Page 12 of Tempted By Hades

Chapter 3

Persephone

Anticipation ran through Persephone for the next few days. Each time the little bell over the door at the shop entrance rang, her belly would tighten at the thought that it would be him. And disappointment sank in her gut each time it wasn’t. Indeed, she was losing hope that he would ever come back.

Until today.

She’d been in the back, repotting plants. Remembering that she’d left the plant labels in the front, she brushed the dirt off her hands and walked into the shop—only to find the tall, imposing figure standing casually by the register. Her heart slammed into her rib cage.

Of course, she hadn’t even heard the bell.

“Hello,” he greeted, those dark eyes zeroing in on her and sending the tiniest thrill down her spine. “I’m back.”

“Y-yes.” She took a step closer. “You’re back.”

“Do you have what I need?”

Excitement tingled in her belly. “I might. But first, you need to tell me who you are.”

His impassive face didn’t even shift, not the tiniest bit. “I think you already know.”

Time stretched between them before she found the courage to speak.

“Hades.”

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or if it was because of his power, but she could have sworn she heard a crackle of electricity at the mention of his name.

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Smart girl. Did your mother tell you who I was?”

“No. In fact, she doesn’t know you were looking for her.”

“And why not?”

“Because if you really were looking for her, she would have known by now.” A gasp escaped her lips as those words escaped her mouth. It must have caught him off guard, too, because she saw his expression change to surprise for the briefest second.

“You are very perceptive, Persephone.”

She nodded, throat going dry at the way her name rolled off his tongue. “Anyway,” she said, clearing her throat, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, “I found the asphodel plant you’ve been searching for—it’s on display right now at the New York Botanical Garden.”

He looked at her, his stoic expression softening with genuine interest. “Are you certain?” he asked, his deep voice carrying a note of anticipation.

She nodded. “I read about it in a gardening exhibition they’re hosting. They have an entire section dedicated to rare and mystical flora. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to see the plant up close.”

“Us?”

Again, she surprised herself with her boldness. “I mean, of course, you’re welcome to go by yourself. But I was curious about it, having never seen it myself. I could go another time, if you feel the garden isn’t big enough for both of us.”

“Your knowledge of the mortal world might be invaluable. We should definitely go and see the plant together.” He held out his hand. “Come.”

While she was tempted to reach out and find out how his bare skin would feel, she instead pulled out her phone, her fingers swiftly navigating the screen to search for directions to the New York Botanical Garden. “We can take the subway to the Bronx.”

He regarded her with a hint of amusement, his eyes sparkling with an enigmatic light. “Persephone, you know, I can easily teleport us to the garden in an instant. Mortals won’t notice, and we’ll save time.”

She shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I think it’s important to experience the mortal world the way they do. Taking the subway is a part of that experience. Plus, I find it fascinating how they’ve built this intricate web of transportation beneath the city.”

He studied her for a moment, as if silently weighing the pros and cons of mortal travel. Finally, he sighed. “Very well. If it means that much to you, we’ll do it the mortal way.”

She grinned, feeling a sense of victory. “Thank you. I promise it’ll be an adventure.”

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