasn't drunk but buzzed enough to roll down the window and let the cool night breeze rush over her.

"You're quiet," Persephone said as she slipped off her high heels.

"I have a lot on my mind," replied Hades as he shifted gears.

"Did I pass the test?" she asked, leaning back against the leather seats and shooting him a teasing grin.

"None of you decided to kill each other, we have all agreed to go after Pithos. I count that all as progress."

Persephone propped her feet up near the open window, and he looked at her exposed calves but didn't complain about her feet on the upholstery.

"I like them too," she said, and when she placed a hand on his thigh, he didn't move it away. They were still sitting in comfortable silence when Hades pulled off the road into his long drive and cursed under his breath.

"It's a forest, Persephone," Hades said, looking out at the tall trees.

"It's nice, isn't it?" she replied and then burst out laughing. "Oh, it's not that bad. I thought you'd appreciate the privacy."

"I promised myself that I wasn't going to fight with you tonight, so we'll discuss this tomorrow, demigoddess," said Hades when they finally pulled up in front of the villa.

"How terribly ominous," Persephone replied sarcastically.

"Keep up that attitude of yours, and I will bend you over my knee to teach you some respect," he warned.

"I'm trembling in fear," she said and got out of the car.

Persephone dropped her shoes by the door and greeted an excited Cerberus with head pats. Hades placed his keys and cuff links in a glass bowl and took off his jacket. He was looking at her with such an odd expression she straightened.

"What's wrong?" Persephone asked, her hands still resting on Cerberus's head.

"Nothing. The moment just seemed oddly domestic, that's all."

"Oh no, is the dark lord getting used to a girl in his house?" Persephone teased, heading for the kitchen to get some water.

"You are tolerable company," Hades said.

Persephone batted her lashes at him. "I'm flattered, I'm so tolerable. Someone leaving you presents?" There was a white box tied with a gold ribbon on the marble benchtop.

"That is from my favorite bakery in Styx," Hades said. He went to the knife block and used one of the blades to slit the golden ribbon. "I have a hopeless sweet tooth after a night out. Thanatos must have remembered to organize the order. What?"

"Nothing, it's just kind of unexpected," Persephone said, hopping up on the barstool. "You better be in a sharing mood, Acheron."

"I could be persuaded." He opened the box to reveal two rows of chocolate ganache cupcakes frosted with gold decorations. He took out small plates and knives and forks.

"What are those for?" Persephone asked.

"To eat with."

"Hades, you are not seriously going to eat a cupcake with a knife and fork."

"Why not?" he asked, placing one on each plate and setting it in front of her.

"It's just wrong, that's why!" Persephone said.

"I was thinking of your gloves," he said and sat down beside her. "You shouldn't be wearing them anyway. You can control your magic a lot more than what you think you can."

"Gloves or no gloves, I'm not eating a cupcake with a knife and fork," Persephone argued, tugging the black satin gloves off and tossing them in the direction of the couch. He let out a sigh when they didn't make it and landed on his perfectly clean floors instead. Persephone put her hand over his to stop him lifting a forkful of cupcake to his mouth. "No, you can't eat it like that."

"Why are you trying to cause an argument with me over something so small?" Hades said exasperatedly. "How do you plan on eating it?"

"Properly." Persephone peeled back the golden paper and bit into it.

"And by properly, you mean as messy as possible?" Hades said.

Persephone purposely smeared icing on her lips and grinned at him. "Why? Is my messiness bothering you?"

"It is," he said and started laughing. "Stop it, you ridiculous delight, before you get it all over yourself." It was too late for that. Her fingers were smeared in icing and cake crumbs. She ignored him as she reached into the box for another one.

"Are you sure you're not a chaos deity as well?" he asked.

"Maybe," Persephone said and tried to lick the icing off her fingers before reaching over to smear some on the back of his hand. He grabbed her by the wrist before she succeeded.

"Why must you insist on pushing your luck? You might not like what it gets you," Hades warned her, but there was amusement gleaming in his eyes, so she waggled her dirty finger at him.

"Why? Are you threatened by a bit of mess? Oh no, not a chocolate smear on the perfect Hades Acheron-" Her teasing words died in her throat as he put the offending finger to his mouth and sucked the icing off it.

"Mmm, they are good," he said, and with his other hand, he lifted her chin and carefully licked the chocolate from the corner of her mouth. "You're right, I should definitely explore other ways to eat cupcakes."

"H-Hades?" Persephone whispered, her eyes fluttering open.

"Yes, sunshine?"

"I don't want to be your friend either," she admitted, and his eyes widened.

Hades brushed a thumb along her cheekbone. "That's going to make things more complicated."

"Without a doubt, but you wouldn't consider it if it were easy. Neither one of us likes easy. Otherwise, we would've been with other people in the last six years, and you haven't, right?"

"No, I haven't."

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because you made me feel extremely and unforgivably alive. I touched you, and you have been the only thing I've wanted to touch since," Hades admitted, honest as ever.

Persephone leaned her cheek into his hand. "Me too, but you've already wrung that confession out me, amongst other things, before you vanished today. You really know how to confuse a girl that's for sure. It would help if I knew what you wanted."

Hades's smile was unguarded for once. "What I want is also complicated. Right now, I want you in my bed, but I don't know how to ask you."

"And what would going to your bed cost me? What kind of deal would you make for that-"

Hades placed a finger against her lips. "No deals. No bargains. Never for this. All that matters is if you want to. I'd like it, but only if it's what you want with no obligations."

Persephone slowly undid his tie and tossed it over her shoulder. "Right now, I want you to come for a swim with me while the stars are still out." She hopped down from her chair and turned. "Unzip me, would you?" He obliged, running his fingers down her spine where the dress opened.

"It is a nice night," he said by her ear.

"Then come with me," Persephone replied and opened the door to the deck before she brushed the shoulders off her dress and let it drop to the floor. She knew if she waited to see if he were following her, she would lose her nerve, so she didn't turn around to see his reaction. She slipped off her underwear and stepped down into the cool water. When Persephone did turn, he was standing in the doorway, holding her dress and staring at her with a helpless expression. She swam to the edge of the pool and leaned her arms against the sides.

"Are you going to stand there all night?" Persephone asked. Hades tossed the dress and vanished. "Where did-?" Persephone let out a cry of surprise as she turned, and he was sitting in the pool opposite her. "You cheated!"

"You were getting insistent," Hades said, shrugging his broad bare shoulders. "Although you were right, a swim was a good idea."

"The water has always calmed me down when I've been nervous or when my magic is playing up," she replied and moved towards him. He was giving her lots of space, letting her take the lead, and she was doing her best to remind herself that they had been far more compromising positions.

"You're not nervous now, are you, sunshine?" Hades asked and held out a hand to her.

"Yes, though probably not for the reasons you think," she said, staring at his hand. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You can't," Hades replied, taking both of her bare hands and placing them on his shoulders. "See? Now, tell me why you are nervous." Hades ran his hands down her back and rested them on her hips, tugging her gently toward him, and her legs went around him.

"I have varying levels of control of my power, especially when I'm around you, and you're touching me. I'm nervous that I'll blow up your villa," said Persephone.

Hades chuckled deeply. "Oh honey, if I ever make you orgasm hard enough to blow up my villa, then I'd count it as a win and simply build another one."

Persephone shook her head. "If you keep offering to make new villas all the time, I'm going to start thinking you want me to blow them up."

"You don't think you've caused enough destruction to my property already?"

"I fixed it, didn't I?" she said, her hand stroking the fine hairs on his chest before reaching around to touch the line of tattoos down his back. "Tell me what these mean?"

"Once, they were the magic that bound me to the Underworld. After Zeus, Poseidon, and I cast lots for what realms we would rule, Zeus went one step extra and shackled me to the Underworld where I couldn't leave without his permission. Poseidon ruled the seas, but he could travel wherever he chose, but Zeus wouldn't tolerate any such allowances for me," Hades explained, and her grip on him tightened.

"Why would he do that to you?" she asked, a lump in her throat.

"Because my power more than matched his and he was afraid I'd use it to overthrow him. Tyrants who overthrow others always worry that they, in turn, would be overthrown," said Hades.

"How did you break free of it?"

"I killed him. Well, more accurately, someone dealt him a killing blow, and as the God of the Dead, I was drawn to his inevitable death. Zeus had been stabbed through the heart and was dying in the dirt, helpless as a human. He begged me to save him, promised to lift the bonds on me, promised me anything I wanted," Hades continued, his voice going cold.

Persephone moved so she could look up at him. "What did you do?"

"I cut off his head and scattered his body throughout the Underworld where it could never be reassembled or resurrected. As soon as I did it, the shackles holding me, Charon, Thanatos, and Erebus broke. We were free, and I could finally bring them back into the light," said Hades, his hand moving to tangle in a loose curl of her hair. "Does that frighten you?"

"That you killed him? No. From what I know of Zeus, he had it coming," Persephone replied honestly. The thought of Hades being trapped in the Underworld filled her with a new strange rage. He didn't need her protection, but she felt the urge to do it all the same. "Then that what happened?"

"I went searching for others. Those that had been labeled as monsters from the likes of my brother and the other Olympians, the cursed ones, the unloved ones. I found Medusa on Lesbos and convinced her to come with me. I looked for Asterion and found him still buried alive in the Labyrinth on Knossos."

"That's why you get so angry with Demeter," Persephone realized. "She kept me locked up."

"Partly. I take issue with anyone being caged because they are different. I especially take issue when they can be helped to live a real life and are denied that help. Demeter is like Zeus, afraid of what we are and the power we possess. No matter what happens between us, don't let her keep you caged," Hades said, voice hardening. "You are too special to be kept locked up like some fucking trinket."

Persephone's heart ached. This fucking god. This complicated, hard, beautiful god. She reached up, her lips hovering over his. "I promise." And she kissed him slow and gentle. It was so unlike every other passionate, angry kiss they'd had. It was true and honest and without motivation. Hades pulled her against him so that their wet bodies were pressing against each other, making Persephone's pulse leap up to her throat. She wanted all of him, his secrets, and his body and his difficult heart. His hand went to the back of her neck, tilting her head up so he could kiss her deeper. He broke away so he could nuzzle her neck softly.

"Come to bed with me, Persephone," Hades whispered. "Please, let me have you, even if it's only for tonight. Please say yes."

Persephone lifted his face so she could look into his sincere quicksilver eyes. "Yes."

Hades's grip tightened on her, and then the pool vanished, and she was in his bedroom with him still holding her up.

"This is much better," he said, lowering her down on the dark sheets of his bed. He ran a hand down the side of her breast, the dip of her waist and curve of her hip. "I've thought about you being naked on my bed an awful lot."

"And?" Persephone couldn't resist asking.

Hades's expression turned wolfish as he grinned at her. "My imagination wasn't up to the task of conjuring the reality of you, sunshine." He nipped the generous curve of her stomach, swirling his tongue over the bite to take the sting out of it. "Don't you hold back your power either, you can't hurt me." Hades let his power trickle from his fingertips as he stroked and explored her bare skin. Persephone trembled as her magic rose to meet it, pulsing under her skin, and mixing with her desire, yearning for the touch of his dark energy.

"That's it, let it out. Don't play coy." Hades's shadows wrapped around her bare legs, exploring her like extra fingers, brushing and teasing, making her wet with desire. Persephone's hands gripped the sheets as she tried to contain the raging power inside of her.

"Fighting me, even now," Hades growled in frustration. He quickly grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head. She held on to her magic, a part of her still in the alley watching men die because she lost control for a moment. But Hades isn't a man, and he'll never die if you lose control…You are the same.

Hades's shadows hung onto her wrists as he lifted her hips, his dick pressing into her slick entrance. "Let it out, now, Persephone," he said in an unearthly voice that demanded her to obey, and he pushed hard inside of her. The room exploded into shadows, and Persephone laughed as the dam of power inside of her shattered. She looked at the god above her, smiling with dark joy as he moved in her. "There she is. There is my goddess. At last, I can see all of you."

Persephone's last shred of control left her, and with a power she didn't know she possessed, she flipped Hades onto his back. His strong hands grabbed her hips tight enough to bruise as she rode him, her hair out and wild around her, lifting with the unseen power in the room.

Hades sat up so he could kiss her roughly, her hands pulling his hair as she thrust harder and harder against him. She had never felt more powerful, more desirous, more herself as her teeth dragged down his throat, her body so full and complete. The locked away part of her was suddenly thrown open, and on the other side of it was darkness and death, life and light with no beginning or end.

Hades's laugh was a savagely delighted sound as his hands clutched her face. "Do you see now my Goddess of Life and Death? You are answerable to no one." Persephone fell into the ocean of his power, let it envelop her, and instead of fear, she felt recognition and belonging. She grabbed his shoulders, dragging her nails sharply down his back and pushed him so deep inside of her that their pelvises ground together. They couldn't be any closer as they moved together, sharing the same breath and heartbeat. Darkness was wrapped around them, entangled as they were and pulsing with the same familiar power.

"We are the same," Persephone panted against his lips as she rocked against him.

"We are, and I wouldn't settle for anything less from my consort." Hades's grip on her ass tightened, and he rolled her onto her back, thrusting into her so hard that she screamed his name as they came. Hades rested his forehead against her heaving chest, his lips kissing her thrumming heartbeat. "You are my equal, Persephone. Never act like you aren't ever again."

Persephone's hands trembled as they stroked his bare back, her body full and aching and feeling more alive than it ever had before.

"I promise, though, you might regret it next time we meet across a negotiation table."

"If you try to fight with me over a negotiation table, I'll just fuck you on it until you see things my way," Hades replied, gently moving his hips against hers so she could feel him hardening again inside of her.

"You would miss me fighting with you," Persephone said, hands gripping his shoulders.

"I wouldn't like to rob you of your favorite hobby," Hades replied, leaning to kiss her again. "I'm a gentleman in that way." And then to Persephone's delight, he showed her all the ways he wasn't.

15

Persephone didn't know what time it was when she finally woke. The curtains were closed, and Hades was asleep beside her, his strong arm over her waist and face pressed into her shoulder. He looked so peaceful that she kissed the top of his dark hair and enjoyed the moment. Hades Acheron is a cuddler, who would've thought it? Persephone grinned.

The need for food overpowered her, and she carefully slid out from under his embrace, before wrapping herself in a black and gold satin robe she found hanging on the back of his bedroom door. She took a moment to admire him sprawled across the sheets, biting her lip to keep from smiling like an idiot. Persephone expected to find Cerberus outside the door; she didn't expect to find the triplets pacing the villa.

"Finally!" Erebus exclaimed when he saw her.

"What's going on?" Persephone asked, patting at her wild hair.

"Why don't you tell us, doll?" Charon said his smile widening. "Hades warded up his room so intensely that we have been trying to get through to him for hours."

"Here you are, Persephone," Thanatos said, passing her a coffee. "You are going to need it."

"Why?" she asked, her stomach sinking.

"Your mother called this morning," Erebus said irritably. "Someone managed to get a photo of you dancing with Hades last night at the Labyrinth. Those glamours she put on you must've worn off. She knows you're here, and she says if you don't contact her by midday, she's going to the media to say that Hades has kidnapped you."

"Shit," Persephone muttered, sitting down at the end of the couch.

"Our thoughts exactly. We couldn't get through to Hades, and his warding on that room kept even us out," Charon said. "Where is he?"

"Asleep still," replied Persephone.

The triplets all shared a look. "That can't be right. Even when he does sleep, he's usually up before the dawn," said Thanatos.

"You guys blind? Clearly, she wore him out," Charon replied, shooting Persephone one of his wicked smiles.

"Oh, goddess, tell me this isn't so," Erebus said dramatically. "My heart, it's actually breaking that he won you over."

"You really are thick. She was in the bedroom with him, idiot," Charon said.

"How angry did Demeter sound?" asked Persephone, clutching the cup in her suddenly cold hands.

"Really angry. I tried to tell her you were fine, but she wasn't in the right mind to hear it," Erebus replied.

"You don't have to talk to her if you don't want to," Hades said, appearing behind her. He had managed to put on some long pajama pants, but he was shirtless and tousled.

"Good morning, master, we have been trying to inform you of the situation," Thanatos said, in a teasing tone.

"Yes, I heard you." Hades knelt in front of Persephone, his hands resting gently on her knees. "You don't have to call her back. I can deal with it. I caused this mess after all."

"Don't worry, I can handle Demeter," Persephone said, leaning forward to kiss him on the lips and pass him her coffee. His frown didn't go away, but he didn't argue with her either. "I'm going to need a phone." Charon offered her his cell phone, and she got off the couch to take it. "Hades, I'm borrowing your office. I'll fix it."

Hades's office was exactly how she imagined it would be with a large desk of dark wood, beautiful melancholy art on the walls, and buttoned leather chairs to sit on. She had a mouthful of the strong whiskey from one of his crystal decanters before she sat down in an armchair and dialed Demeter's number.

"I thought I told you I didn't want to talk to another one of you flunkies," Demeter's voice snapped as she answered. Her tone was vicious enough for Persephone's shoulders to hunch inward.

"Hello, Mother," Persephone said.

"Persephone! Where have you been? What the fuck are you doing in Styx?" demanded Demeter, her voice rising an octave. Be calm and breathe, Persephone.

"I needed to get away for a few days, so I came to Styx to blow off some steam. You don't need to get worked up about it," she said.

"Not worked up? There are photos of you dancing with Hades! They are all over the internet, and I've had media companies calling me all day about it."

"We bumped into each other at a club, it's no big deal."

"It is a big deal! It's Hades! I thought you had grown out of these ridiculous rebellions. Partying in Athens occasionally, I can deal with but going to Styx? Why don't you just slap me in the face next time rather than betray me to him!"

Persephone's temper flared, and she gripped the phone tighter. "Fine, you want to know the truth? I'm here because I'm looking for Pithos because you refuse to help me. I found out they have been taking money from our company, and I knew you wouldn't talk to me about it, so I came to find information out on my own."

"So, you went to Hades! Are you insane? Of all the stupid things you could do," Demeter shouted. "Come home, and we can sort this out-"

"No," said Persephone.

Demeter's tone went from fire to ice in a split second. "What did you just say?"

"I said, no. I'll come home in a few days."

"If this is about Pithos, we can talk when you are back in Athens, and we will work it out together. You don't need to crawl to Hades Acheron for information," said Demeter.

"Hades wouldn't want me to crawl anywhere. He's offered me xenia, so I'll learn what I can before hearing what you have to say."

"I'm not a fool, I saw how you were looking at him in that photo. You better not be fucking him, Persephone, or there will be consequences," Demeter snarled softly.

"Goodbye, Mother," Persephone said and hung up the phone.

HADES STARED at the door of his office from the end of the hall. He didn't want to intrude on the phone call, but he also didn't want Demeter upsetting Persephone either. Or worse convincing her to go back to Athens.

"She can handle herself, Hades," Charon said, dragging his attention back to the triplets in the kitchen. "If she can tolerate your mood swings, she'll be able to manage Demeter."

"I know," Hades replied and finished her coffee. "I should have foreseen that someone would notice us last night, it was reckless."

"It's a good photo," Erebus said, holding his phone up for Hades to see. Persephone was radiant, staring up at him with her sphinx smile that he loved. Hades wore an expression he had never seen on himself. The only word that he could find to describe it was... adoring.

"I trust Medusa is managing this," Hades said, handing the phone back.

"She is onto it until you can go in, don't worry. It might be good for business to see you two playing nice. Least they don't know how nice," replied Erebus.

"Something you want to say?" Hades said.

"We are happy for you," Thanatos answered with a smile. "She is perfect for you."

The tension in Hades's shoulders eased a little. "She is. Let's hope her mother doesn't convince her otherwise."

Charon laughed. "Even Demeter isn't that powerful. Unless you showed Persephone an exceptionally lousy night, you have nothing to be concerned with, boss."

Except her going back to Athens and leaving me to go mad. Hades patted Cerberus's heads and tried not to look towards the office door. "I need some air," he said and headed out into the forest that Persephone had created.

Small paths already cut through the trees, and Hades wondered if Persephone had managed to convince a witch to move into it as well. It wouldn't surprise me. He huffed out a laugh. He would never be able to predict what she would do, and he loved it even though it frustrated him at the same time. You can't keep her forever, if she chooses to leave you, you're going to have to accept that. He wouldn't be like his brothers. Women were not property, especially not ones that equaled his power. He knew Persephone had been holding back, but last night confirmed all his suspicions. Her abilities were as powerful as his, perhaps even more so because she could give life as well as take it.

"Hades? There you are," said Persephone. She walked across the grass towards him, lifting the edge of his oversized robe, so she didn't drag it on the ground. Her lips were red from a night of kissing, her hair still a gloriously messy tumble. She looked so perfect he felt like he'd been kicked in the guts. Are you actually in love with her? Zeus's voice asked in his head, full of disgust. Hades smiled that he could infuriate even his brother's memory.

"I was just admiring your handiwork," Hades said, pointing at the trees. "How did it go?"

Persephone bit her lip. "Not great, but hopefully it will stop her spreading lies to the media."

"If you want to go back to Athens, I'll arrange it," Hades said, almost choking on the words.

Persephone's golden brows rose. "Do you want me to leave? What about our deal?"

"Fuck the deal. It doesn't matter what I want. I won't be your jailer, Persephone, not for anything," said Hades.

Persephone placed her hands on his hips, tugging him closer. "I want to find out more about Pithos, and I don't want to go back to Athens. I promised you six days. Besides, you're growing on me," she said, a spark of mischief back in her green eyes.

"Like a fungus?" Hades asked, earning a laugh from her.

"Something far worse than fungus. I'm starting to worry it's going to be permanent, and without a cure," Persephone replied, stretching up on tiptoes, tilting her head to one side to offer her mouth to him. "Not even amputation would be enough."

"I know the feeling," Hades said and kissed her slowly. He tried and failed not to show how utterly relieved he was. Maybe this feeling is love after all. "Thank you, Persephone."

"What for?"

Hades stroked the curve of her jaw with his fingers. "Giving me a chance when you know it's going to be difficult, that I am difficult. I won't forget it."

"I should think not," Persephone replied, taking his hand. "Come on, handsome, I think we earned our breakfast before we need to go and see Medusa about this photo business. I delegated the task to the triplets, and I am starving."

Hades groaned. "Oh, my poor kitchen. Whatever they create better be edible."

"If it's not, I'll find some clever ways to torture them as punishment," Persephone said as they walked back to the villa. Hades lifted their hands so he could kiss her fingers.

"You really are the woman for me," he replied, meaning every word.

16

Persephone had been into a lot of office buildings over the years, but she didn't need to hide her delight as she walked through the green and gold foyer of Serpentine Tower with Hades at her side. He was dressed in a black three-piece suit with a deep red shirt, and she couldn't risk looking at him for too long without vividly carnal thoughts overrunning her brain. She felt hopelessly casual beside him in her knee-length purple sundress. It was the first time she had been out in public without gloves, and she was trying hard not to think about it. There's an emergency pair in your pocket, don't panic.

"Words out now that you are in town, we might as well not try to hide it and add extra fuel to the bullshit fire," Hades said, refusing to take her in through the back like some guilty secret. He swiped a black card at the lifts.

"This place is beautiful, Medusa has done an amazing job," Persephone said, looking around as they waited. She was so used to seeing the pale pastels and aluminum favored by Demeter that seeing so much color in a workplace was blowing her mind. The elevator binged, and they stepped in together, Persephone's pulse jumping the instant she was trapped with him and his powerful energy in such a small space.

"Stop it, Persephone," Hades warned irritably.

"Stop what?"

"Stop looking at me like that. You're killing my self-control as well as my focus, and we have business we need to take care of today."

Persephone was relieved it wasn't just her that was struggling. Might as well take advantage of it. "I can't stop looking at you, that's the problem. That suit makes me want to push the stop button on this elevator so you can fuck me up against the wall while you're still wearing it," she said, just as the doors opened again, revealing Medusa on the other side. Persephone stepped out and took the other woman's hands. "Medusa, I love your building, you must show me everything, it's simply gorgeous."

Medusa waved the compliment away. "I work with creatives, darling, what kind of terrible boss would I be if I didn't have an inspirational space for them to work in. That's a cute dress."

"Thanks, Charon picked it out. It has pockets," Persephone said, showing her. "I think I'll let him do all my shopping from now on."

"He must've been paying attention to my rants about women's clothing after all," Medusa replied and then frowned at Hades, who was still staring daggers at Persephone. "What on earth is wrong with you?"

"Oh, don't mind him, it's been a weird morning, and he's in one of his moods. Is this your game design floor?" Persephone asked, looping her arm around Medusa's and risking a glance behind her back at the glowering god. Hades gave her a look that promised retribution later, his nostrils flaring when she shot him a wink.

Persephone thought a game design floor would be made up of boring cubicles, people behind desks, and minimal eye contact. What she got was a chaos of designers all talking and drawing and coding and eating.

"All right, calm down, you animals, we have a visitor, so try not to embarrass yourselves," Medusa called, and everyone's eyes zeroed in on Persephone. A tall, pretty young woman with dark brown hair appeared over the top of a divider, and her face broke into a familiar grin.

"Wow! Perseus told me you were a babe, but he undersold it," the woman said, coming towards them. She was dressed in slim-cut cargo pants and a waistcoat and tie but only wearing a singlet top underneath. She was effortlessly cool in a way that Persephone had always longed to be at her age.

"Persephone, this Dany Serpho, who has no social filter," said Medusa.

"Nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you and your takeover of ARGOS," Persephone replied and shook Dany's hand.

"Oh, I haven't even begun to take over that place. Medusa says I have to break the old boys on the Board in gently. Speaking of old boys, what are you doing here, Hades?" Dany said.

"I was going to see if you wanted to help hack into Morning Harvest, but I'm rethinking it after that comment," Hades replied, folding his arms.

"Who's hacking?" a black woman appeared, she had bright blue hair done up in a stunning retro style, complete with dark purple dragonfly hair slides.

"Good morning, Lola, have you had your green juice yet?" asked Hades.

"Ready to rock, boss. Step in my office and tell me what you need," Lola said, waving him over to her desk.

"He seems to trust her abilities enough not to include us in the conversation," Persephone said.

"She's the one that helped us with ARGOS and found all the bank statements from Morning Harvest with the Pithos transactions," Dany replied proudly, staring at the blue-haired girl in open admiration. "She doesn't know it yet, but I'm totally going to make her my girlfriend." Dany waggled her eyebrows at them and headed over to stand with Hades, listening in. Persephone watched them together and tried not to smile.

"He's very good with them, Dany especially," Medusa said, following her gaze. "If Dany has her way, he will mentor her, and then she's going to truly terrify her Board of Directors. She will give Hades a hard time, but she worships him. Looks like she's not the only one."

"Hmm? What? I don't worship him," Persephone replied, tearing her eyes away from Hades. Medusa's eyes were bright with humor behind her glasses.

"It's okay, Persephone, I'm not judging you, I'm congratulating you on getting through his defenses. Erebus called me as soon as the idiots figured out that you were in Hades's bedroom. Honestly, after six years, I'm surprised you two held out as long as you did," Medusa said, as Persephone blushed. "Anyway, to business, how was Demeter?"

"Furious. She knows more about Pithos than what I imagined. She promised to tell me everything if I return to Athens," said Persephone.

"And are you going to go? Because if you are, I need to start damage control with Hades now," Medusa asked, her smile vanishing.

"No, I'm not going yet. I hate to admit it, but I can't trust anything Demeter says regarding Pithos. I've wanted to know more about the assholes who killed my father for years, and if she's known all along and done nothing? I don't know how I'm going to deal with that," Persephone admitted, a pain back in her chest at just the thought of the confrontation. "If I get you and Hades to look into it, I can go to Demeter with some facts backing me up and call her out if she's trying to lie to me. Hades can be a prick, but at least he's honest about it."

"For your sake, I hope this doesn't force you into picking sides," sighed Medusa. "Pithos's bullshit aside, Hades will fight to keep you, and while he is honest, he's not beneath playing exceptionally dirty to get what he wants."

"Oh, I know that too." Persephone's lips twitched. She knew exactly how dirty he played. Medusa read her expression and gave an unladylike bark of laughter.

"Gods have mercy, I don't want to know," she said with mock horror, breaking up the tension. "You had best go and tell them the easiest way to break your firewalls before this conversation goes any further downhill."

AFTER THEY WERE DONE at Serpentine, Hades cast a glamour over them, and they walked hand in hand the two city blocks to Acheron Tower. He didn't let go of her even when he removed the glamour inside the building, and Persephone wondered if he noticed or didn't care what assumptions people made. He took a pile of folders from a receptionist with a smile, and he let Persephone into his huge office.

"Now, that is a view," Persephone sighed, going to the wall of windows that looked out over the city.

"I have an aversion to feeling trapped even in my own building," said Hades, sitting down behind his large mahogany desk. Persephone walked around, admiring the books on the shelves and the few photos of him and the other members of the Court before she went back to sit on the edge of his desk. "What are you thinking about, sunshine?" he asked.

Persephone folded her arms so she wouldn't reach out and touch him. "What I'm going to do if I find out Demeter has been working with Pithos."

"As much as she irritates me, I don't believe she would willingly fund monster hunters."

"She might not know about the money, but she knows something, I can feel it. I hate that she's never trusted me enough to tell me, or even try to get justice for what happened to my father. It's like she doesn't give a damn at all that the people responsible for his murder are just walking about," said Persephone angrily.

Hades held out his hand for her, and she relented, loving that he wanted to comfort her. "We don't know what her motivations are. Demeter might have been trying to protect you, Persephone. Trust me, I know the instinct. Something you must also understand is that the Olympians used to hoard their secrets to use as weapons against each other. I have no doubt it's one of the reasons Demeter kept you from me and hid the extent of your abilities. She's your mother, but never forget she's a god."

"Like I shouldn't forget that you are a god, and you could be using me as much as her?" asked Persephone.

"I would find other, more interesting ways than petty political intrigue to remind you that I'm a god, Persephone," Hades said, his other hand sliding up her thigh and under the hem of her dress. "And I plan to use you every which way except as a pawn."

Persephone grabbed his tie and pulled him closer with a hard jerk. "If you break my heart, Acheron, you'll have to go back to the Underworld just to get away from my wrath."

"I get so hard when you try to threaten me," Hades growled, and his lips were about to touch hers when a loud ringing sound echoed through the office. Persephone managed to see "Morning Harvest" flash on his desktop screen before she was suddenly shoved under the desk.

"She can't see you here," Hades said and then answered the call in a cold voice. "What do you want now?" Persephone stilled expecting Demeter's voice, but it was Vallis.

"Hello, Hades, thank you for finally answering one of our calls. We have a situation on our hands, I'm sure Medusa has debriefed you by now?" Vallis demanded.

"Could you really call a single photo a situation?" Hades asked in a patronizing tone.

"I consider any threat to Persephone's security as a situation."

"Don't you think Demeter is overreacting? Persephone isn't in danger. All I did was dance with her because she was in one of our clubs. If I thought the girl wasn't wise enough to have a sufficient glamour on her to ward against photos, I wouldn't have gone near her. It's hardly a fault of mine she was so ill-prepared."

Under the desk, Persephone's anger rose. Did he really just call her an unwise girl?

"Where is Persephone now? Demeter said you have given her xenia. She worries that she's staying…with you. Is she?" asked Vallis, a touch of embarrassment creeping in.

"I gave her xenia while she's in Styx, Vallis, as a sign of the friendship between us. A friendship I'm starting to question the longer Demeter acts like I've done something horrible to her daughter," replied Hades.

"Have you?"

"All depends on what you'd consider horrible. I let her drink for free if that counts. What does Demeter think I've done to her precious Persephone?"

"She thinks you've seduced her in order to turn her against us," replied Vallis.

Hades's laughter was gloriously bored. "What interest would I have in seducing a girl that has barely been let out from under her mother's wing? Demeter is thinking of the wrong god if she believes I could have any interest in virgins."

Persephone bit down her outrage. She knew rationally that he was trying to throw Vallis off, but she was no longer thinking rationally. His belt buckle glistened in front of her, and her anger turned to vengeful glee. Dark power poured out of her hand, wrapped around Hades's legs, and pinned them to the floor. Then she undid his belt. He hadn't been lying, her threatening him had made him hard. Perfect.

"Look, Hades, just send her home. I know nothing would happen in your city without you or the Court knowing. Please, for the sake of her mother's sanity and mine, find her and send her back to Athens," said Vallis.

"What's the real issue here, Vallis? It can't be only because Persephone…wanted a holiday," Hades replied, his voice faltering ever so slightly as she took his dick in her mouth. She gripped his thighs tightly as she felt him trying to wriggle out the bonds she held him with.

"Has she come to you and asked about Pithos?" said Vallis.

"Pithos? Not that I can recall. Although the name is familiar to me. What business do you h-have with them?" Hades replied, his voice slipping as it went from boredom to anger.

"We don't have business with them. I'm afraid it's all a misunderstanding. Persephone thinks they are responsible for the murder of her father, and we don't want her to get into trouble asking around about them. As I said, her security is mine and Demeter's main priority-"

"Fine! Yes! I'll look for her and tell her to reach out, but I won't send her home like she's a scolded child. No matter how much she may deserve a scolding," Hades said through his teeth, his hand coming down to bang on the desk as a warning. Persephone didn't stop. She moved her right hand so she could work him, letting the dark killing power trickle out of it, and Hades grew even harder. She had wanted revenge, and now she was so aroused she just wanted him.

"Thank you, Hades, Demeter is also planning to come and visit you tomorrow to discuss this further. Are you happy to meet with her?"

"Yes. Goodbye," Hades said, hanging up before he tore free of the bonds on his legs. Persephone squeaked as he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her out. Before she could fight him, he slung her over his lap, and she gave her a hard slap on the ass.

"Hades! What the fuck-" she protested.

"That is for back chatting me non-stop since I met you," Hades said before smacking her again. "And that is for the ridiculous shit you just pulled while I was on a phone call." Persephone groaned, but it wasn't in pain. His hand stilled, and then he reached into her damp panties.

"Fuck!" Hades exclaimed as he ran his fingers over her wet clit. Files, pens, and organizers were pushed off his desk as he bent Persephone over it, tearing her panties off her. Persephone cried out as he bit the curve of her ass before gripping her hips and thrusting his dick inside of her. She grabbed the edge of his desk and pushed back against him, loving the feel of him filling her up. Her power leaped out of her, and half of his desk sprang to life, pushing branches up through his computer while the other half turned to ash.

"Shit, Hades, your desk," Persephone tried to say as it wobbled under her.

"I don't give a fuck about the desk!" he hissed, shifting position so he could move even deeper inside of her. Persephone cried out as the desk collapsed in two, but Hades managed to grab her and hold her up before she fell with it. He was out of her only long enough to spin her about to face him, pick her up, and slam her up against the wall before pushing back into her. Persephone locked her legs around him, and haphazardly tore at his shirt and waistcoat.

"More, I need more," she gasped, heedless of her nails scratching at him.

Hades ripped the front of her dress, freeing her breasts so he could kiss them roughly. His hand came down hard on the wall above her, and something cracked. Books, photos, and paintings fell from the shelves as the wall shook with each thrust. Persephone bit his chest to hide her cries as his dick hit her in the right spot. Hades's mouth found hers, smothering her scream of pleasure as she came loudly.

"Fuck, Persephone," he gasped against her lips, clutching at her hips as his own orgasm shook him. They sank to the carpet, panting, Hades still holding her tightly on his lap.

"I-I think we broke your office," Persephone said, her hand covering her mouth as she looked at the destroyed desk and long crack in the plaster of his wall.

"I think you broke me," Hades replied, eyes wide. He brushed her hands away from her mouth so he could kiss her very softly. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Persephone shook her head. "Only my heart rate."

"Good," Hades said, and then surveyed his wreaked office. "Must you always break my things?"

"Yes," Persephone replied, and he made a noise of exasperation. "How else are you going to make room for me in your perfectly ordered life?"

The annoyance vanished instantly, and Hades pulled her close, kissing her forehead, temple, and cheek. "Trash whatever you like," he said softly. "Although we need to have a discussion about phone etiquette."

Persephone leaned back from him and shook her head. "No, honey, we need to discuss the fact you just agreed to let Demeter visit tomorrow."

Hades put his arms around her protectively. "Fuck."

17

Demeter's entourage arrived at Acheron Tower at precisely 9 am. Persephone stood in the Board room, and she sensed the moment her mother stepped into the building. Maybe it was because she had spent the last week around Hades and the others, learning more and tuning into her abilities, but she could feel Demeter's power getting closer with every step.

Persephone let out a tight breath and straightened the red blazer Medusa had given her. She hadn't wanted to meet her mother in one of the casual outfits she had been getting around in, it would just be another kind of fuel to her fire, so she had been kitted out in pressed pants, a cream silk button-up shirt, and a blazer. She had taken one of Hades's black and silver silk ties to wear because she wanted a little piece of him close. Hades had seen it, re-tied it with precision, and said nothing about it, his face steely calm all morning.

She can't force us apart, Persephone reminded herself. Hades had said those words to her the previous evening when they had drunk wine and watched the ocean waves, her anxiety about facing Demeter almost overwhelming her. It might not have been goodbye, but it definitely was going to be the death of the responsibility-free holiday she'd been enjoying. Asterion and Medusa had opted out of the encounter but were in Hades's office next door, the triplets keeping an eye on the streets around them and on any men Demeter had brought with them. They weren't going to take any chances if Demeter had called in Pithos out of spite.

Persephone glanced at Hades, sitting at the head of the table, his silver eyes focused on her.

"Remember, you are answerable to no one. Demeter might be your mother, but she is not your god," Hades said. The elevator doors chimed open, and Demeter and Vallis walked into the Board Room. Demeter was a vision of perfection, as usual, her caramel hair in a beautiful updo and was wearing a peach and cream skirt suit. Her eyes widened when they saw Persephone.

"What are you doing here?" she said, placing her handbag down on the table.

"I heard you were harassing Hades to deliver me, well here I am," Persephone replied.

"Good morning, Demeter, are we skipping pleasantries already?" Hades asked.

"I'm just a little shocked you convinced my daughter to see sense," replied Demeter.

"I can't take the credit. You should know by now that you can't convince Persephone to do anything she doesn't want to."

Vallis inclined his head politely in Hades's direction. "Thank you, all the same, you assured us that she was safe, and we appreciate that she has come to no harm in your city."

"Persephone would never be in danger in Styx," Hades replied, smiling to hide the tone that had begun to creep in.

Demeter stepped closer to Persephone, and the sense of her influence rushed over her. Persephone could feel it trying to claw its way into her for the first time. "You've had us all worried while you were away, but you've had your fun, and now it's time to come home," Demeter said.

"I told you yesterday, I'm not going back to Athens yet. There are things I need to do," replied Persephone. Demeter's eyes widened fractionally, surprised that her influence had no effect on her. I wonder how many times she did it to me without me knowing? Persephone swallowed down her anger.

"We can discuss those things later, Persephone."

"No, we are going to talk about them now," Persephone said and looked over at Hades. "Can you please give us the room for a moment. Vallis? Hades has excellent coffee, so do help yourself to cup."

"Of course, Persephone. Please call if there's anything I can get you," Hades replied, getting to his feet and steering Vallis towards the door. Persephone took a small measure of enjoyment from the look of surprise and horror on Demeter and Vallis's faces.

"I do believe that is the first time I've seen Hades actually do what he's told," Demeter said.

"Hades is extremely accommodating and polite once you get to know him," replied Persephone. "It does make me wonder why you were so determined to have me be afraid of him my entire life."

"Because I have known him long enough to have the sense to keep my distance from him. Do you know even Zeus was afraid of what Hades was capable of?"

"Is that why he thought it was okay to imprison him in the Underworld?" Persephone asked, a protective edge creeping into her voice. "Is that why you thought it was okay to give Pithos money to help them put him into another one?"

"You have no idea of what you're talking about. You have been in this city, for what? A week at most? And you are going to trust fucking Hades's word over mine?" Demeter hissed angrily, the infamous calm finally slipping. Persephone slid a portfolio of papers towards her.

"You can stop lying now. I've seen the proof," she said calmly.

Demeter rifled through the first pages and shut it again with a bang. "These are clearly forgeries by Hades trying to drive a wedge between us. You are far too old to have fallen for such a thing, and I'm disappointed you have."

"What could Hades possibly gain from driving a wedge between us?" Persephone asked. She wanted to shake her. She was still lying to her, even with all the evidence in front of her.

"He wants the company and to take everything away from us," Demeter said stubbornly, refusing to back down.

"Look around you, Mother. Does it look like he needs our company?"

Demeter started to pace. "If he finds out about your power, what do you think will happen? I won't have my daughter being one of his subjects. I know you don't believe me about this, but some agreements in this world are beyond even us gods to break. Death and all its kingdoms belong to Hades. That means your right hand belongs to Hades and being here puts you in unnecessary danger. All for what? So, you can get drunk and make a fool of yourself in front of him?"

"This isn't about Hades, Mother, it's about Pithos. I'm giving you a chance to tell me the truth. Help me understand, or I will find out the truth on my own. They killed my father-"

"No. You killed your father," Demeter replied, and Persephone flinched. "If you would've done as you were told and stayed home, neither of you would've been on the street that night."

"Pithos was there to kill me, and he stopped them. He didn't want to be a part of their plans, and here we are, involved in their plans anyway. Do you even know what they are? They tried to kill Asterion and Medusa!" Persephone argued.

"They are monsters, what business is that of ours," replied Demeter.

"Do you even hear yourself? If they are monsters, then so are we, Mother."

Demeter grabbed her arm, her nails digging in tightly. "We are gods, not monsters. We are not like them."

"I am," said Persephone, wrenching her arm away. "Pithos tried to kill me, and the only reason they haven't killed you is that you are giving them money to try to hurt Hades."

"Fuck, Hades! He's the biggest monster of them all-"

"I love him," Persephone said, surprising herself enough that she didn't see Demeter's hand come up to slap her across the face.

"You little bitch. You have sold yourself out to him, and me as well. Pithos has left us be because we have kept our distance from him. Now, I've got to go and clean up your fucking mess again. We are going back to Athens," said Demeter grabbing the portfolio.

"I'm not going with you," Persephone repeated, standing straighter.

"You are mine, Persephone, not his."

"I am no ones."

Demeter's power spiked, and a vine of golden light appeared in her hand. "If I have to use force to drag you out of here, I will, Persephone. Hades won't stop me, because gods never interfere in other god's business."

"Siding with Pithos against him sure seems like interference to me," Persephone snapped. The golden vine whipped from Demeter, but Persephone was faster and grabbed it with her right hand.

"You won't be using this against me anymore either," Persephone growled, and shadows and death began to turn the vine to ash. Demeter stumbled back in surprise, the golden vine vanishing.

"W-Where are your gloves?" she stammered, only just realizing they were missing. "What has Hades done to you?"

"Shown me that I don't need them anymore," Persephone replied.

"He has you under some kind of enchantment. You have to believe me -" Demeter said, panicking.

"I can't believe anything you say right now."

Demeter made to reach for her again, but the door to the Board room burst open, and Hades's strode in, his expression colder than Persephone had ever seen it.

"Touch her again, and I'll remove that hand," he said, and Demeter took an involuntary step backward. Hades's expression didn't change as he looked at Persephone. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just...disappointed. I'd like to leave now," Persephone said, walking to his side.

"Charon is waiting downstairs to take you wherever you wish to go," replied Hades.

"Persephone! You can't leave me-" Demeter began.

"Actually, Mother, I can. Just like I can find Pithos and stop them from hurting anyone else because I am not like you. I'd rather be a monster," Persephone said, and walked from the room. Her hands were shaking as she pressed the button to the elevator and waited until the doors had closed on her mother and Vallis before she burst into tears.

Charon was standing beside a black Aston Martin Vantage waiting for her as Persephone stepped out into the car park. He took one look at her and pulled her into a hug. "I take it things didn't go as well as you'd hoped, doll."

"Will you take me home, Charon? I can't be here right now," Persephone sobbed into his chest.

"You still want to go back to Athens after all this? I mean I'm happy to drive you but-"

"No, I mean home as in the villa," Persephone corrected as she stepped back.

Charon took the silk handkerchief from his breast pocket and offered it to her with a small smile. "Of course, my lady. Get in and buckle up. I think we both need to drive really fast right now to help us feel better."

Persephone knew if she left now, she would most definitely be picking a side. I'd rather be a monster like the Court than a monster like my mother, she thought, and got in the car. It wasn't until they had cleared the city that Persephone felt like she could breathe again, and then her world exploded in gunfire and screaming metal.

18

Hades wasn't responsible for half of the violent things he had been blamed for over the centuries but looking at the Olympian goddess before him made him wish for a depth of carnage that it would've made even his Court worried. Demeter was trying not to cry as she watched Persephone walk away from her, and Hades made damn sure that the path between them was blocked to ensure she didn't try going after her. Hades sat down back at the head of the table.

"I hope you're happy," Demeter snarled. "This is what you wanted all along, well congratulations Unseen One, you've succeeded."

"I'd like to be able to take the credit, but unfortunately, you isolated Persephone all on your own. Now that she is gone and you have no reason to keep lying, let's get down to business," Hades replied, his grip tightening on the arms of his chair. "Sit."

"Vallis-"

"Is sitting outside like a good boy while the adults talk," replied Asterion, entering the room from a side door with Medusa.

"Trying to fight this conversation would be unwise, Demeter, now sit," Hades snarled softly. Demeter sat.

"Excellent. I'll start," said Medusa, opening an identical portfolio that Persephone had given Demeter. "As the summary on page 3 shows, currently, your company Morning Harvest has given the organization known as Pithos over twelve million dollars over the past fifteen years. This money has been distributed through various shell companies of their operation; the complete list outlined on page 2-"

Hades tuned out as Medusa went through all the details their hack during the night, his mind lost on Persephone's words. The Board room had always had microphones in it, and Hades had listened to the conversation from his office. Medusa and Asterion hadn't said a word about Persephone's admission. I love him. His heart, his mind, his world had stopped. I love him. Then Demeter had attacked her, and Asterion and Medusa had to stop him intervening because he was ready to tear Demeter apart.

"She's handled it, Hades, she doesn't need you," Medusa had hissed.

"Medusa, she..."

"I know, but Persephone needs to make this choice on her own," she said, and Hades had held himself together long enough to try to think straight again.

"If she's strong enough to love you, uncle, she's strong enough to stand up to her mother," Asterion added, with a gentle pat on his shoulder. "Congratulations, now you can stop giving us both a hard time about being in love too."

Hades had wanted to carry Persephone off, to kiss her, to keep her safe from her bitch mother's savage words. Instead, he'd let her walk away even though she looked like her heart had been shattered. Asterion cleared his throat, bringing Hades back to the conversation and the squirming goddess in front of him.

"We would like to know why you thought this attack on us is justified, Demeter," said Asterion, letting just enough of the beast to show in his eyes that the goddess paled.

"I did it, so they wouldn't kill Persephone," she replied.

"That's it? They were blackmailing you?" demanded Medusa.

"I don't expect you to understand. You are not a mother, Medusa, even if you like to pretend to be one with that Hellas brat, Dany Argos," Demeter said. Asterion's hand went down on Medusa's shoulder to stop her leaping across the table.

"That is enough insults, Demeter. Do it again and I'll make you regret it. This is not the Court of Olympus, where such games are tolerated. This is the Court of Styx, and we are monsters who won't hesitate to damage your worthless carcass," Hades growled. "Tell us about Pithos, and I might consider letting you leave today. It's only because of the love and respect I have for your daughter that you are still alive enough to speak."

"Fine, you want to know the truth, here it is. Pithos came to us when Persephone started to show her power. They were horrified at the thought there would be another creature walking around Greece with a power similar to yours," Demeter said angrily. "We told them she wouldn't harm anyone, but then she lost control and nearly killed someone. That was when they came to us and threatened to take her away, to put her somewhere that she wouldn't be able to hurt anyone or anything. My stupid human husband told them that there was no way he would let them touch his daughter. Then she foolishly went out, and he ended up taking a bullet that was meant for her. It didn't matter that she would've survived it, he did it anyway and died for his one act of heroism."

"And you thought it would be better to send her away to be locked up?" Asterion demanded.

"No! Pithos and I came to a new agreement. I'd give them money in exchange for keeping Persephone and teaching her to control her abilities on my own," Demeter explained.

"But you didn't teach her. All you did was shut her up and keep her under your fucking heel. She was trapped and screaming on the inside because you made her fear what she was," hissed Hades. "Did you ever stop and think what that would've been like for her? Did you even ask what Pithos were going to do with the money that you were giving them?"

"I didn't care because my daughter was safe from them and from you," snarled Demeter. "Now you meet her once and manage to convince her that she's in love with you. Gods don't love, Hades, we aren't capable of it."

"You're wrong. You are not capable of it," he said, and his phone started vibrating. He looked at the screen and saw Persephone's new number and photo flashing. "What's wrong?" he answered, and gut shots fired in the background.

"Hades! We are being attacked!" Persephone shouted over the noise. Hades was on his feet and out of room in seconds.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where is Charon?" he demanded, panic coursing through him.

"He's beside me, but they hit our car, he's not moving!"

"He will be okay, don't worry," Hades said and heard someone talking through a megaphone and the word 'Pithos.' Fuckfuckfuck. "Talk to me, Persephone, what's happening?"

"They said I have to get out of the car. We are out of the city, on the main highway towards the villa," she said quickly. "Hades, they are trying to cut their way in."

"Listen to me, Persephone. Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then listen to what I'm going to say very carefully and don't use any of your power on them. Keep it hidden for as long as possible. This is what I need you to do," Hades said, and as calmly as he could, he gave her a list of instructions. "Did you get all of that?"

"Yes, Hades," she said, her voice steadier.

"Good, one last thing I need you to do; don't doubt for a single second that I'm not coming for you, sunshine."

"Hades? In case I don't get to see you again, I love you," Persephone whispered.

Hades gripped his phone. "I love-" he said before the line went dead. Dark energy exploded from him, and as he stepped back into the Board room, it already had Demeter gagged and pinned up against the windows so tightly the glass was beginning to crack.

"They attacked Persephone and Charon on the coastal highway. Asterion, get Thanatos and Erebus," Hades instructed, closing in on the weeping goddess. "Did you know they planned this?" Demeter shook her head, and the shadows slipped from her mouth.

"I had no idea, Hades, I swear it! I'd never condone violence against my daughter," Demeter said, gasping for breath

"Except the kind you inflict on her yourself. No one knew she'd left here except you."

"And Vallis!" Demeter shouted, squirming against the power holding her. "He's always been the middleman between Pithos and me in our dealings." Shadows covered her mouth again.

"Medusa," Hades said.

"On him," she replied and hurried out of the room. Hades turned back to Demeter and stroked her perfect cheek, leaving a trail of dying flesh, his power smothering her screams.

"Pithos will make contact soon, it's their style, and they are nothing if not tedious with their demands," said Hades before leaning close to whisper, "What to do with you now that I know you betrayed me?"

"Hades, that's enough," Asterion said. "We'll put her in a cell until this is all over. Thanatos and Erebus are waiting for you downstairs. Please don't waste fresh leads on Pithos with petty acts of revenge and torturing her mother won't keep Persephone on your side for long." Hades snarled, dropped an unconscious Demeter to the floor, and stormed away before he tore her apart.

"I'll get the helicopter in the sky and get into CCTV to pick up a convoy leaving the site," said Medusa, intercepting him by the elevators. "Vallis is gone. Security footage has him leaving the building right when we sat down with Demeter. I have Lola running the license plates."

"Thank you, Medusa. Keep me updated," Hades replied.

"I will. You just focus on keeping your temper and getting our queen back, okay?" she said. Hades managed a smile. Our queen, not His queen. He liked that. Now all he had to do was get her back and annihilate Pithos. Stick to the plan.

Thanatos and Erebus looked as agitated as Hades felt as he met them outside and slid into the back seat of the car.

"Have you got Charon's car yet," he said as they sped out into the streets.

"GPS coordinates are already locked in," Thanatos replied from the driver's seat.

"I swear, if they have hurt him-" Erebus began and quickly shut his mouth. There was no point in saying what they were all feeling.

"Persephone said he was unconscious. They might have thought him dead and left him," said Hades.

"Only if they are stupid enough to think he can die," Thanatos murmured.

The remains of the Aston Martin were still upturned and in a gully by the side of the road. Sirens wailed in the distance as they pulled up and got out.

"Charon!" Erebus shouted, and they heard a groan. Erebus climbed down through the scrub, racing towards the sound.

"He's down here!" Erebus said, and Hades and Thanatos hurried to find them.

"The fucks," hissed Hades. They had used metal stakes to pin Charon's bullet-riddled body to what remained of the bonnet. A piece of paper was nailed through one arm and had Hades's name written on it.

"It's okay, brother, we'll get these out," said Erebus softly, nodding to Hades. "Think happy thoughts like...like the lines of a Zenvo ST1." Charon screamed as Hades's power ripped all four spikes from his body at once. Thanatos caught him and lifted him over his shoulder.

"I've got you, Charon, don't worry," he whispered as he carried him out and back onto the road. Hades bent down to pick up the fallen letter. It was soaked with gold ichor, but he could make out the line of co-ordinates and the words. Surrender yourself. Such a ploy would have never worked in the past, but as soon as Vallis had seen Hades's reaction to Persephone, Pithos had the trump card.

Hades walked back through the scrub and to the passenger side of the Aston Martin. They had used some kind of extrication tools to cut through the door to get to Persephone inside. He touched a smear of golden ichor on the side of the seat. She is okay. She talked to you, remember? You told her not to use her power and to let herself be taken. Hades was regretting that decision now as he stared at Persephone's blood. You are no good to her standing here. Hades climbed out of the ditch and went to find Charon. Thanatos had lain him out on the back seat of the car and was murmuring to him softly in the language of the dead.

"Out of the way, I've got this," said Hades and knelt down.

"I'm sorry...I couldn't stop them...Persephone," the titan groaned.

"Don't worry, we will get our revenge, ferryman," Hades whispered and placed a hand on Charon's forehead. Hades shut his eyes and sent his power into Charon's body, healing the damage that Pithos had done to him. The titan groaned but managed to hold himself still until it was done, and he was gasping in large gulps of air.

"Fuck, I hate how much that stings," he complained as he slowly sat up.

"He lives!" Erebus called and climbed into the driver's seat.

"Won't be for long if you are driving," Charon complained.

"Where are we headed, Master?" Thanatos asked Hades.

"We go and get the helicopter and find out where the fuck this is," Hades said, holding up the letter. "We've been given an invite to their hideout."

"Those dumb fucks," Erebus laughed, and they all joined in.

"What a great opportunity to kill them all," said Thanatos.

Charon managed a crooked smile at Hades. "That's if Persephone has left us any."

"I asked her nicely too, but let's be honest, she's never obeyed me before," Hades said, entering the GPS coordinates on his phone. He hissed when he saw the location. "Those bastards."

"Where are they?" asked Charon.

"Fucking Crete all along." Hades held out the phone to him.

"Mount Juktas? They must have been using the caves there. I wondered where all those soldiers seemed to scatter to after we freed Asterion from Knossos," said Charon with a frown.

"That's not all that mountain is known for," Thanatos replied, glancing at Hades in the mirror.

The other two titans stared blankly at Hades. Only Thanatos had been there that night.

"It's where I killed Zeus," Hades admitted, "and it's where I am going to kill whoever is responsible for fucking with us."

19

Persephone woke to the smell of earth and rot, and someone throwing small, coin size discs of metal at her.

"Hey, wake up, new girl," a male voice said. Persephone opened gritty eyes and sat up. Her head was pounding from whatever was in the syringe that she had been jabbed with.

"Where am I?" she mumbled and tried to stop her vision from spinning.

"Cave. Why do you smell like someone I used to know?" the voice demanded. There was a rock wall on three sides of her cell, and through the one side with bars, she could make out a man sitting on a wooden stool next to a worktable covered in bits of metal and wires. He had long tangled hair and a beard, and he was wearing filthy jeans. She got up and walked to the bars and looked up at the cavern above them.

"I'm Persephone," she said as the man tossed another disc at her. "What's your name."

The man puffed out his cheeks and shrugged. "I don't know. Don't remember. Didn't seem important to remember. She never mentioned a name. Some of the others whisper when they think they can't hear, and they call me the Inventor."

"Really? What did you invent?" Persephone asked, giving the door of her cell an experimental rattle.

"Can't remember. Stuff. Lots of stuff."

"Okay, then who is the 'She' that you mentioned? What's her name?"

The man frowned and picked up a bundle of wires and began to detangle it. "The Many Gifted One. I think I gave her gifts too," he mumbled. "I think I regretted it. I'm sure they all did in the end."

"What's her gift?"

"Being a real bitch," the inventor said, before turning his desk lamp down and studying something she couldn't see.

This guy is totally crazy. Persephone shook her head and tried to lock down the power in her hands that could've broken down her cell door in seconds. She tightened her fists. No, she had promised Hades. Persephone was going to have to have a serious conversation with him about his crazy plans when she was free of the place and had him in her arms again.

"Don't worry, inventor, we won't be trapped here for long. I'll get you out," promised Persephone.

The man's golden-brown eyes saddened. "I'm sure I said that too."

"The princess wakes at last," a voice said from the cavern mouth. The inventor's shoulders hunched, and he instantly became hyper focused on looking as busy as possible. A figure in a cloak and drama mask walked towards them, two men with guns following behind her. "Please don't talk to my inventor, it upsets him."

"Looks like you upset him," snapped Persephone.

"Life upsets him, but such is the nature of his curse," the woman said, lifting a hand. One of the men came forward and unlocked the cell door. "Please don't try any heroics or I'll be forced to shoot both of your legs."

"What do you want from me?" Persephone asked, walking carefully from the cell.

"Why to use you as bait, of course. That doesn't mean we can't have a discussion first. Follow me," the woman replied, her dark robes whirling as she turned.

"I'll see you soon," Persephone said to the inventor, and when he looked up at her, she felt a flash of power from him. What was he?

Persephone didn't have a chance to find out as one of the men poked her in the back with the barrel of his gun.

"This way," he said, and Persephone followed the masked woman through a tunnel and out another door made of metal bars.

Everywhere Persephone looked, she saw men and women in tactical gear, loading, and checking weapons.

"Are you terrorists?" Persephone asked, making the woman laugh.

"Oh, my dear no. We are monster hunters, amongst other things," she replied.

"And you think I'm a monster?" Persephone said when they stopped in another cavern containing two wooden chairs and a small table. Someone had placed a bottle of wine and three glasses on it. Persephone had a pleasant thought of making the chair come alive and letting the vines choke them all as she sipped her wine and watched. You promised, Hades.

"Perhaps not a monster, but you're certainly unnatural, aren't you? Sit down," the woman instructed, and Persephone did.

"Are you going to take off that mask, and talk to me face to face like big girls?” Persephone asked.

"Why not? After tonight, there will be no need to hide anymore," she said.

Because Hades is going to turn you to dust if I don't get to you first, Persephone thought but tried to smile politely. If nothing else, Demeter had taught her to be polite when faced with an egotistical asshole.

The woman pulled back her hood and lifted off her mask. Underneath, she was stunningly beautiful with glossy black hair, amber-brown skin, and vivid blue eyes.

"Better? I have to say it is for me. The damn thing is useful, but it does itch. Wine?" she asked and began pouring.

"Only if it's not poisoned. So, who are you?" Persephone asked, accepting the offered glass. Like the inventor, there was a low hum of power coming off the woman, but nothing like the members of the Court.

"I've gone by many names over the years, and none really matter anymore. So, Persephone, what to do about you. Your mother assured us that you were going to stay away from Hades, and yet, Vallis tells me you are in love with the Great Unseen One," she said, sipping her wine.

"Sounds to me like Vallis has been telling tales. As for my mother, she was in no position to promise such a thing," Persephone replied. Vallis betrayed her to this psychopath?

"It appears there was some truth in the tale because Hades's helicopter landed about ten minutes ago, and my men are bringing him to us as we speak," the woman said with a smile.

Persephone laughed loudly. "Your big plan was to bring him to your hideout so he can kill you all? That has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"No, Persephone, we used you as to bait to bring him here so we can kill him," the woman replied. Men started to file into the cavern and appearing on rock ledges above them, their guns all pointing down at her.

Persephone felt Hades's power coming towards her like a tsunami. Her heart was pounding with the intensity of it before he appeared through the cavern in a pristine black suit and with silver eyes shining. She had never wanted to kiss him as much as she did now.

"Pandora, well, this is a surprise," he said, looking at the black-haired woman with his usual bored expression. "How are you, Persephone?"

"In one piece," she replied. Pandora? Surely, he didn't mean the Pandora?

"What's this all about, Pandora? Why are you so determined to be a pain in my ass? What did I do to you?" asked Hades.

"This is about righting my wrongs, Hades, so don’t take it personally," Pandora replied and filled the third glass.

"Don't take it personally? You tried to kill Asterion and Medusa, and then you very stupidly took the only woman I've ever loved. How do you think I'm going to take it?" Hades said coldly and then laughed. "Pithos. Of course, this is about trying to put all the evil in the world away again all because you couldn't keep the damn jar closed."

"I was set up by the fucking gods from the start," hissed Pandora.

"Of course, you were, they were gods. Zeus sent you in as a weapon, and as you well know, I had nothing to do with it," Hades replied.

"It doesn't matter. You and your freaks should've stayed in your holes where you belonged." Pandora smiled unpleasantly. "While it has been fun to parry with you over the past few months, I'm afraid we are going to have to get serious now. You are going to die tonight, and all of your monsters will join you soon enough."

"And you think you can kill me?" asked Hades.

"Actually, I thought Persephone could kill you using this," Pandora said and pulled a long primitive-looking blade shaped like a sickle from the inside of her robes. It looked like it was made of stone. Hades's expression changed from annoyance to true surprise as he recognized it.

"You were the one that got Zeus before I finished him off," said Hades, and Pandora laughed.

"I did indeed. I left him out there to suffer for a while, and then you arrived and cut off his head, vanishing with the body before I even got a chance to spit on it," she said, twirling the sickle knife in one hand. "I didn't believe I had actually found the real blade until the moment I was fucking Zeus and sank it into his chest. He always thought with his dick rather than his brain. Really, I'm surprised someone didn't kill him that way sooner."

"And how did you managed to find Gaia's blade?" asked Hades.

"You aren't the only one who has friends, Hades, and there is a thriving market for such artifacts. Now get on your knees or I'll fill Persephone with bullets," said Pandora. "Don't forget she's only part god, and a few well-placed shots will be more than she'll be able to regenerate."

Persephone looked down the tiny red dots that were now covering her. Fuck Hades, this wasn't part of the plan. She thought he'd arrive with the Court and blast them out of here, not this.

"Hades, don't," Persephone whispered.

"Why make Persephone do it? Why not kill me yourself?" asked Hades.

"Because the gods don't know what real love is, Hades, and I'm disgusted that a creature like you thinks he's worthy of it," said Pandora and offered the blade to Persephone. "I'll give you three seconds to take this blade before I shoot you."

"Take it, Persephone," Hades growled as Pandora started counting. Persephone leaped up and grabbed it, her skin recoiling from the feel of the stone against her skin. Whatever the blade was, it had been made by a god, and it was pure evil. Pandora stepped away from them so that there was no way Persephone could use the blade on her.

"It's okay, Persephone. You are the only being that I'll ever willingly kneel to, my queen," Hades said, lowering to the earth in front of her.

"This wasn't part of the plan," Persephone said, hands shaking as tears slipped from her eyes.

"I know, and I'm sorry."

"Save us the sentimentality, Hades, it doesn't suit you," Pandora complained. "Persephone, kill him, and you'll walk free right now."

"Hades, let me-"

"Don't, sunshine. It's not worth risking your life, it's too precious to me," Hades said, silver eyes calm as ever.

"I love you; I can't stab you," replied Persephone.

"I love you too, and I know that you can. I wouldn't love you if I didn't think you were capable of it," he said softly.

"Save your tears, daughter of Demeter. Hades deserves this death, as do all the others. You are part human, so I'm willing to be lenient on you if you do this one simple task," Pandora called from the safety of her guards. Persephone gripped the blade with both hands, and Hades took her arm and brought her close enough for the stone tip to touch his chest.

"Better make it through the heart, you've already broken it anyway," Hades said with a small smile. "Right here should do it."

"Hades, please don't make me," wept Persephone.

"This is getting boring," sighed Pandora. "Five seconds, Persephone! Five! Four!"

"I love you," Persephone whispered.

“I know, sunshine. It's okay, I'm ready," Hades replied.

"Three! Two-"

"I'm sorry," Persephone said, pulling him close to kiss him as the stone blade sank deep into his chest. Hades let out a choking gasp, and Persephone grabbed his shoulders to lower him down to the earth. Golden ichor spread out over his shirt.

"Well, well, you did have it in you after all," Pandora said, her words sounding distant under the roaring in Persephone's ears. Vicious, hot power rolled up through her veins as she leaned down to cradle Hades's head close to her chest. She kissed his face softly, brushing his hair back. She stilled as his lips moved against her ear.

"Go, get them, baby," he whispered.

20

Pain, unlike anything Hades could imagine, raced through his veins as Persephone pushed the stone deep into his chest. This is the stupidest plan you've ever had, he thought as he sank to the earth. But not as stupid as Pandora's. Persephone's lips were tracing over his skin, a vortex of power swirling inside of her so strongly he could taste it on the air.

"Go, get them, baby," he said, and the world stilled as if time itself had stopped. Then Persephone exploded into a cloud of shadows and light. Through hazy vision, Hades could see men screaming as their flesh melted away, the walls around them exploded with vines that pulled them back into the earth. Gunshots were fired, but none of them hit him. No one was paying any attention at all, as Thanatos appeared beside him.

"Charon was right, Persephone isn't going to save anyone for us," he said and grabbed the knife. “Deep breath, Master.” Hades roared as Thanatos pulled the blade free.

"Fucking give me that infernal thing," he wheezed as he sat up. He could feel the wound in his chest already starting to close. Thanatos passed him the knife and helped him stand. "Where are the others?" Hades demanded just as alarms started blaring throughout the caves.

"Sounds like they are making their presence known," Thanatos said as two scythe blades appeared in his hands. "Will you be all right on your own?"

"Fuck off," Hades said, half-heartedly, and the titan ran to join the fray. Hades gripped the stone blade and looked for Persephone. There wasn't a single person left alive in the cavern, but there was no sign of Pandora. He shut his eyes for a second, zeroed in on Persephone's power, and followed it.

"Damn stupid stone dagger," he muttered as he walked down the pathway to the left. He didn't have the power to heal and shift himself to Persephone's side. He almost tripped over more than one body.

"Hades! Are you okay?" Ariadne appeared like a shadow from the darkness, blood sprays on her face.

"I'll live. Have you seen Pandora? The woman in the mask?" he demanded.

"No, I haven't," Ariadne replied and then touched the plug in her ear. "Medusa, keep your eyes out for a woman in a mask exiting the caves. Hades says it’s Pandora?" Hades could hear Medusa shouting expletives from the other side of the tunnel. There were loud gunshots nearby, and Asterion appeared, horns covered in gore.

"Help me get to Persephone before she brings this place down around her ears," Hades said.

"I can smell her trail. It's this way," Asterion replied and slung one of Hades's arms around his shoulder. "Ariadne, watch our backs."

"Of course, honey, I wouldn't want you to get a bullet in your lovely asses," she said, raising her gun with a cheeky grin.

"Don't accidentally put one in mine, waving those things around," Hades added.

"How dare you. I'm a professional. I'm also the one not stupid enough to get stabbed in the chest," said Ariadne, and Hades managed a tired laugh.

"Fair enough."

They followed the myriad of tunnels, but every time they turned into one another three appeared.

"Fuck, this place feels like another labyrinth," Asterion complained.

"This is maddening, put me down," Hades said, and Asterion helped him sit on a chair. They were in some kind dining mess hall with overturned tables and food and dead Pithos agents everywhere.

"Damn Persephone! That girl is pissed," Ariadne whistled. "Respect."

"Just make sure no one comes through," Hades said and shut his eyes. The hole in his chest had stopped bleeding, but his whole body was aching. He released his power, letting it seep out of him and shoot through the stone and earth around him. Persephone, stop. I'm here. Find me. His shadows found her in the distance, her power freezing as soon as he touched it. Then it was moving toward him, fast as lightning. He opened his eyes as the mess hall filled with gold light and shadows before reforming into a wild-eyed woman.

"Sunshine, I do believe we have discovered another one your abilities," Hades said.

"How?" she whispered.

"I'm the Lord of the Dead and all of its domains. Do you really think anything can kill me?" Hades answered. He groaned as Persephone slammed into him so hard, he nearly fell off his chair.

"You fucking prick," she said, arms locking around his neck. "I thought I'd killed you."

"I'm sorry, my love, I had to keep them distracted while the others snuck in."

"Don't you dare 'my love' me, you bastard, you made me stab you," she said, gripping his face tightly between her hands. Then her expression shifted, and she was kissing him hard, hands in his hair. Dark delicious power was flowing into him, healing his wound and replenishing his power.

"Stop, sunshine, you'll hurt yourself," he gasped, and she cut it off instantly.

"Never pretend to die on me again, or I'll kill you for fucking real," Persephone said.

"What did I tell you about threatening me?" Hades replied with a grin. Persephone whacked him and then stepped away from him, her cheeks flushing.

"Get up and help me find that bitch Pandora, I lost her in the skirmish," she said.

"By skirmish, do you mean crazy-ass god massacre?" Ariadne asked.

"That's the one," Persephone replied.

"One sec," said the assassin holding up her hand. "Medusa, can you hear me? Any sign of Pandora?"

Hades got up and took Persephone's hand, her power swirling around inside of him. He wanted to fuck her right there.

"Focus, Acheron, we have business to attend to," Persephone warned, reading the look in his eye.

"Medusa hasn't seen her, and the triplets have said that what remains of Pithos has scrambled or are dead," Ariadne said. "It's over, the caves are ours."

"Good, now let's get the fuck out of here, this place makes me twitchy," Asterion growled.

"Wait, there's another prisoner I promised to free," Persephone said.

"Asterion, you and Ariadne go and find the triplets and secure the perimeter around the caves as best you can before the other mercenaries arrive to take care of the rest," Hades instructed, seeing the beginnings of panic in Asterion's eyes. "I'll help Persephone get her prisoner."

"Thank you, Uncle," the Minotaur said.

Ariadne waved a finger around the room before giving Persephone two thumbs up. "Well, done on your first big night out, babe, I owe you a drink."

"Deal," Persephone said with a laugh. When they had left the cave, Persephone leaned over a table and vomited on the ground. Hades rubbed her back gently.

"It's over, sunshine, just breathe," he said.

"Don't you dare tell them I threw up," she muttered, wiping her mouth on the back of her sleeve.

"Not a word," Hades promised. He found a bottle of water in an overturned cooler and passed it to her. Persephone downed a few mouthfuls, and color returned to her cheeks.

"The inventor is this way," she said, taking Hades's hand.

"The inventor?"

"My prisoner, that's who it is. He's Pandora's inventor," Persephone explained.

"Let's hope she didn't shoot him on her way out," Hades said.

"I doubt she would've had time. Besides, he felt...strange. I don't think a simple bullet would be enough. You'll see what I mean."

Hades didn't question how she knew her way through the system of tunnels. Apart from Erebus, he had never seen another god be able to turn themselves into shadows the way she had done. How many more tricks did she have? Hades wondered and then smiled at the fun they would have to try to find out.

They came to a gate, and Hades placed a hand on the lock, his power eating away at it until it opened.

"You'll have to teach me that," Persephone said.

"Don't worry, I have a very long list of things I'm going to teach you, my love," Hades replied.

"All in good time." Persephone led the way to another cavern. A man was hunched over a worktable, and as soon as Hades saw him, he felt the pulse of old, bright power. The man at the table whipped around, screwdriver raised like a dagger.

Hades sucked in a surprised breath and then smiled. "Hello, Hermes."

21

Persephone didn't want to get out of bed for a week, but she knew that she had to do one more thing before she could get her wish. Charon drove her into Acheron Tower, where Demeter was waiting. So much had happened in the last few days, that confronting her mother no longer held any fear for her.

"Hades has had her in a cell in the building's basement since you were taken. I don't think it would've softened her mood," said Charon as he opened her door for her.

"My mother doesn't know what a soft mood is," replied Persephone. Charon held out a hand to help her from the low car and then held onto it.

"I'm sorry I failed to protect you, Persephone," he said softly. "I shouldn't have let them take you-"

"Hey, stop that. Hades told me to let them take me. You didn't do anything wrong, Charon. You were in no shape to stop them either," Persephone replied, giving his hand a squeeze. "Don't apologize again about it, or you'll really be in trouble."

Charon gave her a crooked smile as he bowed. "Understood, my queen."

"What is it with all this 'my queen' business?" Persephone asked as they got into the elevator.

"You'd best ask Hades, he started it," Charon said.

Despite being held prisoner for three days, Demeter had showered and was dressed neatly. For the first time since Persephone could remember, Demeter had dark smudges under her eyes, and her hair was out. Persephone didn't know what Hades had said or done to her, but Demeter had never looked so meek and defeated as she sat on one of the couches in Hades's office. The Lord of Styx sat opposite her, dressed in black and looking like the decadent dark king he was. God have mercy, could he not look so handsome just once?

"Persephone, are you all right?" Demeter asked.

"I'm fine, Mother. No thanks to you," she replied, moving to stand behind Hades and resting her hands on his shoulders. Demeter visibly flinched.

"Has there been any sign of Vallis?"

"None, though I still have men cleaning out the caves," said Hades. "It's time you find yourself a more reliable head of security, Demeter. I can recommend one if you like."

"I don't need your help," Demeter replied straightening. "Are you coming home to Athens with me, Persephone."

"I will return to Athens soon, but not yet. There are things I need to work out with my power first, and I know Hades can help," Persephone replied.

"You aren't just my daughter. You are the Company Secretary. I need you back at work even if I can't convince you to come home to the mansion," Demeter said urgently. "Can't we work out some kind of...commuting at least? Like joint custody?"

"She isn't my child, she is my queen, there will be no joint custody," Hades growled. There's that phrase again. Persephone gently squeezed his shoulders.

"Get someone else to look after my responsibilities for a while, mother. I'm overdue for a holiday. After I have had one, we can come to an arrangement, but I can tell you right now, I'll never live under your roof again," Persephone said as gently as she could.

"But you'll live under his?" Demeter said, her voice cracking. She got to her feet. "I'd like to go home now, Hades. Persephone might be able to let her responsibilities lapse, but I cannot. I trust the business side of our arrangement is still good?"

"Of course, Demeter. Pithos is destroyed for now, and Pandora is on the run, but if you try to give them a single payment or communicate with them after today, we will know, and we'll be having a very different kind of discussion. Are we clear?" Hades said.

"Crystal," Demeter replied, giving him a smile that Persephone had seen her use a million times to close a deal. Demeter's smile faltered when Persephone moved around the couch. "I know you're angry with me, but what I did, I did to protect you."

"I know you believe that, Mother. It's still going to take me a while to trust you again," said Persephone.

Demeter nodded, and her expression softened. "Are you going to give me a hug goodbye, at least."

"You've never wanted one before, but sure," said Persephone and let Demeter embrace her. As she went to step back, Persephone held on to whisper in her ear, "If you lift a single finger to get revenge for this on Hades or the rest of his Court, I will go into our fields, and I will destroy every crop, blight every piece of land, and sink every ship we own. I will tear down Morning Harvest and leave your world in ashes. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, my darling. You are my daughter after all, and I did teach you well," Demeter replied, and Persephone finally released her.

"Goodbye, Mother, I'll be in touch," she said, and Demeter walked out, slamming the door behind her. Persephone turned to see Hades smiling at her.

"That went well," he said, pulling her into his lap. "I especially liked the last bit when you threatened to bring her down."

"You do love a good threat, don't you," Persephone replied. "Do you think she will listen?"

"For a little while, at least. Don't worry, Medusa will have people monitoring her. Now, what would you like to do?" Hades asked.

"Find Pandora and the rest of her maggot men," Persephone replied. "I also would like to know where this 'my queen' business is coming from?"

Hades's smile widened. "It's a title you earned, and honestly, I couldn't make the Court stop saying it now even if I wanted to." He lifted her hand and gently bit the skull on her wrist. "And I don't want to. You are my queen. They recognized it all on their own."

"You don't think maybe we should take it slow, maybe date for a while in case we want to see other-" Persephone yelped as Hades twisted and pinned her to the couch underneath him.

"There will be no seeing other people," he growled and then realized she was laughing. "Still trying to piss me off."

"And it works every time," Persephone said. "Oh, Hades, I love you, but you are gullible."

"You are my favorite nightmare," Hades replied and kissed her until she melted underneath him. "And you will be my queen."

"If that's your proposal, then it was terrible. Think it through and try again," she said.

"I will when you learn not to be so difficult. Right now, we have bigger things to worry about, sunshine." Hades slowly let her up, so she was back to straddling him.

"Find Pandora, annihilate Pithos, check," Persephone said, running her hands under his jacket. "And let's not forget the mad god in our basement."

"As if we could. He's the best source on Pandora we have if we can get him thinking straight," he sighed. "Who knows what's been done to make Hermes that way."

"We will figure it out or find people who can," Persephone said, and then to throw him off balance again, she asked, "But do you really want to marry me?"

"Yes," Hades said and then kissed her when she started protesting.

"I was joking," she replied as she realized what she'd done.

"You can't take fucking take it back, it's too late," Hades argued. "We have an agreement."

"You are the worst," Persephone complained even though she was smiling.

"I am," Hades replied, lifting her stubborn chin so she could see the gleam of love and victory in his eyes. "And you love it."

EPILOGUE

Selene gripped her medical bag in her hand and tried not to show how nervous she was. He's just another patient that needs help, it's not like it's the first god you've met.

Hades opened the door to the cells, and she heard people arguing. They had renovated the space into one large room, complete with a private bathroom, and filled it with furniture. Despite that, it looked like Hermes was still sleeping on the floor. According to Hades, he was also fighting with every person that tried to do a medical examination on him.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Selene asked.

"I trust you, and you can handle gods, so a perfect combination," Hades said confidently. "Pandora was drugging him with something, and now it's worn off he can remember his own name at least, but something else has happened to break him, and I need to find out what."

"I'm a nurse, not a shrink, Hades," Selene argued.

"One step at a time," he replied before calling, "Hermes? Put the man down, there's someone I want you to meet." The shouting stopped and Hermes appeared from the bathroom. He was wearing a clean pair of pajama pants but no shirt, his body still muscled and tanned despite being imprisoned. Selene had expected a wasted away hermit. She should've known better after dealing with gods for so long.

"They are trying to cut my hair," Hermes hissed in a deep voice.

"You should let them. You can be a crazy person without looking like one," Hades replied. "I've asked this lady to help you, and you will treat her politely, or there will be consequences. Understood?"

Brilliant golden-brown eyes fixed on Selene like a hunting hawk. "Interesting."

Selene put her bag on the table and sat down before taking out some forms. "Please join me," she said politely.

"I'll be close by, I need to make sure he hasn't hurt the other nurse too badly," Hades said, leaving her alone with the deranged god. Hermes sat down opposite her, head tilting as he studied her.

"Was it you that washed me down while I was sleeping, cold nurse?" he asked her.

"No, that was the guys," Selene replied, taking the lid off her pen and starting to flick through her checklists.

"They better not have scrubbed too merrily at my dick."

"From the stories I've heard about you, I didn't think being handled by a man would make you blush," she replied.

"Cold nurse has a streak of fire after all." Hermes leaned across the table, his long nimble fingers touching one of the forms. "If you had paid attention to those stories, you would've remembered I'm the god of tricks, not dicks. That's Apollo's purview." He laughed at his own joke before turning his laser attention to the small watch pinned to her scrubs.

"I remembered enough to know you're a god of thieves too, so I'll be having my paperclip back now."

"Clever, cold nurse. A paperclip for a name?"

"You can't trade something that already belongs to me," she pointed out. Hermes's eyes twinkled with equal parts mischief and malice.

"Are you afraid I'll take it and make it into something else?"

"You're not cuffed and Hades will let you leave whenever you like. You've no need for a lock pick," Selene said.

"I wasn't talking about the paperclip, cold nurse. I do wonder if I turned your name into something would that change you as well? I do wonder yes, yes, I do," he whispered.

"And what would you turn me into?" Selene asked, her pulse jumping in her throat.

"Someone less cold, I think." Hermes started to straighten the thin paper clip. "You can tell me your name. I can keep a secret. Or are you afraid?"

"Selene," she said to prove that she wasn't. Hades was more frightening than the sick man in front of her.

"Selene." He dragged out the word, changing the stresses as his fingers continued to move. "Selene, the Lady Moon, is that why you are so cold and distant with me?"

"You're a patient, I'm not cold and I’m professional."

"I think you're lying, Lady Moon," Hermes whispered, leaning forward again. "I won't tell if you tell me true, why are you so cold, Lady Moon?"

"Maybe another time," Selene said and gathered her papers.

"Don't forget your paperclip." Hermes held out his hand. In his palm, the paperclip had been bent into a crescent moon with a small star hanging from its tip. She picked it up, a small smile escaping before she could hide it.

"Thank you, it's lovely," she said.

"And that's just what I can do with a tiny piece of metal…just imagine what I could do to you if you let me." Hermes, the god of thieves and tricksters, smiled savagely at her, and Selene finally found a god that frightened her more than Hades Acheron.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I believe that all monsters and villains deserve their happy endings. I prefer my clothes black, eyeliner winged, and books full of hot romance. I think heroes are boring, so my first series 'The Court of the Underworld' centers around dark gods, monsters and villains from my favorite Greek Myths.

Come say hi to me on Instagram, or keep track of all of the Court gossip by subscribing to my blog newsletter at:

https://alessathornauthor.com/alessa-news/

Thank you for reading HADES, if you loved it please consider leaving me a short review on Amazon as it helps other readers find my books.

Keep reading for a sneak peak of HERMES …Coming soon!

HERMES

1

It had been a long night in the Emergency Room. The hospital at Lethe was already full and Selene had been run off her feet triaging patients, stitching up head wounds after an epic brawl at the nearby pub, and dealing with the ever constant flow of food poisoning, fevers and imaginary illnesses.

Selene changed out of her scrubs into some street clothes, pulled out her pony tail and slipped on her favorite silver bangle. Her neck and shoulders ached as she slung on her satchel and headed for the exit. She was going to have a long bath with lavender when she got home if it was the last thing she did. Selene opened the staff entrance door and found a handsome, tattooed man and a sleek black car.

“Shit,” Selene sighed.

“Sorry, doll, but we need you,” said Charon, opening the passenger door for her.

“Bullet wounds or mad gods?” she asked, collapsing on the comfortable leather seat. Charon had a fresh soy latte waiting for her and she took a grateful sip.

“Mad gods,” Charon replied as he turned the car on.

“I already told Hades, physically there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with Hermes. He needs a proper psychiatrist, not a ER nurse,” argued Selene, knowing that it was hopeless. Charon didn’t have a say in the matter.

“You barely spent ten minutes with Hermes last time. Hades trusts you, like he’s not going to trust anyone else,” the titan said.

“That’s flattering and all, but within that ten minutes with Hermes I realized I wasn’t qualified to help him.” And because he scares the shit out of me, she didn’t add. She wasn’t going to admit to the ferryman of the Underworld that she was afraid of anything.

“Hermes talked to you. Quietly. Coherently. That’s more than he’s done with anyone else. I’ve known him for a very long time, and he doesn’t recognize me most days.”

“I thought he was an Olympian, what was he doing hanging out in the Underworld?” asked Selene.

“Hermes is -was- a psychopomp. He used to guide souls to their Afterlife. Some, not all. Also, he used to hang out with us because the Olympians all sucked. He was the smartest of all of those bastards, and to see him like this breaks my fucking heart. I’m sorry that we keep interrupting your life, doll, but I want my friend back way too badly,” explained Charon. He smiled his most charming smile at her. “Besides, he’s been asking for you.”

“You were friends and he struggles to remember you but knows me? That doesn’t make sense, I only met him once,” said Selene.

“Selene, love, I’ve always told you how unforgettable you are, and now we have proof.”

“Shut up,” she laughed. The triplets could always make her laugh, even after an eighteen hour shift.

Charon tapped his tattooed fingers against the steering wheel. “He’s refused to eat for two days and Hades is getting worried. If you can convince Hermes to do that at least, we’d all be grateful.”

They turned off to Hades’s estate and Selene had to admit, the forest that Persephone had made was eerie and beautiful in the early dawn light. She thought Hades would get rid of it, but he adored Persephone too much to do it.

Like Asterion and Medusa, seeing Hades with besotted love in his eyes made Selene disturbed and jealous in equal measure. She didn’t have a love life, in fact if it wasn’t for her shitty ex-boyfriend she would’ve never been involved with the Court of Styx. Mixed blessings to say the least.

Selene liked the Court, which made it hard for her to constantly be digging bullets out of them and stitching them back together. It had been too much of a regular occurrence in the last few months for her to happy about.

Thanatos was waiting for them, and opened Selene’s door with a courteous, small bow. “Good morning, Selene, I do apologize for inconveniencing you this morning.”

“That’s okay, Thanatos, I know it’s not your fault,” she said. “Where’s the boss?”

“In the lounge, go on through, he’s waiting for you,” Thanatos replied.

Hades looked irritated and then relieved when he saw her. “Ah, Selene, thank you for coming.”

“It’s not like you gave me a choice.”

“I could apologize, but it would be insincere. You know, if you came and worked for me full time like I’ve requested, you wouldn’t have to be pulled away like this,” said Hades calmly.

“We’ve talked about this before and my answer is still no. There’s not enough nurses to go around as it is,” she replied stubbornly. “Charon says Hermes isn’t eating.”

“Not eating and generally being difficult. The only time he calms down is when he asks why you haven’t been back, so I’ve had little choice but to call you in.”

“Can’t you just threaten him into eating?” Selene asked only half joking.

Hades smiled his famous cold bastard smile. “I’ve been tempted to but Hermes has been forced to do too much against his will since being captured by Pandora. I don’t want to put him through that again.”

Selene ran a tired hand over her face. “Okay fine, but if you’re cooking breakfast you better make enough for two because I’m famished.”

“Thank you, Selene,” Hades said, and pointed towards the small elevator. “Go ahead, I’ll put something together and get it brought down.”

Selene hesitated. “Am I safe with him?”

“Hermes is many things but he’s not unnecessarily violent. You’ve managed to get his attention, and he never breaks things that he finds interesting,” said Hades.

“That was a lot of words when a simple ‘I don’t know’ would’ve sufficed,” she grumbled, making him smile. She stepped into the elevator anyway. She had dealt with plenty of drunk and high patients to be able to take care of herself but none of those had been gods. The doors opened to the underground apartment, previously a group of jail cells, and the first thing she noticed was someone had moved all of the furniture around.

“I told you I’m not hun - ” Hermes started to complain from a couch when he saw her. “Cold nurse. I didn’t expect you.”

“Good morning, Hermes, would you mind if I sat down? I’ve had a really long night,” said Selene, trying to keep her voice steady. Hermes nodded, his hawk eyes as intense as she remembered them. They reminded her a little of Asterion’s, a sure sign that Zeus’s bloodline was strong, but Hermes’s eyes were more gold and unnerving. Selene took off her bag and sat down in an armchair. How was she expected to help him?

“How have you been feeling?” she asked, settling for politeness.

Hermes collapsed back on the couch. “Bored.”

Selene looked at the stacks of books around the room. “You’ve read all of these already?”

“Yes.”

“You should’ve said something to Hades, he could get you more if you wanted them.”

“Why are you tired?” Hermes asked.

“I’m a nurse, I work in a hospital. I was going home and Hades invited me over for breakfast,” she replied.

Hermes’s expression darkened. “Carrot.”

“Pardon me?” asked Selene.

“You are a carrot. Hades thinks I’m a donkey so he’s offering you up as a carrot to get me to behave before he decides on the stick. I know a carrot when I see one,” Hermes snarled.

“So you want me to leave? Fine with me,” Selene said and got up. She wasn’t going to hang around. She wanted to go home and go to bed. She reached the elevator door when Hermes suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking the button.

“I didn’t say that,” he said, folding his arms over his bare chest. “Don’t be a cold carrot as well as a cold nurse. Stay.”

“Why? You don’t need me, you’re not hurt,” asked Selene, too tired to remain polite.

“I am hurt!” Hermes declared, taking her hand and putting it on his head. “Here. Here. Can’t you feel it?” His skin was feverishly hot under her palm, golden eyes wild. Selene softened, like she always did in the face of suffering.

“I can feel it,” she said gently.

“Stay. Be a carrot so I behave.” Hermes lifted her hand off his head and pulled her slowly back to her chair. “I like talking to you.”

“Why?” she asked, sitting down again.

“Because when you look at me, your eyes don’t expect to see someone else. They all do and then they are disappointed because I’m not him,” Hermes said, pulling at a button on one of the couch cushions. “Not anymore.”

“You might not remember, but they are your friends, Hermes. They want to help you,” Selene replied. The button came off the couch and Hermes twirled it between his fingers as he studied her. Then he flicked the button at the other side of the room and took a piece of his long hair and started plaiting it.

“I like how you say my name. You make it sound so...permanent and disapproving,” he said.

“I don’t disapprove of it.”

“There is definite disapproval when you say it,” Hermes argued. Selene was saved by the elevator opening and Thanatos appearing carrying a tray.

“I told you I wasn’t hungry, titan,” growled Hermes.

“They heard you, Hermes. This is for me. It’s dawn and I’m starving,” Selene said and Thanatos set the tray down on the small table beside her.

“There you are, Selene. Once again, I’m sorry for pulling you out here so early in the morning,” he said.

“Thank you, Thanatos, this looks perfect,” replied Selene with a smile. “Are you going to join us?”

“I’m afraid other duties call. Perhaps next time, Selene,” said Thanatos before disappearing. Selene turned to her tray and found Hermes glaring at her, eyes narrowed.

“Oh, Hades made me omelets. He must be in a good mood,” she said ignoring him and picking up her plate and a fork.

“Why do you smile at Thanatos?” asked Hermes.

“Because I like Thanatos, especially when he brings me so much breakfast. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to eat it all but I’m going to give it my best shot,” she said, munching a mouthful of toast.

“Do you not smile at me because you don’t like me?” Hermes demanded, watching her mouth too intently as she ate.

“I don’t know you like I know him,” Selene replied with a small shrug, focusing on her plate.

“You are getting to know me right now. You should smile for me too,” argued Hermes.

“You can’t make someone smile for you because you want it,” said Selene.

“Yes, I can,” Hermes said, voice dropping maliciously.

“Not me,” replied Selene. She wasn’t intimidated by Hades, she sure as hell wasn’t going to let Hermes get under her skin. “How about instead of threatening me, you help me eat this fruit salad and I’ll think about smiling.”

Hermes snatched up the other fork and took the bowl of fruit. “Clever carrot,” he grumbled. He studied a piece of orange skeptically before putting it in his mouth and chewing.

“So why don’t you like eating?” Selene asked.

“Food makes me foggy and the bad dreams come.”

Selene swallowed hard. “Hades told me that Pandora was drugging your food. I can see why that would make you not like eating,” she said. “You don’t ever have to worry about that happening again, Hermes, but it’s okay if it takes a little while to get used to it again.”

“Maybe you’re right, carrot,” sighed Hermes and ate a strawberry. His expression brightened. “I liked that one.”

“Strawberries are my favorite, so don’t eat them all,” Selene said. Hermes frowned but then skewered another piece and begrudgingly offered it to her. Selene bit it off his fork with a wide smile. “Thanks.”

“Knew I’d get that smile eventually,” he said triumphantly. “I told you I could.”

“Well, Charon did warn me you were clever,” Selene replied.

“I used to be, not anymore.”

“Hades will find a way to fix what was done to you. You should talk to him about it, so he can figure out a way,” she said.

Hermes toyed with a grape. “Don’t remember.”

“You remembered me after we only met once. That’s got to be a sign that you’re getting a little bit better. It might come back,” she said, trying to reassure him.

“You’re different. When you are close things seem...clearer,” admitted Hermes. “Words come easier. Thoughts dance less. That’s why Hades turned you into a carrot.” Selene didn’t know how to answer that so they ate in silence, Hermes taking half of her omelet when she offered it. She yawned, her body clock protesting despite Charon’s latte.

“You should go to sleep, carrot,” Hermes said. “I release you from carrot duties.”

“Thanks, Hermes. You should try and sleep too,” Selene replied, picking up the tray of dishes.

“Can’t. Nightmares,” he said.

“Maybe I can figure out something that could help you calm down enough to sleep and Hades could give it to you,” she replied.

“You calm me down. You should stay here and sleep with me. That way we will both sleep,” Hermes suggested with an unexpectedly playful grin.

“Nice try, but I’m not sleeping you,” said Selene.

“You need to learn how to be a better carrot, Selene,” he replied as he walked her to the elevator. “You should come again so I can show you.”

“I’ll think about it if you talk to Hades about how you are feeling,” Selene said as she stepped inside the elevator. “See? I’m not such a stupid carrot after all.”

“Cold, cold, Lady Moon,” he replied and the doors closed on Hermes hunting hawk eyes and too sharp smile.

Upstairs, Persephone was awake and pouring biscuits into Cerberus’s bowl. She gave Selene a megawatt smile. “Selene! I didn’t know you were here.”

“I was summoned to have breakfast with Hermes,” she said, placing the tray next to the sink.

“And you actually got him to eat?”

“Yes, not much but a bit,” Selene said.

“Thank you. I’ve been getting worried about him. He won’t come out of the basement either, no matter how much I try and cajole him,” Persephone replied, a frown appearing.

“Who knows how long Pandora held him in that cave? It might take him a while to feel comfortable enough to risk outside open spaces,” Selene replied.

“He behaved himself I trust?” said Hades, appearing out of nowhere.

“Hermes was tired but fine otherwise. Give him more books, Hades, he’s bored. He’s nervous about eating because the drugs he was given made him foggier than usual. He likes strawberries so bribe him with those,” Selene replied. Hades was giving her a stern look. “What?”

“You got more out of him in half an hour than I have in the past week,” he grumbled.

“Glad I could help. I’d like to go home to bed now.”

“Hermes likes you. This is good, seeing how he’s now officially your patient,” said Hades decisively.

“I already have a full time job! I don’t have time,” Selene argued.

“Quit. This is important, Selene. Hermes could know where Pandora is hiding, and he’s my friend. If this is about money I’ll double what they are paying you.”

“It’s not about the money,” Selene said and rubbed at her eyes. She was too tired to spar with Hades.

“Then I don’t understand what the problem is.”

“Hades, love, maybe let Selene have a rest before you start trying to negotiate with her,” Persephone said, putting an arm around him. “You think about what you want in exchange for helping us, Selene, and next time we see you, we’ll talk about it.”

“Thank you, Persephone,” said Selene, and headed for the door. “Give him more books, Hades. I also said I’d visit again but only if he talks to you first. Be patient and he might just open up.”

“Thank you, Selene, I’ll be in touch,” Hades replied. Of course you will.

Charon pulled the car around as soon as she stepped outside the front door. It wasn’t until they were almost back in Lethe, that Selene realized her silver bangle was missing.

2

Hermes’s world was a broken montage of screaming, light, and blood. He could hear Zeus shouting at him, see the rage in his eyes when Hermes had disagreed with him. Then there was the cave, for so long he didn’t know when time started or finished, when the sun rose or fell. He forgot time, and the ocean and music and everything he used to love until his whole world was the work table in front of him.

You are my inventor now, you don’t need to remember anything else, Pandora’s honey voice dripped soothing poison in his ear.

Hermes woke with a start, the couch damp with his sweat and his heart pounding in his ears.

“Hades’s house. Hades’s house,” he repeated to himself. He wasn’t in the cave anymore.

Hermes got off the couch and noticed the silver bangle on the rug. He’d been playing with it before he’d fallen asleep, contemplating the woman it belonged to. He picked it up and held it tight as he walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Some things came easier after his imprisonment. Hermes couldn’t fall asleep in a bed and wearing a shirt irritated him after so long, but he loved being clean. He sat on the floor of the shower, lost in the sight of the water on the silver bangle.

“Lady Moon,” Hermes murmured and lifted the silver to touch it to his forehead. When she had her hand on his head, he’d felt something...open. It was a split second and then it was gone again. Then she was gone and he didn’t like it though he didn’t know why he didn’t.

“Fuck, focus already,” he hissed. He was thinking clearer without the drugs but there were too many parts, like a house with all the important doors locked so he could only run up and down in a single hallway. But he had felt something open, just for a second, and that second had been long enough for the memory of Zeus to slip through.

Talk to Hades, a voice said.

“Okay, Lady Moon, I will,” he answered it and turned off the shower. Selene was a key of some sort. Hades would know what kind of key she was.

Hermes pulled on a pair of clean pajama pants just as Hades appeared with a bottle of something amber and a wooden case.

“Good, you’re awake,” Hades said and sat down at the table.

“Lady Moon said I needed to talk to you or she won’t come back and visit,” Hermes replied, sitting down opposite him. “What’s in the case?”

“I need a half decent chess opponent, and even in your current state, I know you will present more of a challenge than the triplets,” Hades said. He opened the case and started setting up the carved wooden pieces.

“The queen doesn’t want to play with you?” asked Hermes. He knew that he knew her name but it was slippery and just out of reach.

“I tried to play Persephone only the once, and she cheated using her feminine wiles to distract me so I’ve refused to play her again,” Hades replied.

“More like she beat you and now you won’t play her again,” said Hermes with a grin. Hades scowled but didn’t refute it as he poured a glass of the amber liquid.

“Do you want some?” he offered and after a moment’s hesitation, Hermes nodded. “It’s strong, you might not like it.” He pushed the half-filled glass towards Hermes before conjuring another one and filling it for himself. Hermes sniffed it, had a mouthful and smiled.

“I remember liking this,” he said.

“Good, hopefully your memory will come back in time,” Hades replied, setting up the white chess pieces on Hermes’s side of the board.

“Selene is a key, but I don’t know what kind of key. We need to find out, Hades,” Hermes said.

“What do you mean she’s a key?” asked Hades, his dark brows going together.

“Keys and locks and rooms and hallways.” Hermes tried to articulate, hands moving in frustration, before Hades stopped him.

“Have a breath and a drink and try again, Hermes. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

Hermes rubbed his face, took a drink, and put the silver bangle on the table. It reminded him of Selene and the water hitting it in the shower and the thought came back. He tapped his forehead. “Broken. Like a house with locked doors and I’m trapped in a hallway. Selene touched,” he said, holding the bracelet to his forehead. “And a room unlocked.”

Hades drained his glass and refilled it. “I know she has healing abilities but I’ve never pressed to find out what she can do with them.”

“Selene makes things...clearer,” Hermes said, drinking again. “And she smells nice.”

“I’ll take your word for it. The room she opened, do you remember what was inside of it?” Hades moved one of his pieces and even though Hermes didn’t understand the impulse, he moved one of his own.

“Zeus,” Hermes said after a while. “Zeus was in the room. He was...angry. I think he wanted something, or wanted for me to do something. I said no. He got even angrier and then it all...shattered.”

“Fuck,” sighed Hades. “He must’ve done this to you. I’ve met another one of his children recently and Zeus did the same thing to his mother. Broke her brain for the fun of it.”

“Another child of Zeus? Does he know? Hades, you have to hide him, don’t let Zeus find him,” Hermes asked, rocking back and forward in his chair.

“Hermes, it’s okay. Zeus won’t ever find Perseus or you. I killed him,” Hades replied softly. Hermes stopped rocking.

“You finally did it.”

“I did. That’s how I’m not bound to the Underworld anymore. You didn’t think it was strange I am living amongst the humans now?” asked Hades.

Hermes smiled big and wide. “Ohhhh. I didn’t think about it. Zeus is dead.”

“He is.”

“You’ve made me very happy. Don’t let me forget this,” Hermes begged.

“I won’t. I still like to remind myself every day, I can remind you too,” replied Hades. “Now, my next question, what happened to your staff?”

“What staff?” asked Hermes, taking one of Hades’s pieces.

“Your fucking staff. You used to use it to open the doorways to the Underworld, amongst other things. Had two snakes on it in gold?” Hades pressed but Hermes shook his head uncertainly.

“I don’t remember,” he said, gnawing on his bottom lip. “Selene is a key. Maybe it’s in a room that’s locked.”

“It’s another thing to add to my list of worries. If your staff is in the hands of a human, who knows what they will do. Pandora had Gaia’s knife, maybe she has your staff too,” Hades replied and then looked down at the board. “You sneaky bastard, you’ve check mated me.”

“What’s a check mate?” Hermes asked and Hades let out a frustrated laugh.

“Even mad you are the smartest person in the room and I hate that,” he said. He was smiling though so Hermes figured he wasn’t angry.

“We have been talking a while,” he said, turning the glass. “Does that mean I will see Lady Moon soon?”

“You will see her as soon as she stops being stubborn and agrees to come and work for me full time. You like her, don’t you?” asked Hades.

“Yes. I don’t make her sad, though I think sometimes I make her annoyed and then she gets a frown. I did make her smile so maybe I also don’t annoy her too much. She makes things...less broken,” Hermes struggled to explain. “Everything is noise and shouting and heat but when she’s close its cool and quiet. I think that’s why I remember her.”

“Don’t worry, Hermes, she will return. I’ve known Selene for a few years now and no matter how much she tries to resist it, she can’t handle not being able to help,” Hades said, leaning back in his chair with a confident smile. “All we are going to have to do is wait for her own sense of morality to bring her back.”

****

HERMES is coming soon, so subscribe to my website to find out the Court Gossip first: https://alessathornauthor.com/alessa-news/

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Prologue

Six Years Ago

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

About the Author

HERMES

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