Page 90 of Queen of the Underworld

“It didwhat?” he boomed, cutting her off, his face darker than she had ever seen it.

His shadows burst from beneath his boots, and she gasped as they wrapped around her, embracing her as if they were his arms—as if they wanted to protect her too.

“I will slay this beast,” he snarled, anger flashing in his now-crimson eyes, and his fangs gleamed as he grinned coldly. “It will pay for what it did.”

“If you would let me finish.” Persephone swatted the shadows away, planted her hands on her hips and glowered at him, an echo of the thrill she had felt after chasing the beast off rushing through her veins.

Or perhaps that tingling buzz was because of how fierce and dark Hades looked as he plotted the demise of the creature. She tamped down the flare of desire his dark appearance caused and focused on relaying what had happened, because she wanted him to know that he wasn’t the only one who had changed in their time together.

“It was terrifying—oddly exciting—but I found this long, pointed branch, and I snapped it off and—and I wielded it like a spear… or perhaps a sword. I used all my wits and evaded the creature, and when I saw an opening… by the gods, it was like some kind of warrior instinct had hold of me. I stabbed it, plunging my spear deep into its flank to draw blood,” she thrust her right arm forwards, as if the beast was right in front of her, caught up in the excitement of her tale—the first tale of adventure she had ever told anyone—because it was the first real adventure she’d ever had, “and then it ran. Well, and then the wyvern showed up and I think perhaps it might have scared the beast off rather than me, but I like to think it was my victory—what? What is that look for?”

His gaze had warmed and turned blue, and his handsome face had softened as she had rambled.

She could easily fool herself into believing he was proud of her when he looked at her like that.

No one had ever been proud of her before.

She wasn’t sure how to react.

But then the warmth in his eyes turned to regret, and his dark eyebrows lowered, his features hardening a little again.

“I am sorry you had to fight the beast. I am sorry you were ever in danger.” His blue gaze darted between hers, and seeing him like this, so different from the snarling, dark male he had been when they had first met, softened her heart towards him even more. He sighed. “I am sorry I failed you.”

She blinked.

Her heart warmed.

The heart he had stolen from her.

She shook her head and took a step towards him, not wanting him to feel responsible for what had happened to her. “I am fine, Hades. I am well. In fact, I have never felt better.”

He ventured a step in her direction, and then halted, a pained look flitting across his face before he eased back again. He wanted to come to her. She wanted it too. She wanted him as close to her as he could get. Not so she would feel better, but so he would. She wanted to assuage his guilt and make him see that her experience yesterday had changed her for the better, had shown her that she could be strong and brave, and could fight her own battles.

And as frightening as it had been, it had been worth it to see that look on Hades’s face—the one that had revealed the depth of his feelings.

And that he was proud of her.

He casually leaned against the doorframe, far too sexy and alluring in all-black leather that hugged his figure and his hair tousled by her fingers.

And his tempting lips reddened by her kiss.

He cleared his throat, his face pinched, and then he muttered, “You returned to the tower.”

She smiled at how stiff he was, and how he had struggled to find something to say. His striking blue gaze drifted around the room and then settled back on her.

She rolled her shoulders. “I do not mind it here.”

And it had felt safer than remaining in his chambers, occupying his bed. Had she stayed there, her will to resist him might have shattered.

As it almost had just now.

She padded across the room to the window that overlooked his temple and stared beyond it. “Can we walk the orchard again?”

She glanced back at him, catching the surprise that flashed across his handsome features.

“Your leg does not hurt too much?” His gaze lowered to her thigh again to sear it and make her blood run far too hot.

She was tempted to fan herself as she turned to face him and shook her head. “Not at all.”

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