Page 32 of The Dread Queen's Bargain

“You’re okay.” Hades was at her side immediately. “Persephone, look at me.” Persephone took a long breath and recognized Hades’s bedroom. Her body began to relax when it saw its surroundings.

“Hades,” Persephone sighed, “what the fuck was that?” Hades nodded understandingly, but he looked conflicted.

“I think… It’s better if I show you.”

“Show me?” Persephone’s brow furrowed as she looked at him. “What are you talking about?”

Hades stood up from the side of the bed and held his hand out for her. Persephone obliged, letting him help her get out of bed. She was unsteady as she walked, moving like a newborn deer. Hades held her elbow firmly and helped her move slowly, stopping right before the shining piece of glass that functioned as a mirror.

“Stay calm,” Hades warned her, his expression still unreadable. “You’re still Persephone. Okay?”

“You’re starting to scare me,” Persephone looked at him cautiously, “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

“I’ll explain everything in a minute,” Hades promised.

When Persephone nodded her agreement, he stepped out of the way and unobstructed her view of the mirror. Persephone shrieked.

The goddess staring back at her from the mirror was not the goddess she remembered. Persephone’s himation had turned black, matching Hades’s garments perfectly, except more tailored for her form. Her eyes were entirely black, and she could practically see the power emanating from her in waves. She saw black and purple flames lighting up from her fingertips at certain angles. As she stared, a crown appeared on her forehead, made of bones, dried red roses, black narcissus flowers, and thorns. She reached for the mirror, trying to understand if what she was looking at was real. When she moved, the himation moved around her body like oil on water, trailing after each curve. It created a silhouette that was so intoxicating, all soft and rolling, it would make Aphrodite weep.

“Hades…” Persephone gasped, turning around to face him. There was an expression of caution and pride on his face, and he offered her a small smile. “What happened?”

“You found your power.” Hades sighed, sitting down in one of the chairs near the fireplace. “It happens to all the gods of the Underworld when we accept our positions. No one expected it would happen to you when Hecate wanted to give you a little practice.”

“I don’t understand.” Persephone shook her head and sat down across from him. Hades nodded as if this was all very normal.

“You were so unfamiliar with your dark powers. Hecate and I thought it would take some getting used to before you answered the call.”

“The call?”

Hades shrugged. “The call of the Underworld, the call of your destiny. All of us went through it, some younger than others. I think only Nyx and Erebus didn’t experience it since they predated everything, but some of the Underworld’s minor deities don’t go through it, either. In order to reign in the Underworld, you have to know it and become a master of it. You have to live through the cycle of death and rebirth.”

The blood drained from Persephone’s face as she turned around in her chair to study her reflection again. “Are you saying I died?”

“You died repeatedly. You experienced the totality of the cycles of death and rebirth in a way that only you now understand, so only you can command,” Hades corrected. “I have a theory. It was likely more intense for you than us since Demeter tried to delay your destiny for many centuries.”

“Like…us.” Persephone was suddenly feeling bold, the fresh powers mixing in her body in a way they never had before. Previously, it was like opposing forces crashing against each other in her gut. Now, it was a pleasant buzz that vibrated and mixed over her skin. Hades sobered further and froze.

“Yes,” he began slowly, afraid to say something wrong. “I know…” Hades hesitated again. “I know I felt very strongly for you the moment I saw you. Impossibly so. It has ruined me in as many days, but I have even less of a desire to let you go.”

Tangible relief rushed through Persephone at Hades’s admission. Their previous arguments seemed eons away now. It really did feel as though she’d lived and died a thousand times over while answering the call.

Hades began fidgeting in his seat, and Persephone realized he was nervous, waiting to hear what she would say. She raised a brow and smiled at him, enjoying the sight of the mighty god of the Underworld, nervous and at her mercy.

“You know,” Persephone stood up slowly from her seat and started walking towards him, “We could have been doing this for centuries if you had tried to come and find me.” Persephone swayed her hips as she walked, watching Hades’s eyes glaze over.

“A mistake that will haunt me for another millennium.” Hades swallowed thickly, his lips dropping open as his breathing picked up.

Persephone smiled, a rush running through her body as she relished Hades’s obvious torment.

“So many long, lonely nights.” Persephone’s voice was breathy as she closed her eyes and leaned back. Standing before Hades, she began running her hands up her body. Her arousal was starting to burn her up from the inside. Her nipples hardened under her clothing as she focused on the feeling of the soft fabric caressing her skin, the thrum between her legs beginning to draw attention to the building ache there.

“Persephone,” Hades growled in warning. He was practically panting.

Persephone fluttered her eyes open and realized Hades was sitting on the edge of his chair, his erection evident beneath the folds of his chiton while gripping the armrests so tightly his knuckles were white. Another thrill ran through Persephone as she continued to tease him.

“You have no idea,” Persephone moaned, pinching her nipples between her fingers, “how horrific it is to stay awake, night after night, feeling so empty…”

“Persephone,” Hades groaned, sounding tormented, “let me touch you. I’ll give you whatever you want. Anything. Please.” His voice nearly cracked at the end, and Persephone giggled.

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