A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(17)

Persephone could just imagine.

“Lord Hades, Thanatos is looking for you—oh—”

A woman entered his office from a hidden door behind his desk. She was beautiful. Her hair was parted in the center, and as red as flame. Her eyes were sharp and brows arched, lips full and lush and red. All her features were pointed and angled. She was a nymph and when she looked at Persephone, there was hatred in her eyes. It was then Persephone realized she was still standing close to Hades, her hands tangled in his shirt. When she tried to pull away, his hands tightened on her.

“I did not know you had company,” Minthe replied tightly.

Hades didn’t look at the woman. Instead, his eyes remained on Persephone. “A minute, Minthe.”

Persephone’s first thought was—so this is Minthe. She was beautiful in a way Persephone wasn’t—in a way that promised seduction and sin and she loathed the jealousy she felt.

Her second thought was why did he need a minute? What more could he have to say? Persephone didn’t see Minthe leave because she couldn’t force her gaze away from Hades.

“You haven’t answered my question,” Hades said. “Why are you using your mother’s magic?”

It was her turn to smile. “Lord Hades,” she said, drawing a finger down his chest. She wasn’t sure what made her do it, but she was feeling brave. “The only way you are getting answers from me is if I decide to enter into another gamble with you and at the moment, it’s not likely.”

Then she took the lapels of his jacket, and straightened it, her eyes falling to the red polyanthus flower in the pocket of his suit jacket. She looked up at him, and whispered. “I think you will regret this, Hades.”

She touched the flower and Hades eyes followed the movement. When her fingers brushed the petals, the flower wilted.





CHAPTER V – INTRUSION



Hades’ driver was a cyclops.

She tried not to look so surprised when she saw the creature standing in front of a black Lexus outside Nevernight. He was not like the cyclops depicted in history. They had been beastly creatures. This man was taller than Hades and all legs, with broad shoulders and a thin build. His eye was hooded but kind and he smiled when he saw Persephone.

Hades had insisted on escorting Persephone outside. She was not eager to be seen in public with the god, though she wasn’t so sure that thought had crossed Hades’ mind. He was probably more concerned about getting her off his premises as soon as possible so he could get some rest…or whatever he’d been about to do before she interrupted.

“Lady Persephone, this is Antoni,” Hades said. “He will ensure you make it home safe.”

Persephone raised a brow at the God of the Underworld. “Am I in danger, my lord?”

“Just a precaution. I wouldn’t want your mother banging down my door before she has a reason to.”

She has a reason to now, she thought angrily, and the mark on her wrist felt hot. She met his stare, intending to glare and communicate her anger, but she found it difficult to think at all. The God of the Dead had eyes like the universe—vibrant, alive, vast. She was lost in them and all they promised.

She was thankful when Antoni distracted her from those dangerous thoughts. Nothing good would come out of finding Hades interesting. Hadn’t she learned that already?

“My lady,” Antoni said, opening the rear car door.

“My lord.” She nodded to Hades as she twisted from him and slid into the black leather interior.

Antoni shut her door carefully and then folded himself into the driver’s seat of the car. They were on the road quickly, and it took everything in her power not to look back. She wondered how long Hades stood there before returning to his tower—if he was laughing at her boldness and her failure.

She stared down at the flashy gold bracelet that covered the black mark. In this light the gold looked brassy and cheap. She pulled it off and examined the markings on her skin. The only thing she could think to be thankful for at this moment was that the mark was small enough and in a place where it could be easily hidden.

Create life in the Underworld.

Was there even life in the Underworld? Persephone knew nothing about Hades’ realm, and in all her studies, she had never found descriptions of the land of the dead, just details of its geography, and even those seemed to conflict. She supposed she would find out tomorrow, though, the idea of returning to Nevernight to make the descent into the Underworld filled her with anxiety.

She groaned. Just when everything seemed to be working out for her, too.

“Will you be returning to visit Lord Hades?” Antoni asked, glancing in the rearview mirror. The cyclops had a pleasant voice. It was warm and spiced.

“I’m afraid I will,” Persephone said absently.

“I hope you’ll find him pleasing. Our lord is often alone.”

Persephone found those words strange. “He doesn’t seem so alone to me.”

She thought of the jealous Minthe.

“Such is the case with the Divine, but I am afraid he trusts very few. If you ask me, he needs a wife.”

Persephone blushed.

“I am certain Lord Hades isn’t interested in settling down.”

“You’d be surprised by what the God of the Dead is interested in,” Antoni replied.