The Devil's Daughter (Hidden Sins #1)(88)

“I was just a kid.” She’d felt guilty for leaving people behind, but that was the truth. “I was barely able to save myself, let alone you, too.”

“You had to go alone. It was foreseen. But then you never came back, and we’ve been floundering ever since.” She looked up at Chase. “It’s time. You need to start prepping her.”

Since Eden had a pretty good idea what they meant by prepping, she had no interest in it starting. If he’s going to rape me, getting that close might give me the chance to get free. She yanked on the ropes binding her wrists again, making the bed frame shake. Then again, maybe not. Fuck. She looked around again, but no magical way to escape presented itself. Need more time. “How did Chase get involved?”

“That first day, I saw Beth and knew we had something special between us. I stopped to see if I could convince her to give me the time of day.” The smile he shared with Beth made her stomach churn. “She ended up converting me on the spot.”

“I’ll just bet she did. And whose idea was it to throw a bit of rape into the bargain?”

Beth rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, don’t be naive. You know as well as I do that Hades raping Persephone is part of her journey to power. A necessary, if unfortunate, step.”

Except Martha never taught the story that way. Eden knew the scholars typically agreed with Beth’s version of events—that Persephone’s abduction was really a rape—but no one in Elysia shared that belief.

She didn’t share that belief.

She couldn’t reason with Beth, so she turned her glare on Chase. “Did you have your eye on those girls for a long time? Watching them grow from children into teenagers must have been a trip. I bet it was your idea to go after Clear Springs teenagers instead of the ones in Elysia.”

“Come now, Eden, you know the rule. You don’t shit where you eat.” Beth made a face. “I’ve never liked the language in that saying.”

Eden ignored Beth, focusing on Chase—the weak link.

His face went red, and he took a step toward the bed. “You don’t know a damn thing about it.”

Oh, she’d bet she knew more than most. He didn’t lean toward the younger set—that much was clear—but it might as well be a giant red button for her to push. Getting him to lose control would probably be a one-way trip to the morgue, but a man going berserk was less likely to take the time to rape her before he killed her.

It’s really bad that I’m thinking like this.

She lifted her chin. “I think I know more than most. I’m Persephone, remember? I’m more than Demeter’s daughter. I’m Hades’ bride, which makes me the queen of the underworld.” It felt weird to say the words aloud, especially to people who might actually believe them, but she’d do whatever it took. “You’ll regret this.”

Chase leaned down, his brown eyes cold. “No, I don’t think I will.”

“You might be Persephone now, but you won’t be once you’re gone—just like the others.” Beth stood. “Then it will be my turn.”

Oh, shit. “It doesn’t work like that.”

“Yes, it does. Martha’s said as much every time spring comes. Do you know how many times they’ve put me into the ground?” Beth looked away, her breath catching. “You left. I’ve been here. It’s my turn to take the reins, whether that old bitch wants to hand them over or not.”

Did she realize how roundabout her logic was? First Eden was Persephone, and now she was a Persephone that could be replaced. But then, they had to have some rationale for killing her. She jerked harder on the ropes, but there wasn’t any more give than there had been before. “Where’s Rachel?”

Beth shook her head, her expression sad. “She wasn’t any more worthy than the others.”

No. “It’s too soon to have killed her. It’s only been three days. You wait eight.”

“Don’t worry about her.” Chase turned to Beth and cupped her face. “You’re going to want to leave, honey. You don’t like this next part.”

Eden forced herself to keep her breathing even. If she hyperventilated, she’d be helpless to fight him—she was already helpless to fight him. No, I’m not. I just need to think. There has to be a way. She shifted her feet, testing the strength of the foot of the bed. It didn’t wobble, but if she kicked, she might be able to . . . I have to try.

She forced herself to watch as they kissed, because she’d only get one chance at this. Beth left the cabin, her gaze lingering on first Eden and then Chase, and then she was gone. “How the hell did you get her to agree to you raping the girls?” She put a little more emphasis on rape, because it had been a trigger before.

But apparently no longer. He stripped off his shirt, revealing the tattoos all the cult members had—a torch on his wrist and a sheaf of wheat on his hip. She’d bet if he turned around, there would be a bat on his shoulder blade, too. Chase’s hands went to the button of his jeans. “Martha might have cleaned up the myth, but the original is far more brutal. I happen to like brutal.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE


Zach had never wanted to strike a woman as much as he did in that moment. “You’re a smart woman, Martha. Where the hell would they take her? It’s on Elysian property. It has to be.”