Page 57 of Tempted By Hades

Lost my phone, and I can’t find Adonis. Meet me outside the festivities—Geri.

“Oh no.” Tucking the note into her pocket, Persephone made her way through the jubilant crowd of souls, the sounds of celebration fading as she stepped outside into the quieter realm of the Underworld. The dim glow of ghostly lights illuminated the pathways as she searched for Geri. She exited the bustling scene, entering the more secluded parts of the Underworld. The flickering lights cast uncertain shadows as she ventured into the awaiting unknown.

Outside the lively celebration, she encountered a shadowy silhouette that seemed both unfamiliar and strangely known. The air hung heavy with anticipation, and the darkness of the Underworld seemed to close in, shrouding the encounter in an unsettling atmosphere. Persephone’s senses heightened, and she braced herself for the revelation that awaited her in the dimly lit corners of the realm below.

“Have you seen my friend Geri? She’s about this tall with brown hair.”

“Yes, my lady,” the soul said, nodding and pointing to his left. “She walked that way.”

Persephone’s steps faltered as she cast a wary gaze at the soul. “Geri? What do you mean, you saw her walking?”

The soul, its features obscured by the dim light, spoke in a hollow whisper. “I saw her just outside the festivities. I can guide you there if you’d like.”

A wariness flickered in Persephone’s eyes, a lingering doubt in the pit of her stomach. “Should I trust you?”

The soul’s voice took on an ethereal tone. “I mean you no harm, Lady Persephone. Just follow, and you’ll find what you seek.”

Persephone sighed and nodded. “Lead the way, then.”

The soul gestured, and she reluctantly followed into the uncertain depths of the Underworld.

The journey led her into unfamiliar, rocky terrain, and the once steady ground became uneven. Persephone stumbled, the disorientation amplifying with each step. The spectral glow of the Underworld cast elongated shadows as she tried to regain her balance.

A whimper escaped her lips as unseen forces pushed her, disorienting her senses. The unseen hands pushed her off balance. The ground beneath her feet became treacherous, and with a sudden jolt, she found herself careening down the rocky terrain. A sharp cry erupted from her as she collided with the unforgiving rocks. She felt the scrape of rocks against her knees and hands, the pain shooting through her body. The harsh landing left her gasping, and she moaned in pain. The last thing she remembered was two figures standing over her before she passed out.

Chapter 11

Hades

Hades could barely look at himself in the mirror as he finished splashing his face with water.

Coward, that voice inside him accused.

There was no arguing there. He was, indeed, a coward. He couldn’t even look at her as he left her outside in the bedroom. He turned tail and transported himself to the bathroom without a single thought.

Regret filled him. Once again, he had let his emotions take over. First, the jealousy when he saw her dancing with that handsome youth. He’d been doing an excellent job keeping her at arm’s length. The garden and then the street party had served as good distractions for her. But seeing another man’s arms around her had driven him to the edge.

He should have been with her from the beginning, but Minthe had called him about some business with an expired contract, and he had no choice but to call for a meeting with all the parties involved. The matter had been dealt with, and when he had mentioned he was going to the street party, she asked to join him. Seeing as everyone had been invited to the party, he didn’t see the problem. When they arrived, Minthe had led them to the stage area, where he had seen Persephone dancing closely to Adonis.

“Oh, is that Persephone?” Minthe had said. “And who’s that with her?”

He didn’t have any idea, but rage had seethed in him, and all he had wanted to do was tear the man’s arms from their sockets. However, seeing as they were in public, he didn’t want to cause a scene, so he walked away. When they encountered the couple again, Persephone didn’t even deny sleeping with him, and so he lost his temper.

Then he committed mistake number two—taking her away to his bedroom. He had no idea she had thought this entire time he didn’t desire her. He’d seen the anguish on her face, thinking she’d been a discarded toy.

Hades would have called falling into bed with her his third mistake, but he could not. When what they had shared was so beautiful. Seeing her fall apart, tasting her, touching her—it was better than his fantasy. No, his third mistake was leaving her without explaining.

It had happened much too fast. He had forgotten himself, forgotten his vow not to sleep with her, not when the truth of why she was here hung over him like a sword.

She was never going to forgive him.

Hades pushed himself off the sink and rushed back into the bedroom.

“Persephone? We should talk.”

The echoing silence told him that the room was empty.

She had gone.

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