Page 88 of Hades' Shadow
“I told you, I’m going to earn it. I’m not fucking you or taking pleasure from you until I can prove to you that we aren’t toxic.” He crosses his arms over his chest, closing himself off from me.
What the fuck is that all about? He’s just going to walk away after that? I just don’t understand.
“C’mon, get dressed and let’s get this meeting with my father out of the way.” He holds a hand out for me.
I take it reluctantly.
He’s so confusing.
“Why were you mad at Persephone putting me in the next room if you were planning to try to earn my trust back?” I ask with a frown.
I grab the towel and wrap it back around me like armor.
“I hadn’t planned this, Beth. When I saw you in the shower, something in me snapped. I don’t know how to say this.” He sighs.
“So you were perving on me in the shower and decided not to be a dick?” I ask with a chuckle.
“Something like that.” He grins. “It’s more than that though. I will regain your trust and show you that we can be together and not hurt each other.”
Can I trust that? I gave him my trust, but he didn’t trust me.
I dress quickly, leaving his last comment unanswered. We have both had problems hurting each other, though he has hurt me more so maybe I should let him try to earn my trust back.
It’s all so confusing. Jayden is confusing.
“Whatever relationship or friendship we may have isn’t the most important thing right now, Jayden,” I say with a sigh. “Let’s go see how we can help your dad.”
“Deal, but I’m not giving up, Beth. I can’t just be friends with you.” He kisses my cheek as we walk out of the bathroom.
I need to compartmentalize. I can’t focus on Jayden when I need to be focusing on what we know is important.
We need that helm to stop the Titans from breaking free. Once that’s done, we can figure out what may or may not be between us.
Jayden leads me with a hand on my lower back to the same throne room that Hades brought me to when Hypnos took over my dreams.
I shiver at the sight of the throne of skulls. The room is freezing again, but this time I brought proper clothing.
“Why are there even bones in the underworld?” I grumble. “The souls come here, not the bodies.”
“Some mortals try to come in uninvited,” Hades says with a raised brow.
“Like Orpheus and Heracles.” I nod. “So the mortals that are living get stuck here in their bodies and they become decorations or dog toys?”
“Something like that,” Hades chuckles. “Though Heracles and Orpheus didn’t get stuck here.”
“I know, I had the unfortunate luck to meet the man.” I roll my eyes.
A big booming laugh escapes Hades and I jump, turning to Jayden, wondering if his dad is all right.
“I think you broke him. I’ve never heard him laugh like that before,” Jayden whispers.
“Oh, I like you very much, Bethany. Son, you need to snatch this one up no matter what my pigheaded brother says.” Hades grins wide.
What the fuck did I say that was so damn funny and gave me Hades’ approval to date his son?
The double doors open behind us and Adrian and Raven walk into the throne room. Raven’s eyes widen at the throne of skulls.
“Good, now that we are all here, we can get down to business,” Hades says as the last of his guards clear the room.
