Page 49 of Hades and Persephone: Keeper of Sins

Again, why is he here?

Hades says something and both Ralph and Beth look to me. I don’t know why, but something inside me screamsrun. My inner voice warning me to flee.

I feel like the prey as his long strides devours the distance between us.

I don’t know why I feel this way now. I’ve never felt unsafe with Hades. Never.

“Persephone,” he says my name in his rough voice when he’s close. Beside me, I swear I hear Minthe suck in a sharp breath. “Will you join me for lunch?”

“I—my break is almost finished.”

His lips twitch. “I’ve cleared your absence.”

I don’t know how I feel about that. It’s invasive and a little presumptuous—but still, I find myself nodding. The foolish fact is that I want to join him. I want to be with him.

Before I’ve thought it through, I hear myself agree quietly, “Okay.”

“Good.” Hades gives his attention to Minthe. “How are you liking things here?”

“Oh.” There’s a friendly lilt to her words that has my curiosity spiking. “I’m liking things just fine, Hades.”

He smiles a soft, warm, familiar smile. My spiked curiosity red-lines. “That is good to hear.”

Questions whirl inside my mind as Hades touches his hand to my back, guiding me through the tent. I can’t help but notice the way Addison’s striking blue eyes are dark with something ugly as he watches me leave with Hades. Inside, I’m a storm of feelings.

As Hades guides me from the site to a flashy black sports car with a badge I don’t have the expertise to place, I try to pick apart the threads of the storm that brews inside me. I try to decipher the mess of my feelings. I fail.

Hades closes the door and rounds to the other side. Even with his massive bulk, he moves fluidly into the seat next to me. The scent of woodsmoke and sinful thoughts swirls a ribbon of temptation around me. My body responds like it always responds to his nearness. To the scent of him. With an aching need I can’t contain or control.

“Have you eaten already?” I shake my head in answer. Hades slips a pair of shades over his eyes. “Are you hungry?”

I’m starving. My body is ravenous.

I breathe, “Yes.”

Through the reflective tint of his sunglasses, I feel his eyes on me. Behind his beard, a muscle in his jaw throbs. I swallow hard and force my gaze out the window.

Hades puts the car into gear and butterflies erupt in my belly as he takes off.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Persephone

“Why didn’tyou tell me you were involved in the archeology program?” Popping a garlic and herb seasoned shrimp into my mouth, I wait for his reply.

“I didn’t think it mattered.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you knew Minthe?” I press. “I mentioned her to you when she started. I know I did.”

I would have mentioned anyone with her name.

His dark eyes connect with mine and he rolls his lips. “Minthe is a friend of mine. A good friend. I wanted you to know her on your own before you became aware of my relationship with her.”

I tense. “What is your relationship with her?”

His mouth twitches. “I just told you. She is a very good friend.”

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