Page 18 of Tempted By Hades

“Then next time, if you were only going to report it after the fact, there’s no need to raise an alarm.” While it was true that escaped souls were a serious matter, his people had quickly tracked this one down before it caused any havoc. Polyglotnus had overreacted by hastily calling Hades back.

“Y-yes my lord. I promise, I will use more prudence in such situations.” He bowed his head.

“Good. You are dismissed.”

As soon as the daemon was gone, Hades blew out a breath and sank down on his chair. Perhaps, he was not mad about being called back abruptly.

Maybe he was secretly relieved.

That kiss.

In all of his existence and with all his encounters with women, he’d never felt like that, and certainly not with one kiss.

But something about it had shifted the very ground underneath his feet.

Now he was doubting his plan. Doubting himself.

Why in the Underworld did he even ask that of her? Shaking his head mentally, he couldn’t even remember why he chose that as his price.

Maybe it was because he’d been staring at her plump lips the entire afternoon, wondering what they would taste like. How they would feel under his mouth.

Time was running out. He had to make Persephone his mate and queen, and soon.

With a determined grunt, he shot up from the chair, determined to go back to Persephone. However, before he could transport himself, a knock on the door prevented him from leaving. “Come in!”

“My Lord Hades.” It was Menoetes, one of his most trusted lieutenants and in charge of the black-skinned cattle roaming the Underworld. “Apologies for the interruption, but I must speak to you at once.”

“What is it?” he asked, irritated.

“It is regarding the renovations you wished to make to secure the herd.” His dark bushy eyebrows drew together.

“Must we do this now?” Hades’s patience wore thin.

“B-but your cattle…we must prevent another incident from happening again.”

Ah, yes, the Hercules incident. Hades supposed he couldn’t blame the daemon from being sore about that even though that had happened a few thousand years ago. “Alright.” Resigned, he sat back down and motioned for him to do the same. “Let’s get this over with.”

Unfortunately, after he finished his business with Menoetes, more Underworld matters came streaming into his office—a dispute between two neighboring daemons, more lost souls that needed to be found, special burial requests, declining a few hundred invitations to funerals—the usual day-to-day business that took up his time. Hours—or days perhaps because time moved differently in the Underworld—passed before the last of his underlings left through the door, and Hades was finally free of his obligations.

After refreshing himself quickly in his quarters, he let for the Upperworld, quickly transporting himself to the plant shop. This time, he used the door, the little bell tinkling above him as he entered. The shop was bustling with several customers milling about. He spotted Geri in the corner, speaking to a customer as she held up a pot of what appeared to be geraniums. When she glanced over at him, her mouth shut mid-sentence, then her nostrils flared. Teeth bared, she put the pot down.

“Geri?” the customer asked. “Are you okay?”

“What? Huh?”

“What were you telling me about this?”

“Oh.” The wolf shifter shook her head, though sent Hades a dirty look before picking up the pot again. “Sorry about that, miss. As I was saying….”

Moving deeper into the shop, he walked past a row of flowering plants, looking for Persephone. When he finally spotted a familiar flaxen-haired figure at the end of the row, he headed straight for her.

“Persephone, I’m back,” he announced.

Her entire body stiffened, but she remained silent.

“Apologies for the delay in returning.”

Still no answer.

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