“Yes,” he rasped.
She took his face in his hands and pushed him back enough to look into his face. She must have seen something there, something that cracked the heavy armor surrounding her heart. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly to her. He kissed her, lingering at her mouth.
He enjoyed the softening of her lips, the tickle of her breath against his mouth, the thrust of her pelvis against his groin. Her body was already responding to his gentle caresses and his body was answering her, only not with the pervious urgency that spurred him earlier. He took his time with her, slipping his finger inside the soft, wet foldes of her woman’s mound. He wrung out every last moment of pleasure she was capable of giving him. Only then did he join his body to hers, giving their bodies the release they both craved.
Tucking her into his side, his fingers swirling over the soft skin of her hip, he listened to the deepening of her breath as she slipped into sleep. She was his and he was hers, forever. There was no going back. Not that he had ever had a chance. From the first moment he’d seen her, he wanted her, and now he had her, but not all of her. Until she released that most vital part of her Phlegethon nature, she would never be the whole person he craved. It didn’t matter that he could lose himself inside her or enjoy the warmth of her body beside his, because without the
emotional connection they needed, they could never truly be complete. It didn’t matter that he could love her just as she was now. His Phlegethon blood yearned for more.
Chapter 27
THE INSISTENT metallic chime awakened Hades from sleep. He tried to roll over and
snuggle into the warmth of his wife. The land of dreams was preferable to the duties of the Underworld. But he couldn’t sleep.
Rising from the bed, careful not to jostle Persephone, he dressed and flashed to the source of the summons. He knew it was a mortal even before he arrived.
The biting cold of the barren land did nothing to improve his sour mood and he contemplated throttling the mortal or mortals when he found them. The chiming reverberated through his head again and he sighed. Whoever they were, they were persistent.
He scanned his surroundings, noticing the snow clinging to the ground and obscured the little hut against the rock face. He walked toward it and spotted a young man beside the fire pit, roasting two black sheep. He was weeping and cursing and banged his fists on the ground.
Chimes echoed throughout the earth.
In five long strides Hades reached the mortal. “Stop that!”
The man stilled and wrapped the blanket tighter around him. “Lord of the Underworld?”
The few mortals who summoned him never used his name, just his title. “What do you
want?”
“My wife.” The man trembled, whether from cold or from fear, Hades couldn’t tell and really didn’t care. “She panicked when she couldn’t find our little girl and ran into the storm to find her.
I found our daughter hiding behind the wheat in the cottage, but my wife…she slipped into river.
I…I found her body trapped beneath the ice.”
Hades frowned. What did the man expect him to do? The Fates had cut the woman’s thread;
her life was over.
“Mortals die. It’s the way of the world.”
“My daughter needs her mother.” The man continued to stare at the ground, away from
Hades’ direction. “Please let her come back.”
“Surely, you can marry again. You may give your child another mother.”
He shook his head, stifling a sob that wracked his body. “Callie’s part of me. I can’t replace her with another woman.”
Hades stared down at the man who loved his wife enough to call upon the mercy of Hades.
The man was afraid of him, yet was willing to face the wrath of the God of the Underworld and request the return of his lover, his wife, the mother of his child, his Callie.
Hades knelt before the man. “You must never mention what I do now. I don’t like to return mortals to the life once they enter my kingdom.”
“Of course. Anything.”
Lifting the knife from beside the pit, Hades nicked his thumb. Three drops dripped into the white snow. Gathering his magic around him, he sent it deep into the earth, calling the soul of Callie to him. She came, a ghostly figure in a flowing gown of dyed wool. From beneath them the earth rumbled, cracking, and disgorging the frozen corpse of the woman.
He first healed the damage done to the body. Then he motioned for the soul to join the body, and bound them together once more.
Her eyes fluttered and a smile curled the corners of her mouth as she opened her eyes. She looked toward her husband, who shouted with joy, scrambling to her and throwing the blanket around her, pressing her tightly to him.
He tenderly stroked her cheek. “Hello beautiful.”
The love and devotion between the man and the woman hurt Hades’ heart. Would he ever
share such love? Would Persephone one day look at him the way this woman looked at her
husband?
Pushing aside the longing in his heart, he smiled at the two mortals. “Take care not to lose each other again.”
The man turned to Hades and prostrated at his feet. “Thank you, Lord of the Underworld!”
Hades inclined his head and stood, leaving behind the mutton offering. They needed it more.
Hades had no doubt that the man and his wife would take care. They still feared him and knew the fickleness of gods. He’d returned Callie, but he could just as easily take her again.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
PERSEPHONE WOKE to a missing Hades. She bathed and dressed. Then she looked around
his austere living quarters, noting the armor in the corner.
Curious to better understand her husband, she studied the instruments of his trade. She’d heard war was brutal, and seen the marks on Hades’ body that supported it, but nothing prepared her for the reality. She touched the armor and was transported through the memories of countless battlefields. She witnessed everything in a strange ghostly echo, including the humiliation of Hades at the hands of Coronus and the death of Leuce.
Hades had followed his half-sister over the cliff, striving to use his body as a shield to save her, and the impact had broken every bone in his body and allowed the Titans to bind him. They siphoned off just enough magic to weaken him. She shuddered. His fate could have been hers.
The sword was worse. It was far older and more deadly. Its enchanted, nasty, jagged edge
delighted in blood. She jerked her hand away and wiped her hand on her skirt.
She would have turned away, but she noticed the second helmet. The shiny silver looked out of place with the blackened armor and leather helmet. She brushed her fingers over the closed eyes etched into the sides.
“A gift from a Cyclops. Do you want to try it?”
Jumping, she turned to Hades and shook her head.
“It doesn’t hurt, nor does it harm you. See?” He placed the helmet on his head.
She blinked. Just like that, he disappeared. Reaching out, she gasped when she felt his soft cloak and the muscles jerking beneath her hand. Intrigued, her fingers skittered over his ribs and he shifted with a chuckle. He was ticklish.
“Do you want to try?” he asked again.
The disembodied voice unnerved her, and though she looked straight at him and held his
cloak in her hand, she only saw the wall. He appeared with his helmet in his hands, holding it out to her. Biting her lower lip nervously, she took it. The helmet fascinated and intrigued her. It was surprisingly cool in her hands.
Glancing up at him, she saw the mirth in his eyes. Of all the tales she heard of Hades’
seriousness and ferocity in battle, she hadn’t thought him to be ticklish or have a sense of humor.
Giving the matter no more thought, she rose up on her toes and kissed him before placing the helmet on her head and moving away.
She thoug
ht she would feel different once she wore the helmet. But she didn’t. In fact, she could see herself. Was he teasing her? Could he really see her? Maybe it only worked when he wore it.
Hades stood where she left him, a strange smile on his face. She waved her hand before his face, watching for any signs that he saw her. He didn’t flinch or move.
Walking around him, she tentatively reached out and tapped him on his shoulder. He pivoted, his hand swept toward her. She stepped back and to the side. He stumbled forward, and she decided the helmet worked on her after all.
“What a marvelous device. You really can’t see me.”
“No, but I can hear you.”
He grabbed her around the waist, sweeping her off the ground, and twirling around. She
gripped his shoulders and muffled her squeal of delight. Not since she was a child had anyone treated her in such a manner, although the image of them on the beach dancing flashed through her mind.
He set her down and she leaned against him, enjoying the musky smell of him under the
sandalwood and vanilla. He pulled the helmet off her head, kissing her forehead before placing it back where they got it.
She decided she liked this side of Hades, loving and playful. She leaned into him, enjoying his arms wrapped around her. Her skin tingled and she caught a faint shift in the air around them.
It was odd that her mind sensed something unusual about him now, but if she had to label it, she would say it felt natural to be with him.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
PERSEPHONE WALKED aimlessly through the halls of the palace, her unease growing.
She’d known the truth of her memories the moment Thanatos had interrupted their passionate kiss, demanding Hades’ presence. His magic swirled around him, erratic and panicked. Of its own volition her magic rose to meet him, to lay claim to the other half of her family. He was her father in truth and they both knew it.
Thanatos hadn’t stayed. He’d grabbed Hades and escaped the room. She had the perverse
urge to force him back, knowing she could do it. Not that he would stay; Thanatos was more powerful. When he was ready, he would come to her.
That left her to her own devices for the day. She was tempted to visit the Elysian Fields, but something held her back. Something didn’t feel right, but every time she tried to focus on the cause of her unease, her mind drifted to Hades.
She’d sealed her fate. She was Hades’ wife and he her husband, her mate, and the man she
loved. He’d shown her that her life, regardless of appearance, was just a heavily controlled prison. But had anything really changed?
With her power, Hades could never hold her. She could leave at any time and there was little he could do to stop her. She knew she should do it before the strong emotions weaving their way into her magic finally broke down the barrier, she’d erected to protect Hades. It wasn’t just the emotions she feared. Every day since awakening to this world, she came closer to remembering everything about her former life. She feared the strength of her emotions, her memories, and her power. She feared the Phlegethon within her. The passions that threatened to consume her and all around her.
She didn’t want to see the horror and fear in Hades’ eyes as the feral daemon emerged to
wreak havoc on the ones she loved. Even now, the daemon paced within its confines, pulses of rage and fury and hatred beat through her. It wanted revenge against the grievous wrong she couldn’t remember.
Every moment she was a wake, she was more and more aware that her memories weren’t
complete. They ended abruptly with Coronus’ visit to her palace and began when she woke in her mother’s villa. Everything in-between those events were blank. Something terrible must have happened for her to have locked away her power and her memories, because she knew now that it wasn’t her mother that had done this to her, but herself.
“Persephone?”
She turned toward him, the small thrill of seeing Hades standing before her faded. Something was very wrong. “What has happened?”
“Minos and Aeacus tell me there is an uprising in Tartarus. One of the shades attacked his guards, stole their weapons, and has collected a group of other doomed shades to join him in rebellion. They’re fighting Hypnos, Morpheus, and Rhadamanthys for entry into the Elysian Fields.”
Her fear rose, threatening to break through her carefully constructed walls. “You can’t let him into the Elysian Fields. He would be able to hide there indefinitely.”
He embraced her. “I know, sweetling?”
She drew back, worried about him. He would join the fighting. “What can I do?”
He stared down at the floor between them and shook his head. His voice low when he spoke,
“I hate to ask you—”
“I’ll do anything.”
He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “You have to understand this man will stop at
nothing to obtain his goals.” He swallowed hard. “He ordered the execution of over three
hundred people because he didn’t want any of the males to claim leadership or the females to give birth to the next generation. He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you or anyone in his way. I don’t want to leave you unprotected, but I know you can handle yourself if you faced him.”
Her heart swelled with his confidence in her. He was asking for her aid. He was willing to treat her as his equal. He was confident that she could handle herself as a woman and a goddess.
Another chink in the armor around her heart split open, and a hint of love entered the magic swirling around her, caressing his aura of magic. “What do you need me to do, Hades?”
“I need the woman who killed him to be the bait that draws him out. I need you to protect her.”
She nodded and held her hand out to him. He took it and a grin split across his somber face.
He could feel the emotion in her magic.
“I felt that,” he teased her.
She sobered immediately.
He placed his helmet on the table between their thrones and knelt in front of her, looking up at her with his concerned eyes. “Don’t fear your emotions, Persephone. They are part of you.
They are what make you a Phlegethon. And they hold the strength of your power. It’s the way things are for our kind.”
He rested his head on her lap, bringing his hands to her waist and holding her. She felt herself soften and clamped down on her emotions, building the walls higher and striving to erase every trace of emotion. No matter how hard she tried, she could never completely hold them back, and yet she had to hold on, if not for herself, then for her husband, for her Hades.
She lifted his chin with her finger so she could see the sadness in his gorgeous blue eyes.
“I’m afraid, Hades.”
“There is nothing to fear.”
“But there is.” She brushed her fingers through the thick, black strands. “You should fear what is inside me as much as I do.”
He turned his head and kissed her thigh. Even through the linen, her skin tingled in response.
Someone cleared his throat. “Am I interrupting? I’ll wait until you’re done if that is the case.”
Hades winced and rose to his feet. Persephone peered around his lean frame to a god she
never met and the small woman who appeared to be barely out of childhood standing at his side.
She found an instant interest in the woman. She was dressed in a swirl of sheer ruby cloth attached at the right shoulder by a gold broach leaving the left bare. Her shiny black hair was a mass of shiny coils that framed her pale creamy face and accented the kohl-lined brown eyes.
She was spirit and innocence and seductress wrapped into a mortal frame. Persephone knew they would be friends. Perhaps they were already.
“Nothing that shouldn’t wait,” Persephone said. “I believe there is rebellion that needs
crushing.” She stood and stepped off the dais, her eyes never leaving the woman’s sharp gaze.
“Why don’t we retire to the andronitis while the men discuss their war plans?”
Chapter 28
THE WOMAN’S name was Lilith and she was only twenty-years-old, taken from her tribe as
a child and trained to be the bed-slave of the man Adman. She’d escaped once and returned to her tribe, only to witness the slaughter of everyone she loved when he came for her, their deaths her punishment for running away.
Persephone was entranced by the tales Lilith wove of distant lands and people. She would
like to visit such places one day.
“I watched Adman conquer tribe after tribe, killing anyone he felt threatened by, destroying entire people in the name of greed. All he wanted was to claim their riches. All he ruled was an empty land of death. I had to stop his evil. My life didn’t matter.”
“How did you kill him?” Persephone asked.
“I changed the rules. I seduced him, rode him, and waited until the moment he spilled his seed inside me to stab him through the heart. But I missed and he bled to death while he
strangled me.” She laughed. A bitter laugh filled with the irony and amusement of the situation.
“How about you? You’re as cold as any goddess I’ve met, but it’s not a natural state for you.”
“And you presume to know this after an hour?”
Lilith shrugged. “Your man is full of passion. He wouldn’t love you the way he does if you were such a cold-hearted goddess. So what happened? What did he do?”
“He did nothing. I did.”
Both women turned to Eris, who was lounging on one of the benches, wearing another one of her thigh revealing dresses. This one was black and dipped very low in the front. An onyx stone rested between her small breasts and a long, wicked looking dagger was strapped to her right thigh.
Eris grinned at Persephone. “Aren’t you going to run and hide?”
“What would be the use? You’d just come looking for me.”
Eris pouted. “You’re no fun anymore.”
Eris waved her hand, weaving an interlacing ball of magic. The faint glow of the spinning globe brightened and from the corner of her eye, Persephone could see an image forming inside.
My Lord Hades Page 24
