Hades and Persephone: A Fated Love Book 2

The Rift

"Let me go," I breathed. I wrenched out of his grasp and ran to Adonis, whose mortal life was spilling onto the marble steps in rivers of blood.

Hades didn't move. He stared at me from across the green, watching with disbelief as I cradled his body and tried to staunch the bleeding.

"His soul has already passed, my dear," he said. "It seems that is quite the heartbreak for you."

It was. Adonis didn't deserve this. Aphrodite had taken him, used all his beauty and life, and broke him on the steps of Olympus. Hades watched as I cried over him. I was weak enough to be manipulated, and now he was dead and I was humiliated.

"Come home with me," Hades said. The look on his face was unreadable, and for the first time, I didn't trust him. There was such intense anger behind his eyes, but he was eerily calm.

"Hades," I wiped my face, smearing Adonis's blood across my cheek.

"I don't want this to be a spectacle. Come home with me."

I realized for the first time his chariot was beside him. He was likely prepared to leave the moment he arrived. My body shook as he approached and I squeezed my eyes shut. I must have seemed pitiful, cradling another male and weeping over him when everyone in the heavens and earth thought I was having an affair.

"What is going to happen?" I whispered.

Hephaestus was likely going to string Aphrodite up in that damn net until her skin broke from trying to get free. But what was Hades going to do to me? I didn't want to think he would hurt me, but I also never imagined a scenario where I would be caught with another man. Slowly, I let go of Adonis and pushed myself onto the steps.

But I couldn't stand to meet him. I was too embarrassed and frightened, and when he grabbed my arm, I trembled even harder.

"Please," I shuddered. "Please don't hurt me. I can explain myself."

"Persephone," his voice was gentler then, but I could hardly register it.

"No. No, I mean it. I never slept with him. Please, Hades. I swear. I swear on the Styx."

He turned my face to his and I caught sight of the rest of the Olympians beginning to gather behind him. He glanced back too before gathering me in his arms and carrying me to his chariot.

I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay and cut Aphrodite into a thousand tiny pieces or maybe make flowers of Adonis, but I didn't want to know what would happen if I dared to argue with him. Regardless, I didn't even have time to protest. We descended into the Underworld before Hera could shout beside my mother.

This had to be solved between us. Husband and wife, king and queen.

The first moments in the Underworld passed in silence. Hades offered me his hand to help me down from the chariot, but I planted mine firmly on the steel lip behind me and stayed where I was. It left us nearly at eye level, but I recoiled as he took a step towards me.

"You killed him," I breathed.

"Yes."

"Y-You allowed Ares to attack him as a wild boar. You-you let him die. You killed him."

"And what did you expect me to do when I found a mortal man in our home?" To my surprise his voice was just as sharp as mine.

I might have spit venom at the implication. "I never had Adonis. Do you truly think I would dishonor you like that? Our marriage?" I said.

"No. I know exactly what has happened and I'm not angry with you," he replied, but his jaw tensed. "Step down from the chariot."

"No."