Page 9 of The Dread Queen's Bargain

Hades and Persephone bade quick goodbyes to the rest of the group. As they departed from the kitchen, everyone watched Hades's broad hand fall to the swell of Persephone's back. Hermes wriggled out of Aeëtes’s arms as soon as they were gone.

“Ten drachma says Persephone tops him.”

“That’s it.” Hecate snapped her fingers, and a dark red portal opened in her hearth. She nodded to Aeëtes, who swiftly picked up a giggling Hermes and unceremoniously chucked him through the portal.

“To the rest of you,” Hecate sighed heavily, looking out the door to where Hades and Persephone had departed, “the Olympians will want a war for this.”

4

“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.

“I’m charmed.” She smiled. She could feel the dark power in her body beginning to take over her bloodstream. Persephone thought she might faint if she looked directly into Hades’s eyes too long. In that instant, no matter how foolish or farfetched, she decided Hades was hers.

Demeter tried so hard to keep me away from this man, Persephone thought to herself. Did she know how strongly this power in my body matches his? It practically screams for him.

“I have to admit,” Hades chuckled lowly, sounding like gravel, “I have never been so intrigued by one of Hermes’s companions before.”

“Hermes’s companions?” Persephone’s eyebrows raised. Hades blushed instantaneously, a hint of red on his dark complexion. Persephone’s chest swelled at the sight, enamoring him to her even more, which was beginning to feel even more ridiculous.

I swear to the Fates, Eros better not be hiding about.

“I apologize.” Hades dipped his head. “I didn’t mean to imply that you aren’t particularly special to Hermes, um, of course—”

“Oh!” Persephone started laughing. “No, I mean, not like that. We aren’t ‘companions’ in that sense.”

“Is that so?” Hades’s smile evolved from a polite, respectable grin to something rakish. “I must admit that I’m doubly intrigued by your presence now, Despoina.”

“I can’t imagine why.” Persephone batted her eyelashes and stepped closer to Hades until they were just a hair’s width apart. “A god like you must see a thousand pretty nymphs a day.”

Hades’s eyes darkened, and he held his hand out briefly as if he was going to touch her. He then dropped his hands to his side.

“I can honestly say I haven’t seen anyone so lovely in a millennium.” Hades whispered.

Persephone’s power started racing through her body, her heartbeat quickening as she suddenly found herself nearly overwhelmed with arousal.

As bold as his words were, his hands didn’t move from his side. Persephone got the unique sense that while Hades was undoubtedly charming, a tick in his jaw betrayed his nerves.

How cute. Persephone mused to herself. She ran her fingers through her hair before extending her hand and adjusting the brooch at Hades’s shoulder.

“This is lovely,” she whispered coyly. “However, I think I rather resent it.”

“Resent it?” Hades’s eyebrows shot upwards. “I don’t see how. All the gemstones and metals in the Underworld pale in your comparison.”

Persephone’s heart skipped a beat.

Hades’s expression was so open and eager that she somehow knew he wasn’t simply sweet-talking her. Persephone dragged her hand gently down Hades’s chest, brushing against the folds of his chiton and letting her touch linger. A low rumbling sound came from Hades’s throat as his body went taut as a bowstring. Persephone felt a rush of exhilaration at how affected Hades was by her touch.

“Yes, I rather resent it,” Persephone repeated, her lips dropping into a perfect pout. “After all, that brooch is keeping you dressed.”

“Oh, my—well, you know…” Hades started to stammer awkwardly, her cheeks crimson red as he struggled to find the right words.

Persephone could already imagine the feel of his beard across her skin and how soft those curls would feel in her fingers. A rush of magic danced across her skin; it was a soft pink and smelled of roses, and now Persephone flushed as her fertility magic betrayed her arousal.

The shock disappeared from Hades’s face, and his lips pulled into a thin line. Persephone froze, terrified that he’d recognized her magic or knew who she was. She didn’t breathe for a second, but Hades sprung into action. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him, rubbing their bodies together. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, sending goosebumps down her spine.

“I smell flowers,” he purred. “I have extensive private gardens at the palace. Do you want to get out of here?”

“Gods above and below, yes,” Persephone admitted with a gasp. They were in their little world, where the air was thick, and Persephone had never felt so much tension.

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