Page 100 of Queen of the Underworld

His power over her was growing weaker.

Or she was growing stronger.

He wasn’t sure which it was, but he didn’t like it.

He had tried sealing them again, but had hesitated to finish the ward, even when he feared that if he left her powers intact, she might leave. By her account, she had been kept in an invisible cage her entire life, and knowing how she had suffered, he couldn’t place her back in the tower or strip her powers from her. He couldn’t hurt her like that.

But what if she left him?

Hades wasn’t sure he would survive that. Not now. He was too deeply in love with her. Done for. Hers. Whether she wanted him or not.

He frowned and risked stroking his fingers down her bare arm. A little smile curling her lips was his reward for his courage, one that warmed the cold reaches of his heart and soothed his fears. She was growing warmer towards him, and rather than running away again when he had left her in his chambers, she had chosen to return to the tower. She had chosen to kiss him, and had instigated their moment on his chariot. And now she was sleeping in his bed.

With him.

He liked to think she might remain here with him if he asked her again. She might agree to be his queen.

His wife.

Hades gazed at her, envying her. She slept so soundly, while sleep eluded him, refusing to come even when he closed his eyes and rested his head on the pillows. He had tried sleeping several times, had even tucked Persephone in his arms to hold her against him and breathe her in, but his thoughts were too frantic.

He dropped a soft kiss on her brow, eased out of the bed, and looked back at her. He wanted to hold her again and feel her curves pressed against him, but he wouldn’t find any rest or peace if he did. He needed to walk and think, to mull over everything and find a way to make her agree to be his, because living without her was no longer an option.

Hades tugged his black leathers on, jammed his feet into his boots, and pulled a loose black linen shirt over his head. He didn’t bother to tuck it in. He strode to the wooden doors and paused there to glance back at Persephone, the urge to return to her strong. Lazing beside her wouldn’t help him clear his head so he could think straight and find a way to win her heart. She addled his mind whenever he gazed at her, desire stealing control of him whenever he was close to her. It was better he went for a walk.

Still, it took monumental effort to convince himself to step out of the door and leave. The war between staying and going lasted so long he was sure dawn would come and she would wake before it was decided. When he finally found the strength to leave her sleeping, he eased the doors closed behind him, checked the area to make sure no male was near his beloved, and then strode away from the temple, heading for the stable block.

Cerberus perked up when he neared, his three great heads lifting from the dirt and glowing blue eyes seeking Hades. The black hound’s long tail thumped against the ground, causing tremors Hades could feel as he closed the distance between them. Before he had reached the gate, Cerberus was on his feet, his heads easily hanging over the low wall to nuzzle and lick him. He frowned at his pet’s behaviour. Cerberus was often attentive, but never this attentive.

The hound barely waited for him to open the gate to let him out, lifting a paw as if to step over the wall to gain his freedom, which wasn’t like him. Despite how low the wall around his enclosure was, Cerberus always waited inside it for Hades to open the gate and never left his paddock without Hades’s permission.

“What has gotten into you today?” Hades eyed the three-headed hound as he swung the gate open and Cerberus trotted out and around him, and nudged him in the back, pushing him forwards.

Hades frowned over his shoulder at his pet when Cerberus kept pushing, making him stumble towards the open plain where they often walked.

And away from the temple.

“Stop that now,” Hades grumbled and Cerberus obeyed, running circles around him instead and herding him towards the middle of the plain without nudging him. Maybe he had kept Cerberus cooped up for too many days, neglecting his needs. He looked back over his shoulder at the distant temple, something tugging his gaze in that direction. “We should not stray too far from Persephone.”

Cerberus growled.

Hades arched an eyebrow at him.

All three heads bared fangs at the temple.

Hades sighed as he realised why Cerberus had been pushing him and why he had been so eager to go out for a walk.

“Jealousy does not suit you.” He lifted a hand to stroke the muzzle of Cerberus’s middle head, but Cerberus snapped fangs at him. Hades glared at him and Cerberus lowered his heads and averted his gaze. He sighed again and petted him. “I am sorry I have been preoccupied, old friend. Come, let us walk. I have much energy to burn.”

Cerberus perked up again and raced away from him, only to stop and then run back. The beast repeated this as Hades strolled across the plain, heading for the distant volcano that tossed great plumes of billowing smoke and ash into the air and belched lava. Hades shook his head, marvelling at how much energy Cerberus had and sure he would wear himself out before they made it far into their walk. It didn’t stop Cerberus from running to him and away, and then checking on him and bounding back to him.

Another weary sigh escaped Hades as he glanced over his shoulder towards the temple. “I fear she will leave me.”

Those words leaked from him, and putting them out there made him feel vulnerable, but also a little better for admitting his fear.

His gaze sought Cerberus as his pet stopped close to him, towering over him and panting hard.

“If Persephone leaves, I do not know what I will do. I love her, Cerberus. Without her, I will be a shell of myself… A hollow, dead thing.”

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