Page 20 of Hades and Persephone: Threads of Fate

“Stand in my place, Herman,” Hades calls over his shoulder. “You once did it so well.”

Chapter

Nine

Persephone

The car rideis one of silence, interrupted only by the soft purr of the engine. The tires glide over the road, the car moving fast. Hades takes a bend at a speed that has butterflies soaring in my belly, mixing uncomfortably with the tightness I’ve felt inside since Hades’ conversation with Herman.

The car straightens on a long stretch of road, golden headlights beaming into darkness. My hands knot in my lap, and I flinch when Hades drops his big palm to my thigh, fingers caressing my flesh.

I’ve never flinched under his touchbefore. Not like this.

I want to weep even as my body warms. My body doesn’t seem to care that I look like his late wife.

My body doesn’t seem to mind that the man my poor heart is falling for is attracted to me out of a twisted longing for a woman who is no more.

I wish I could melt into the seat. To turn invisible.

This hurts more than it should.

“You’ve been quiet.” Hades breaks the silence.

I don’t reply, closing my eyes against the sting of hot tears when he slides his thumb over my thigh. His touch is so gentle, and yet it breaks through all my walls, determined to break me apart for an invasion I have no hope of fighting.

“Persephone,” he calls my name. It’s rough in the soft dark, illuminated only by the glow of the dash and the headlights that spill into the night. “Talk to me.”

I can’t make myself look at him. “Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

The words feel like acid on my tongue. “That I look like her.”

He curses. “Persephone.”

“Do I?”

There is a moment of silence followed by a soft, “Yes.”

It cuts through my aching heart. “I want you to drop me off at the house.”

“No.”

“Hades…” My hands are twisting in my lap now. Shaking. “I need some space.”

“No.”

“If you take me back to the penthouse, I’ll leave. I will leave, and you’ll never see me again.”

“Don’t threaten me, Persephone. Don’t ever threaten me with you.” There is a vicious current of danger riding the waves of charged electricity that pulses between us. I sense that I should back down, but I can’t.

“I’m serious, Hades. This is wrong—you and me. We’re wrong.” I brush his hand from my thigh. “I don’t want to do this.” My voice cracks. “Ican’tdo this.”

“I advise you to listen to me now, and listen to me well, Persephone. If you try to leave me, I will stop you. If you manage to flee, I will hunt you, and I will find you.” Dark destruction radiates from the embers of his words, the ashes of all that we could have been going up in flames as he threatens my freedom.

I don’t know what is happening right now. I don’t knowthisman.

Tears burn my eyes. “How can you not see how wrong this is?”

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