A Game of Fate (Hades Saga #1)(95)

That desire intensified as he watched Demeter strip Persephone of her favor, exposing her Divine form. The goddess was not gentle, tearing the power away with such force, Persephone fell to her knees, gasping for breath.

“When the contract is fulfilled, you will come home with me,” Demeter said. “You will never return to this mortal life, and you will never see Hades again.”

Demeter glared at him before vanishing, and Hades swore in that moment, the Goddess of Harvest would regret her actions.

He scooped Persephone up from the floor, cradling her against him as he sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

“Shh,” Hades crooned. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”

She burst into tears.

“I don’t regret you. I didn’t mean that I regretted you.”

He was glad she said it, even though he had known she hadn’t meant the words.

“I know.” Hades kissed her tears away.

There was a knock at the door, but before Hades or Persephone could speak, Lexa entered and halted, eyes wide as she took in Persephone’s appearance.

“What the fuck?”

There was no hiding her Divinity—Persephone was the Goddess of Spring. Hades half-expected her to beg him to erase Lexa’s memory, but instead, she pulled away and stood, appearing tall and regal as she spoke.

“Lexa,” he heard her say. “I have something to tell you.”





CHAPTER XXVIII – A PICNIC IN THE UNDERWORLD




Hades left Persephone’s apartment, teleporting to Olympia. He hated that he had to return, hated that he had to go before Zeus, but it was necessary and just as he suspected, Demeter had already arrived. He could hear her voice outside Zeus’ office.

“He cannot have my daughter, Zeus!” she cried. “I will starve your people if you let him keep her!”

When Hades entered, she whirled to face him. Demeter’s face changed when she was in a rage. Hades imagined Persephone had seen it over and over again. Her eyes seemed to sink into her face and darken. She leaned forward, shoulders hunched, like the weight of her fury was too much to handle.

“You!”

“Kill everyone, Demeter, it only makes me more powerful.”

“Hades,” Zeus said, sitting behind his oak desk. “Is what Demeter says true? Have you seduced her daughter?”

“I did not seduce her,” Hades said. “She came to me willingly on more than one occasion.”

He glared at the Goddess of Harvest, and she glared back.

“Liar! The mark on her wrist tells me otherwise.”

Zeus looked at Hades, waiting for his answer.

“She invited me to her table. The mark was fairly placed.”

“It sounds as though Persephone has made her own decisions, Demeter,” Zeus said.

“She is my daughter, Hades! I have a right to decide her fate!”

Hades did not look at the goddess, but at his brother.

“She is Demeter’s daughter,” Hades said, “But she is destined to be my wife. The Fates have woven her into my future, and Demeter has interfered.”

There were few things that scared Zeus, but the Fates were one.

“Is this true, Demeter?” He looked to the goddess for her answer, but Hades responded instead. He was ready for this to be over.

“It was what the Fates demanded in exchange for giving her a daughter.”

“I will never believe that she came to you willingly!” Demeter seethed. “The Fates be damned.”

“I am sure Hecate would be happy to testify on my behalf,” Hades added.

“That will not be necessary,” Zeus said, and he knew his brother did not want to appear as if he were questioning the Goddess of Witchcraft. Theirs was an old friendship, a strange one, and just as Hades relied on her for advice, so did Zeus. “Demeter, I will not grant your request. It seems your wishes are not in line with the will of the Fates.”

Demeter’s fury gathered, and massive roots broke through Zeus’ marble floor. Hades cast his magic like a net, enveloping the entire place in shadow, blinding the goddess and Zeus. Their battle was short-lived, however, as a bolt of Zeus’ lightning separated the two. With their concentration lost, their magic faded.

“I will not mediate childish fights between you two,” Zeus said. “My word is law, and you will both abide.”

Hades glared. Childish fights? There was nothing childish about his love of Persephone, nothing childish about the wrath of Demeter. Still, he was thankful Zeus had sided with him, not that it meant a lot in the end. Persephone was her own person, she had free will. If she wanted, she could leave him.

“There is another matter we must discuss,” Zeus said. Hades did not think it was possible, but the mood of the room darkened. “A goddess has not been born in centuries. Has she any power?”

“None to speak of,” Demeter answered quickly. Hades glared at her. She answered too fast.

Zeus looked to Hades. He would have to respond truthfully. “Her power is dormant. She has shown no ability to wield it.”

“Hmm.” Zeus was quiet, ever suspicious of new gods. It was only fair that he feared a rebellion like the one he had led against their father. “I wish to meet her.”