Page 17 of Flowers Near Me

Persephone straightened in her seat, but kept her gaze trained on him. “I’m not touching you to sell an app.”

He laughed. “I’d hope not. I’d rather you touch me because you wanted to.”

She spat out a laugh. “Charming.”

His eyes narrowed. “This can be as real or fake as you’d like. Personally, I’m keeping an open mind.”

“This could never be real,” she said, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

A wicked smile played on his lips. “We’ll see.”

Once the car stopped, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her eyes shot open when Hades unbuckled her belt, his thumb brushing the side of her thigh. That tiny point of contact lit a fire in her veins. The scent of a winter forest and his eyes locking with hers ensnared her for a brief moment. When his gaze dipped to her lips, the spell broke, and he ducked out of the car.

The fiend used his power on me.Such a dirty trick of the gods. It could be amusing to watch it happen, but it wasinfuriatingto be subjected to it. She’d seen her mom move negotiations in her favor with her power of compulsion but hated it when she’d done the same to Persephone to get her to eat all her vegetables, clean her room, or—after she’d become an adult—work countless hours on a project.

Persephone looked up at the obsidian skyscraper as she accepted Hades’ offered hand and exited the car. Across the street, Narcisi, the restaurant where she and Eurydice had met last night, sat quietly, unaware of how well it had lured her into Hades’ realm. He didn’t let go as she stepped onto the sidewalk, so she sent him a curious scowl.

Seemingly unconcerned by her reaction, he faced forward and coaxed her along with a gentle tug towards Underworld Unlimited’s headquarters. Panic twisted in her gut. Right now, she could be seen holding his hand, walking into the lair of her mother’s greatest rival.

Her mother’s words echoed:the damage is done.Would Persephone truly have to keep up the charade of this so-called relationship?

As they entered the imposing lobby, the gray-streaked marble floors reflected the crisp morning sunlight. The attendants behind the front desk nodded at Hades as he led Persephone towards a doorway behind them. Standing in a straight line facing the counter, the reception team looked like a row of toy soldiers. Sleek, dark pants cinched at their waists. Their black crew neck sweaters must’ve kept the cool air at bay.

They approached a steel elevator. “Here’s how you access the apartment,” he said, pointing to a half-sphere camera. “Facial recognition will unlock it.”

She nodded absently, the dread in her chest deepening. The door opened with a low gong, and they stepped into the mirrored elevator. Hades’ hand hovered near her shoulder blade, his presence suffocating.

“B13 takes you to the apartment. We’ll get your fingerprints into our system today.”

He pressed a button.B13. Basement Level Thirteen. Her pulse thudded in her ears. Could a mortal safely go that far underground?

“Hold on!” Persephone punched the red STOP button. “I’m not immortal, Hades.”

He cocked one eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” She took labored breaths in and out, all former composure forfeited now the threat of being stuck that far below the earth’s surface weighed on her.

He threw her a confused look. Of course he wouldn’t understand. He was an immortal god. “Fear not. I’ve brought mortals down here before and they were fine.” With a wink, he pressed B13 again. “Better than fine in some cases.”

Persephone would’ve rolled her eyes but needed to put her hand on the metal railing before she tipped over.Is the air thinner here? Fates, is that what happens below sea level? Or is it the pressure that’ll kill you?She leaned one shoulder on the mirrored glass for support.

Looking annoyingly unbothered, Hades smiled. “Are you jealous that I’ve brought others down here, Sephy?” He placed his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t think we’d progress this far the first day.”

She gripped the railing harder but held her other palm up at him. “Save it.”

The elevator plummeted, and her stomach flipped. Pressure built in her chest as B3, B4, B5 quickly ended in B13. The doors rolled back, and her ears popped. Every sound grew louder around her until she swallowed.

A warm hand gave a tender squeeze on her shoulder. “Are you alright?”

She hadn’t fainted. Through clenched teeth, she said, “I’m fine.”

Hades looped his arm around her back and held her side against him. The reminder that she wasn’t alone in the deep trenches of the earth was an odd comfort. Hades wouldn’t have been her first choice as a companion, but his steady grip had her leaning into his side. He ushered her out of the elevator, but she put distance between them as soon as she felt stable on her feet.

She followed him over the lush runners lining the textured stone entryway, hammered golden sconces on the wall. The space opened into a vaulted ceiling with a room the size of a temple. In the center of the main living space, suede sofas circled a fire pit carved into black marble. Off to one side, a rectangular marble island protected a large kitchen. Near the kitchen, a modern staircase of bronzed metal holding pinewood planks led to a balconied room.

The sound of nails scratching the floor announced the arrival of a shepherd-type dog with fluffy blue merle fur.

Hades held up his hand, and the dog halted, then lay down. He bent with one knee to scratch behind the dog’s ears. When he stopped, the dog tilted his head and looked, unblinking, at Persephone.

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