Page 18 of Hades and Persephone: Threads of Fate

His eyes flare. I blush. I’m awfully bold tonight. I’m not sure what’s gotten into me. “You don’t want to tempt me, little goddess.”

I love when he calls melittle goddess.

I wet my lips, watching the way his eyes chase the movement. My skin burns. “I do, though.”

His eyes search mine for long moments. I think I see flames dancing in the depths, there and gone too fast to really know. Still, my body responds. Heat prickles my skin and his hand flexes on my thigh again.

I think he’s going to say something when the sound of the chair sliding over the floor on my other side stops him. The chair moans as weight settles into it, but I can’t seem to take my eyes from Hades. Even when his flick beyond me to the new arrival.

His eyes shutter, turning hard. His grip on my thigh does the same.

“Herman.” Hades lifts his champagne with his free hand. “A surprise.”

“You know how I like to surprise.” Herman’s eyes, dark brown in color, like espresso, shift to me. Those eyes drag the length of me, settling for a long momenton Hades’ hand on my leg. They snap suddenly to mine. “But I must say I’m the one shocked tonight.” Herman leans closer, something dangerous in his probing eyes. “Tell me.” His eyes crackle with a curious light. “Who areyou?”

I start to tell him my name but stop when Hades introduces me roughly, “Annie.”

It’s the first time Hades has willingly called me Annie. I’d thought I would prefer it, but I don’t.

“Annie,” Herman tastes my name. “A lovely name for a lovely girl.”

“Herman,” Hades warns when I stiffen.

Herman laughs, but his eyes never leave mine. “Hades has always had a liking for lovely girls.”

“I’m not a girl,” I tell him. I feel defensive of us, and it sucks, because Herman is only calling out the fears I’ve already voiced. That the gap between our ages would harm Hades somehow. “I’m a woman. Young, perhaps, but a woman all the same.”

“My mistake.” Herman chuckles. His eyes dance with mischief as he leans back in his seat, fingertips tapping on his thighs thoughtfully. “You remind me of someone.”

“Oh.” I don’t care who I remind him of.

“She looks like her, doesn’t she, Hades?” Now, I can’t help but care. My eyes move from Hades to Herman and back.

“Hades?” I call. “Who is he talking about?”

“His late wife, of course.” Herman grins impishly.The man is delighted by the chaos he’s brewing. “You can’t tell me you don’t see the resemblance, Hades. It’s there, especially in the eyes.” Herman leans closer when I glare at him. His smile widens, a bright white toothy display. “Yes,” he purrs, his eyes pinning mine. “One might say the resemblance is so deep, it’s there in the soul.”

“What do you want, Herman?” Hades sounds tense and dangerous. Inside, my heart is a cacophony of messy beats—because I look like Hades’ latewife?

I think I might be sick. Even as waves of nausea roll through me, I am unable to walk away. Unable to flee.

I need to hear more.

“Oh.” Herman waves his hand rather flippantly. “You know me.” His tone is light and edging on playful, but there is nothing playful about the determined set of his eyes as he looks beyond me to Hades. “I’m here with a message.”

“What is your message?”

“They want you to return home, Hades. Where you belong.”

“Tell our family that I have as much right to be here as the rest of them.”

Herman shakes his head. “They know what you’re looking for.”

Hades shrugs. “I’ve been looking for a long time.”

Herman’s gaze flicks to me. It’s quick. “They don’t know you’ve found it.”

Hades’ entire form turns rigid. A danger unlike anyI’ve sensed before emanates from him to permeate the air around us. That need I felt to flee returns tenfold.

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