Page 7 of The Dread Queen's Bargain

“Isn’t that a name of the Underworld?” It was Erebus who spoke first. Nyx nodded but said nothing, her steely gaze staying locked on Persephone. Hecate grinned softly, tilting her head to the side as she beckoned Persephone forward.

“You’re certainly not a nymph that I’ve ever met before. Are you one of Circe’s?”

“She doesn’t have Circe’s magic,” Nyx interjected, putting her elbows on the table and resting her chin in her hands.

“I’m from Arcadia,” Persephone forced some bravado into her voice and tried to sound easygoing and simple. It’s the same role you play for the other Olympians, she reminded herself. Just a sweet, simple lover of spring. Just be a nymph instead of a goddess this time. “Do you know where that is?” After a second, Persephone slipped back into the pretty, ditzy personality she knew how to wield like a weapon.

Aeëtes and Erebus seemed to relax, but Nyx and Hecate remained as perceptive as ever. Hermes threw an arm around Persephone’s shoulders and flashed a blinding smile.

“Isn’t she a snack? I’m so tired of being the fifth wheel, you know.” Everyone spoke up and fell back into their conversations after that, seemingly willing to believe Persephone’s act and Hermes’s tendency to show up with random dates. Everyone scooted further down on the bench seats and made room for Hermes and Persephone.

Persephone was about to sit down when a deep voice cut through the noise of several side conversations.

“Who is she?”

Persephone’s heart stopped. Her body froze. She panicked as the mysterious dark magic in her veins started throttling her senses, overwhelming her with the scent of smoke. Her vision almost blacked out entirely. Hermes squeezed her hand from across the table, pulling her back from the edge of an abyss. She blinked to clear her vision and realized everyone was staring at her. Aeëtes and Erebus looked confused, but Nyx and Hecate stared at Persephone as if they finally found the answer to a question they hadn’t dared ask.

“I’m sorry,” Persephone coughed. “You’ve startled me. I’m Des…poina.” Persephone turned around and struggled to finish introducing herself once she laid eyes on Hecate’s newest guest.

He didn’t need an introduction. Even with the bit of exposure she’d had, with only scraps of knowledge she’d fought for over the centuries, she knew who he was.

Hades Agesilaos was standing in the doorway of Hecate’s kitchen.

Hades wore a black chiton that went down to his ankles with matching black leather sandals. A silver and ruby brooch was pinned at his shoulder, and he had a short beard that looked more like a permanent shadow across his jaw. His long, curling black hair passed his shoulders, and his skin glowed bronze in the firelight. If his power weren’t so potent, Persephone would’ve mistaken him for Hephaestus by the width of his shoulders alone. Hades’s features were strong—he didn’t have the pretty, well-kept look that so many Greek men favored. No. Hades looked as raw and powerful as the magic that practically poured from the hem of his clothing.

He was, without a doubt, the hottest man or god Persephone had ever seen, alive or dead.

Hermes jumped to his feet and placed his head on Persephone’s shoulder. “Isn’t she a delight?” Hermes chuckled. “We met in Arcadia. I brought her along.”

Hades made some grunting, growling sound that made Persephone’s thighs clench. She pinched herself and plastered a saccharine smile on her face.

“Hi.” She held her hand out. “What’s your name? I’m Despoina, like I said.”

Hades studied her without saying a word. Persephone didn’t breathe while she waited for him to say something. After nearly a full minute, he graciously accepted her hand and pressed his lips to it. At the sensation of his soft kiss grazing her knuckles, Persephone’s entire body trembled with arousal. She’d never experienced such an instant, nearly feral attraction to someone before, and it was threatening to wipe her brain clean of any sense.

“My name is Hades.” Hades’s voice was deeper than any pit of hell Persephone could conjure. She tried to keep herself from visibly shuddering. His black eyes sparkled as he straightened to his full height, his fingers lingering in Persephone’s.

“Well,” Hermes chuckled good-naturedly, “I certainly have never gotten such a…welcoming greeting from Hades.”

“Hermes.” Hecate's warning growl echoed from the table. “Come sit down.”

Hermes smirked and sauntered over to the long table. Instead of taking the seat offered to him at the end of the bench, he elbowed between Erebus and Aeëtes.

“Delicious.” He grinned, picking up a glass of wine while referring to his surroundings.

“Do you have any idea what you've done?” Hecate hissed, pointing a long finger at Hermes. He recoiled slightly when he saw the genuine frustration on her face.

“Me?” Hermes blushed furiously. “No, I don’t know what you're talking about.”

“You know exactly what she's talking about. ‘Despoina’? Cute.” Nyx raised a single eyebrow and stared at Hermes. He shuddered under the weight of their combined gazes.

“What's happening?” Aeëtes stage-whispered, ducking behind Hermes to look at Erebus.

Erebus cleared his throat, keeping his voice down to avoid being overheard by Persephone and Hades.

“When Persephone was born, Demeter immediately did what she does best…”

“She started complaining about something?” Hermes interjected.

---