Page 10 of The Dread Queen's Bargain

“Don’t mention the gods above here,” Hades growled in a playful warning. “You’ll find they have no power.” Persephone shuddered in his broad arms and nodded her head obediently. She quickly righted herself and breathed slowly, hoping her voice didn’t sound as shaky as she felt when she approached the other gods.

They’d been animated in deep conversation, but everyone went silent when Persephone and Hades approached them.

“Hermes,” Persephone smiled, “I’m going to leave with Hades if you don't mind.”

Hermes’s jaw dropped open. He looked at Hades, but Persephone didn’t follow his gaze.

Hermes grinned, holding his hands out, and offered a short nod to Persephone. “Of course. Are you going for a little tour of the Underworld?”

“Hades has private gardens,” Persephone’s expression was flushed, “and he's going to show them to me.”

“I bet he's going to show you—” Hermes was cut off as Aeëtes pulled him into a headlock.

“Don't listen to Hermes.” Aeëtes offered an easy-going grin. “Enjoy!”

Hades and Persephone bade quick goodbyes to the rest of the group. She knew they were being as subtle as a titan, but frankly, she didn’t give a damn at this point.

Persephone started walking towards the exit, and a delighted tremor danced over her skin when Hades’s hand pressed against the swell of her back. His hand nearly covered her entire back, and Persephone was almost knocked to her knees with another rush of arousal.

She was a fertility goddess, after all—something Demeter had never considered as she constantly criticized Persephone openly for not having a more petite figure—and the idea of getting underneath a god like Hades was exhilarating. He was strong and broad and made her feel small and nearly dainty in comparison, which she was inherently not used to.

Once they stepped out of Hecate’s house, Persephone turned to look up at Hades. He seamlessly took the lead, grabbing her hand and escorting her out of the courtyard.

“Have you traveled with a god before?” Hades asked. Persephone could see some of his nerves return, and she smiled at his sincerity. It was apparent he wasn’t used to picking up women. Persephone was willing to wager he wasn’t used to casual sex.

It’s endearing, Persephone mused, if unexpected from the god of the Underworld.

“A few times.” She answered his question, careful not to mention Demeter by name. Hades nodded and released her hand, holding his arm for her instead. Persephone entwined her arm with his, and the world around them slipped away. They were suspended in darkness for only a few seconds before reappearing in a grand reception room.

“Oh, this is incredible.” Persephone gasped aloud, releasing Hades’s arm and running towards the center of the room. He chuckled in approval as Persephone tried to soak in the incredible sight.

The ceilings were taller than in any room Persephone had ever been, even taller than the ones in Zeus’s hall. Everything was carved from black stone, from onyx to marble, and veins of diamonds glittered in torchlight. A pair of double doors were at one end of the room and a great dais was at the other. A colossal throne sat atop the dais, carved from the same black stone as the floor, making it look like it was growing out of the ground.

Persephone looked up at the ceiling again and squinted, trying to see what it was made of.

“What are those?” She pointed, unable to identify the interwoven organic shapes.

Hades smiled proudly and walked closer to Persephone. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his side. Persephone found herself naturally arching towards him like a cat denied affection for too long.

“Those are roots.” His voice was soft. “They’re the roots of the mountain itself. At night, they bloom rather deliciously with jasmine.”

Persephone gasped. Demeter had warned her the Underworld was a barren desert with no plant life. Instead, now in the very court of Hades himself, she found a paradise carved from the earth with a ceiling made of night-blooming flowers.

“The mountain?” Persephone raised a brow.

Hades chuckled.

“We’re in the belly of Olympus,” Hades whispered conspiratorially. “The other gods would probably lose their minds if they realized their precious pantheon sits directly atop mine. However, not many gods enjoy visiting here.” Persephone’s eyes went wide, but imagining her mother’s horror made her laugh.

“Are you close to any of the gods?” Persephone couldn’t help but wonder—did Hades live the wretched, solitary existence her mother claimed?

Hades only shrugged. “I’m close to the other gods of the Underworld. Thanatos and I share a certain bond, but only we understand.” Hades’s expression slipped slightly, and Persephone didn’t want to push the question further.

“The Olympians would panic if they realized you’re the foundation on which their delicate existence sits.”

“Oh, Despoina,” Hades purred, wrapping his arms around her from behind. The sexual tension was palpable between them, temporarily waylayed by Persephone’s wonder and amusement at seeing the great hall. “The Underworld is the foundation of everything in this world.”

Persephone turned around in Hades’s arms, going up on her tiptoes, tilting her head as she got closer.

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