Page 40 of Queen of the Underworld

To protect herself.

“What is wrong with me?” she murmured as she folded her arms over her knees and rested her chin on them. “I have lost my mind. There is no other explanation.”

It would explain why she kept talking to herself.

She huffed.

Felt certain of one thing.

She was playing a dangerous game with the god-king of the Underworld.

One that might get her killed.

Actually, she was sure of two things. That and the fact he wouldn’t want her company at dinner and she wouldn’t see him for a few days.

She had barely finished that thought when a dark-haired woman dressed in a black diaphanous gown cinched with crimson bands beneath her breasts and around her waist, appeared from the staircase.

Crossed the room.

And laid a similar black dress with embroidered bands of gold on the bed.

Persephone huffed at the sight of it, her mood souring for a heartbeat as she shoved to her feet. She stormed across the room, seized the gown and held it out to the servant.

“Take it away. I do not want it.” She pushed it at the female, who backed away and scowled at her, as if she was insane.

She felt as if she was. Hades had her spinning out of control. Something about him had unlocked something inside her, gates that had held back a torrent of pain and suffering, and now she couldn’t close them again, even when she was desperate to seal them shut and return to how she had felt before. She didn’t want to feel like this. She didn’t want to feel worthless. No. That wasn’t quite right. She didn’t want to feel worthless to Hades. She didn’t want him to treat her as everyone else did. She wasn’t sure she could bear it.

Persephone kept pace with the servant, her pulse rocketing as her anger spiked and her heart screamed that she wouldn’t let him. “If he thinks he can dress me in black, he has another thing coming. Take it away and remind your master that I asked for a green dress.”

The woman took the dress and Persephone tipped her chin up, a glimmer of pride running through her veins from the small victory.

Only the servant laid the gown back on the bed, smoothing the wrinkled material with steady fingers.

Persephone huffed, debated making another attempt to force the woman to take it away, and decided against it. She could hardly blame the servant for not wanting to take it back to Hades. He would be furious and would probably take his anger out on her.

She couldn’t get this woman into trouble with her master, not when she could understand her fear so well. Not fear of Hades, but fear of the head of the household. Fear of her mother. How many times had she disappointed or angered her mother and paid the price for it? How many times had she witnessed her mother punishing servants for something they had done?

Her heart clenched, her thoughts turning to Mira and her maidens. The Fates only knew how Demeter had reacted to them returning without Persephone. She squeezed her fingers into a tight fist above her heart, hoping they hadn’t been beaten, but aware her mother would have flogged them for failing to protect her.

She didn’t want this servant to suffer such a fate, but that didn’t mean she would wear the dress.

Or let the woman go so easily.

“I was… ah… curious about something.” Persephone softened her tone and smiled at the servant, trying to set her at ease as she set her own plan in motion. Two could play at games and Hades was about to find out she could be a worthy opponent, and wouldn’t go down without a fight. “Whereabouts in the Underworld are we? Is it far from the gate to Olympus?”

The female had been relaxing and maybe even softening towards her, but she locked up tight as the questions left Persephone’s lips. Perhaps she wasn’t as worthy an adversary as she had thought. She was new to games, but she was a fast learner.

Persephone quickly raised her hands, not wanting her to leave. “I am only curious. It is not as if I can leave this tower to reach the gate.”

Her attempt to reassure the servant failed dismally.

The woman’s features hardened and she bit out harsh-sounding words—in the same language Hades had spoken.

Persephone didn’t need to understand it to know that the servant was angry, and was no doubt going to tell Hades what she had asked, but she refused to be deterred as another opportunity presented itself.

“That word you just said. What does it mean? I believe it was… ah…riesal?” It had sounded like that to her ears anyway and it was something Hades had said. When the servant glared at her with suspicion darkening her eyes, Persephone was quick to smile softly and add, “I only want to understand the language. It would not do for a queen to be unable to speak with her people.”

For a moment, Persephone was sure the servant wouldn’t tell her.

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