A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(60)

“I followed the rules,” the man groaned. “I followed your rules.”

Persephone looked at Hades’ face—it was shadowed, his cheekbones, eyes, and forehead alight.

“I know the rules well, mortal. You don’t fuck with me or my lover, understand?”

Kal rolled onto his hands and knees. He struggled to lift his head, but when he did, he met Persephone’s gaze.

“Help me,” he shouted.

“Do not speak to her, mortal.”

Hades placed his boot against the man’s side and pushed him to the ground. He landed on one of the snakes, who retaliated by biting into his flesh again. Kal screamed.

Persephone didn’t even flinch.

What was wrong with her? She should stop this. Except that a part of her believed Kal actually deserved it.

Hades turned to Persephone. She met his gaze, unable to discern his thoughts from his expression.

“Shall I continue to punish him?” Hades asked.

Persephone stared at Hades and her eyes dropped to Kal. She strolled toward him and knelt. His bloodied face was now streaked with tears.

“Will his face scar?” she asked Hades.

“It will if you wish it.”

“I wish it.”

Kal whined.

“Shh,” Persephone crooned. “It could be worse. I am tempted to send you to Tartarus.”

He quieted at her statement and then she continued. “Tomorrow, I want you to call Demetri and tell him you made a mistake. You don’t want the exclusive and you will never, ever tell me what to write again. Do we have an agreement?”

Shaking, he nodded his head. Persephone smiled. “Good.”

She straightened and turned to Hades. “He can live,” she said.

The god held her gaze for a long moment and then looked at Kal.

“Leave.”

In the next second, the man and the snakes were gone, and Persephone was left alone with Hades. Despite their distance, anger built between them like a solid, stone wall.

Before he could say anything, she spoke.

“You ruined everything!”

He looked startled, and then quickly took up the defense, moving toward her.

“I ruined everything? I saved you from making a huge mistake. What were you thinking coming here?”

“I was trying to save my friend, and Kal was offering a way to do that, unlike you.”

“You would give up our private life—something you cherish most—in exchange for something that will only condemn your friend?”

“Condemn her? It will save her life! You bastard. You told me to have hope! You said she could survive.”

They were nose-to-nose now. “You don’t trust me?”

“No! No, I don’t trust you. Not when it comes to Lexa. And what about this place, Hades? This is your club, isn’t it? What the fuck?”

Hades reached for her, clasping her shoulders, he drew her flush against him.

“You were never to come here. This place isn’t for you.”

Persephone flinched.

“Leuce works here,” Persephone snapped.

“Because it’s Leuce,” Hades said, as if that explained everything. “You told me to give her job back, so I sent her here. You…you’re…different.”

She pushed away from him. “Different?”

“I thought we established this,” Hades said through his teeth. “You mean more to me than anyone—anything.”

“What does that have to do with keeping this place from me?”

Hades was silent.

“Everything here is illegal, isn’t it? The Magi are here. What else?”

Hades tried to remain silent again.

“What else, Hades?” she demanded.

“Everything you’ve ever feared,” he answered, and she shivered. “Assassins, drug lords….”

Persephone felt the color drain from her face.

“Why?”

“I created a world where I could watch them.”

“Watch them do what? Break the law? Hurt people?”

“Yes,” he answered, his voice was gritty.

“Yes? That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

“For now,” he said, his voice tightened, and his chest rose and fell with his anger, but instead of leaving, he moved toward her. She held her ground, unafraid. Lifting her chin and glaring at him.

“Who brought you here?” he asked.

“A taxi.”

“You think I won’t find out?”

“I have free will. I chose to come here of my own accord.”

“A choice that cannot go unpunished,” he said, and reached for her.

Instinctually, Persephone pushed his hands away. His eyes gleamed. “Are you telling me no?”

She knew if she said no, he would stop, but she couldn't deny she wanted to see his punishment through. It would mean intense pleasure and it would be angry and rough and primal, and she needed release.

She shook her head once, and then Hades spun her around to face the mirrored wall. She used it for support as he bent her forward and watched him in the reflection. He nudged her legs apart and lifted her skirt, eyes hungry.

His hand brushed across her skin, and then he swatted her ass. She yelped, more from surprise than pain, and Hades glanced up, meeting her gaze in the mirror before drawing her underwear to her ankles, and helping her step out of them. Her core tightened in anticipation as he shoved them in his pocket.