Page 36 of Spring's Descent

A wicked, knowing smile stretched across his face. “I could end your life right now, if I wished.”

My pussy clenched, that mounting pressure low in my belly growing painful. Gods, I must be fucking crazy putting my life at the mercy of a demon. But I’d never felt more alive.

Shame mingled with the need for release, the warning emotions swirling together, taking me higher as Aidoneusworked my pussy. My vision clouded, all sounds falling away just as his fingers curled.

“Come for me, Persephone.”

I exploded, electricity igniting every inch of my body. Oxygen rushed back as he released my neck, holding me in place as the orgasm tore through me. Normally, I got a glimpse of power, a small tingling in my fingers or palms, but this was explosive.

I was weightless, like Aidoneus might have killed me and I was now floating outside of my body in an endless state of bliss. If this was what sinning got me, ifthiswas the hell others warned of, I would gladly burn for eternity.

I vaguely recalled Aidoneus’s gentle hands washing me before carrying me toward a narrow alcove in the back. It was semi enclosed with towering slabs of obsidian set around a modest sized bed. There was a low table in the corner set before a small pool with a lone cup and sheathed dagger set upon it. Soft blankets were tucked around me, my eyes closing for the briefest of seconds before Aidoneus was there holding a cup of fresh water to my lips.

Still coming down, I let the water spill across my tongue, surprised by the slightly citrus notes. Each sip eased the hunger gnawing in my belly, soothing the remaining soreness in my muscles.

“Is this your home?” I asked, sitting up to take the cup from his hands. My gaze dipped to his naked body, unable to prevent myself from looking at the impressive length still ready to go. I took another sip of the enchanted waters, knowing that if I were going to survivethat, I would need all the help I could get.

He shook his head, a smirk teasing the edge of his lips. “I stop here occasionally, but the passages beneath the mountains can be dangerous.”

My brows drew together, meeting his gaze as I recalled what he’d mentioned earlier. “You never answered where they led to.”

He knelt before me, lifting the cup to my lips once more. “Many places. Some to other parts of The Underworld, and yes, there is one that leads to The Realm of the Living despite its smell of death.”

My eyes widened and I fought to keep my breathing even. “The path we turned away from earlier?”

I could have sworn his eyes narrowed at my question, but he was standing before I could be sure, placing the empty cup on the table.

“Rest, little witch,” Aidoneus said, and I felt the familiar weight of sleep settle over me.

I hadn’t realized I’d closed my eyes again, but I must have, because the bed dipped as Aidoneus slipped in behind me.

No, I thought. He’d all but confirmed I was yards away from returning home. From being able to save Lark and demand answers from Mother. I needed to stay awake.

The electricity humming through my body sparked. I focused on the heat, containing the tendrils threatening to snake out and holding them to me. A warmth settled in my chest as the weight of Aidoneus’s sleep spell was pushed to the edges.

He draped an arm around my waist, resting his head on the pillow beside me.

“Sleep now, my demon.” I uttered the words in little more than a whisper, but felt the hovering spell shift its attention from me to him.

I waited until his breathing evened out and his body was lax against mine. It felt nice to be held. To be wanted. A part of me desperately wished to stay here, to pretend that this wasn’t a fleeting feeling, but Aidoneus still had every intention of delivering me to The Dark Palace.

If he wasn’t lying and Hades really did think I was the key to fixing something with his magic, I didn’t want to be aroundwhen The God of The Underworld realized I was the weakest witch in the Earth Coven.

And Lark was still trapped with Cyrus.

Slipping out from under his arm, I allowed myself one look back at him. Damp, dark curls were brushed back from his face, the tattoos over his perfect frame somehow less intimidating than when he was awake. Everything about him seemed… peaceful, so at odds with what I thought a demon would be.

“Goodbye, demon,” I whispered, before retrieving my dress and necklace and fleeing down the path.

Hades

I knew something wasn't right the moment I laid down. Somehow, Persephone had been able to deflect the effect of the spell and shift its attention to me. I was aware of the way she slipped out from under me, felt her weighted stare at the edge of the alcove as she wavered between staying and running.

And fuck if I didn’t hope she would stay.

But my little witch ran.

Her scent was still heavy in the air when I shook off the last of the spell. She couldn’t have gone far, but if she made it to the cave. If she was too focused on returning to The Realm of the Living to see the dangers around her?—

---