Hades and Persephone: A Fated Love Book 2

Home with Hades

Hades was overly attentive in the first hour, taking pains to appear cheerful as he welcomed me back to a feast lit with a hundred candles in the main cavern. My face heated with the firelight and I allowed him to lead me to the table, kissing my hand as we walked.

"I prepared this so you would not be dark and cold reentering the Underworld. I understand it's likely still an adjustment," he said and pulled my chair out for me. It was a delicate creation of welded roses, and I knew it hadn't been here the last time I was. I sat down, wondering why he was being so formal with me.

And so...nice.

"If it doesn't please you, then I will put them all out," he continued through my silence. He hesitated behind my seat before reaching to pour wine into my chalice. Several moments passed before he finally crossed to his seat across the table. "I am honored by your return, Persephone. I know it lacks wisdom to forget what it was like before you came here, but the months I spent without you were some of my most miserable."

Were they really? I thought, remembering what Hermes had told me. What all the gods implied. I twirled the fork in my hand, trying to think of how to ask him. Whether I would be more angry or hurt by the response I expected.

"What is on your mind tonight?" he asked. When I looked at him, he was already watching me. Taking in my every movement.

And he seemed terrified.

You have no idea the power you have over me. He had once said.

His undivided attention made my face flush, and my body betrayed me. I wanted to feel that attention completely, and have him in the ways I was deprived of for the past six months. My breasts didn't seem to care about rumors or suspicion. In fact, the pulse that thrummed between my legs begged me not to ask him at all.

No. I reached for my wine and took a long drink. I couldn't think about him that way. Not until I knew if he was unfaithful to me like everyone seemed to suspect was inevitable.

"Persephone," he said softly. "I know this isn't easy for you. I understand if you need time—"

"I don't. It's good to see you," I interrupted.

"You can tell the truth my dear." His eyes sparkled and a wry smile crossed his face. I made a show of taking out my fork and knife, hoping he might let the matter drop until I could gather my courage.

"There's just some rumors and drama in Olympus that I haven't been able to put away," I explained carefully.

Whether Hades sensed my nerves or just wanted to play off whatever I'd been hearing, he unrolled his silverware and hid the smile creeping at the corners of his mouth.

"Are there any gods I should know about?" he asked with a bit of mischief. "I hear you've been very friendly with Hephaestus lately."

My eyebrows quirked up. I had thought he was above the gossip of Olympus. And for all the rumors, I didn't think I was the one needing to address them.

"Well, yes," I teased anyway. "After you sexually liberated me, we began a passionate love affair."

"I'm outraged."

"I know. It's a sorry way of thanking you," I continued. "But six months is such a long time for any of us, really. I just had to try all the gods."

"Six months," he repeated, and this time he did laugh. "Is that a long time?"

"You tell me," I muttered and reached for the wine again.

Hades raised an eyebrow and waited for me to elaborate, but I didn't. All my humor had vanished with the words to ask him what I knew I needed to.

"What rumors, Persephone?" he said. It seemed his humor had gone too. He didn't smile as he continued, "What drama have you not been able to put away?"

My throat tightened and I knew that the truth had the opportunity to unravel me. I wanted so desperately to be married to him. To trust him. But I would be a fool not to consider the possibility he was a true Olympian: clever enough to seduce me into a quick marriage and cruel enough to defile it once my decision was irreversible.

Hades didn't say anything. He merely watched my face and waited with the quiet look of fear he'd had when I first wouldn't speak to him at all.

"They say you're glad for our arrangement. That you can be married half the year, and when I'm gone," I trailed off but the silence was far worse. I continued in one quick rush,

"And that when I'm gone you can sleep with anyone you like and I would never know. And that you do. That's what they say."