A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(23)

“Oh…”

“Thank you so much Katerina,” Persephone said before the woman could protest. “I’m very excited to tell Hades how wonderful you’ve been.”

That worked like a charm. Katerina smiled and gave a very flustered, “Why, thank you so much, Lady Persephone.”

When they were alone, Lexa leaned forward. “You wanna see Hades’ office?”

“You know it.”

They giggled like schoolgirls as Lexa led her up a third flight of stairs. This floor was all dedicated office space, and Persephone and Lexa wound their way through a set of cubicles before reaching a row of offices at the back of building.

“Here it is!” Lexa said, gesturing to the space with her arms spread wide as she stepped inside.

It was a glass box.

Persephone hesitated at the door. It reminded her of her mother’s home, and for a moment, she had the strange feeling that this was all a well-orchestrated trap. Hades desk sat before a lead-detailed window that made it appear like he was sitting upon a throne while he was at his desk. It was over-the-top and intimidating, and she would bet money he used this desk less than the one in his office at Nevernight.

She stepped inside just as someone call for Lexa.

“Crap,” she looked at Persephone. “I’ll be right back.”

Persephone nodded as her best friend disappeared. Her eyes dropped to Hades’ desk. There were only two things on it: a vase of white narcissus and a picture of her. It was snapped in the Underworld, in one of Hades’ gardens. She picked it up, wondering when he had taken it.

“Curious?”

Persephone jumped, dropping the frame. Before it could hit the ground, Hades caught it and returned it to its place. The goddess twisted toward him, bracing a hand on the desk.

How did someone with such mass move so quickly, she thought. He stood close, his scent hitting her hard, and she was reminded of last night when he’d taken her to bed, claimed her, marked her, possessed her. She hadn’t expected a simple conversation about Apollo to set him off, but it had in ways she’d never imagined.

“How long have you been here?” she breathed.

One of Hades’ powers was invisibility. It was possible he’d been in this office the whole time, even more likely that he’d followed along on the tour without any of them knowing.

“Always suspicious,” he said.

“Hades—” she warned.

“Not long,” he said. “I received a frantic call from Ivy who chastised me for not letting her know you were stopping by.”

Persephone’s brows drew together. “You have a phone?”

“For work, yes,” he said.

“Why didn’t I know that?”

He shrugged. “If I want you, I will find you.”

Still, Persephone didn’t feel like that was a good enough reason for her to not know he had a phone...or the million other things she didn’t know about her lover.

“You are displeased,” Hades said, and it wasn’t a question.

Persephone’s gaze lifted to his again.

“You embarrassed me.”

It was Hades’ turn to frown and his eyes softened. “Explain.”

“I should not have to learn about all your charities through someone else,” she said. “I feel like everyone around me knows more about you than I do.”

“You never asked,” he said.

“Some things can be brought up casually, Hades. At dinner, for instance—hi, honey. How was your day? Mine was good, the billion-dollar charities I own help kids and dogs and humanity!”

Hades’ was trying not to smile.

“Don’t you dare,” she pressed a finger to his lips. “I am serious about this. If you wish for me to be seen as more than a lover, then I need more from you. A...history...an inventory of your life. Something.”

Hades’ eyes darkened, and he closed his fingers around Persephone’s wrist. He kissed her fingers.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “It did not occur to me to tell you. I have existed so long alone, made every decision alone, I am not used to sharing anything with anyone.”

Persephone’s gaze softened and she pressed her palm to his face.

“Hades, you were never alone, and you certainly aren’t alone now,” she pulled her hand away. “Now, what else do you own?”

“Lots of morgues,” he said.

Persephone’s eyes widened. “You’re serious?”

“I am the God of the Dead,” he said.

She couldn’t help it, she smiled. Their gazes held for a moment, and then Hades prompted in a deep, sultry voice, “Tell me, what else can I share with you now?”

Persephone glanced at the picture on his desk.

“Where did you get this?”

His eyes followed, and she knew it wasn’t because he had to be reminded about the picture. He was taking his time answering.

“I took it.”

“When?”

“Obviously when you weren’t looking,” he said, and she rolled her eyes at his humor.

“Why do you have pictures of me and I do not have pictures of you?”

His eyes glittered.

“I did not know you wanted pictures of me.”