Page 164 of A Touch of Chaos

And suddenly it was their turn.

It was so bright, Persephone could barely keep her eyes open as they emerged from the shadow. It seemed to her that the sun was brighter and hotter in the aftermath of her mother’s storm. Even now, she could feel its rays burning her skin. She blinked, eyes watering, as she brought her hand up to shield her face, emerging to a chorus of noise.

She could not distinguish the sounds—if they were cheers or jeers—but it did not really matter because she could feel the hostility in the air. Eventually, as her vision adjusted, she could see it in the angry, red-faced mortals shouting from the stands, their fingers curled into shaking fists, and while there were some who declared their love, the hate seemed far louder. Though as Hades followed the line of chariots to the footpath surrounding the dusty floor of the stadium, the crowd quieted.

Persephone glanced back at her husband. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Putting the fear of death within them,” he said.

“I do not want their devotion to be born out of fear,” said Persephone.

Hades said nothing, but she did not need his words. Mostly she was just expressing her own fear—that she would never regain the trust of the mortal world.

Hades brought the chariot to a stop, and Persephone let her hands relax, realizing how hard she had been gripping its edge as she stretched her fingers. Hades took a step back, allowing her the space to turn and face him. He took her hands in his and kissed them, threads of healing warmth easing the ache.

She was not sure why she blushed. She was used toHades performing far more lascivious acts, but there was something about the quiet brush of his lips she could feel deep in her gut.

He offered a small smile, as if he could sense the fire he had lit within her, and took a step down from the chariot.

“Let me help you,” he said, looking up at her. His hands were already on her waist, his face level with her breasts, which he made sure to brush with his chin.

“You know I will not deny you,” she said.

He lifted her, and when he set her down, he let her slide down his body. She felt every hard inch of him. She flushed again, holding his gaze.

“I know what you are doing,” she said.

“And what is that?” he asked.

“You are hoping I will be aroused by your touch and ask to leave,” she said.

“And are you?” he asked. “Aroused?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I am not leaving, Hades,” she said.

“We do not have to leave,” he said. “I can fuck you anywhere.”

“You two are so gross,” said Hermes as he sauntered by, dressed in gold armor and wearing a gold circlet with wings.

“What’s wrong, Hermes?” said Hades. “Do you want me to fuck you too?”

The God of Trickery stumbled going up the steps and into the stands. Hades chuckled, but his amusement faded when his gaze returned to Persephone.

“That was unkind,” she said.

“So were his words,” said Hades.

“He was joking.”

Hades snickered. “So was I.”

She rolled her eyes and moved past him, following the gods into the stadium. Hades remained close, a physical shadow. They passed the first row of gods where Aphrodite and Hephaestus sat beside Apollo and Artemis. She had expected the goddess’s disdain, as none of their previous interactions had gone well, and according to Aphrodite, Artemis had accepted Zeus’s call to bring Persephone to him in chains, all for a title and shield, though it did not seem that she had attempted her mission. Persephone wondered if Apollo had something to do with that.

She held Artemis’s gaze as she passed, sliding into the second row. With dread, Persephone realized she was seated in front of Hera, who sat in one of two throne-like seats, obviously intended for the King and Queen of the Gods, though the God of the Sky was noticeably absent.

Persephone wondered if all the gods knew what had befallen Zeus. Did they feel like the rest of them? Conflicted?

Hera was already seated, her shrewd gaze fixed on Persephone. She stared back and offered a single nod.

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