Page 107 of Hades

Marek’s relief was palpable in the split second before he disappeared. Persephone stepped up beside Hades and smiled at him again. He slid her a look that told her to stop gazing at him as if he was a ‘good boy’ for trying to get along with the others. He was god-king of the Underworld, ruler of this realm, and a male to be respected and feared.

“Laters, Pops,” Valen called.

Hades grimaced. “Must he call me that?”

Persephone grinned. “I believe he must.”

“He does it to annoy me,” he muttered.

Valen chimed in, “I do everything to annoy you.”

Hades glowered over her head at his son. Valen just grinned at him and then teleported.

“Come on. Let’s get you back so you can put your feet up before the feast.” Daimon took hold of Cassandra’s hand.

She huffed and rolled her eyes. “I am not glass.”

“Keep telling me that, baby.” Daimon gathered her to him and glanced at Ares. “You coming?”

Ares nodded. “Megan will be having kittens by now.”

Hades wasn’t familiar with that expression, but he wasn’t about to ask for an explanation, and didn’t get a chance anyway. Ares teleported and Daimon followed him, taking Cassandra and a now domestic-cat Mr Milos with him.

One by one, more people disappeared from his senses.

He turned when Persephone left his side, his gaze tracking her. She was streaked with blood, her crimson hair was dishevelled and wild, but she had never been more beautiful or more alluring as she checked on Keras and healed a wound on his arm.

And shyly glanced Hades’s way.

She had been as much a warrior as he was today, fierce and courageous, and skilled. Hunger lit his blood on fire as he raked his gaze over her curves, the way the supple black leather hugged her figure unleashing an inferno that threatened to torch his control. Her wicked promise echoed in his mind as he stared at her and a need to make her keep that vow had him striding towards her with purpose.

Relief from the threat to the Underworld and mortal realm being gone, and the weight lifting from his shoulders, mingled with how incredibly relieved he was that they were both alive and their family was safe.

And he couldn’t stop himself from sweeping her up into his arms and claiming her lips with a hard kiss when he reached her.

“We should get back to the palace and prepare for the feast,” Keras said. “Are you coming home with us?”

The look on his eldest son’s face said he already knew what the answer would be when Hades broke the kiss and glared at him.

The look on Persephone’s said she did too, and that she wanted him as fiercely as he needed her.

“I have a promise to keep,” she said before Hades could utter a word.

Addling him with the thought of peeling her leather armour off her lush curves.

“Here we go again,” Keras muttered. “Meet us back in the palace?”

Keras stole the words right out of his mouth, echoing ones Hades had said to him back when he had saved Persephone from the tower, when he had been ravenous for her just as he was now.

Which left only one thing for Hades to do.

He growled and swept her into his arms.

Kissed her with all the love—all the need—he felt for her.

And teleported.

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