Page 61 of Until Death
I blink, my mouth opening but no words come out as her fingers wrap around my wrists. Her grip is tight as she stares up at me, an iciness like I’ve never seen before fills her eyes as she leans closer.
“And you kept this from me. All this time, I thought you were my friend … but you have been trying to steal my husband behind my back.”
“No,” I quickly say. “Persephone, please.”
“I should have known. Oh, what a fool I have been. Of course, it had to be you. After what he did to bring me here …” she trails off at this, pain flickering across her face before it’s quickly replaced with rage.
“No, you must believe me,” I plead. “I have no desire to take your place, let alone steal your husband. I only wanted to save my life and that of my father.”
“Lies.”
“Please, Persephone.”
“Why should I believe you?” she demands.
I pause, my heart pounding in my chest as I think of an answer to give her, before whispering, “Because my heart belongs to another.”
Persephone pulls back slightly at this. Her eyes search my face and for a moment I think I’ve finally managed to get through to her.
“Who?”
“I-I—”
“Give me a name, mortal.”
I blink at her, suddenly not sure how to answer her question. Death had seemed wary of letting these gods know about his feelings for me. Perhaps there is a reason he didn’t want them to know.
Would she even believe it possible that I still love Death, despite his betrayal? Or would it be safer to claim that Eros or some other man has won me over?
Does it even matter who it is as long as I give her a name other than Hades?
Idocare for Eros, but I know it would be a lie to say that I was in love with him.
Not when it is Death who still holds my heart captive.
Death whom I still long for, and whose touch I crave in the darkest hours of night.
And yet, it isn’t his name that falls from my lips.
“Eros,” I tell her.
23
Hazel
“Youlie,” Persephone hisses, thorns springing up around her as her voice rings out through the room.
I do my best to keep a straight face, forcing myself not to wince even as the other women shrink back into the shadows, startled by the sudden change in atmosphere.
Guilt has already pitted in my stomach, the lie bitter on my tongue. But it’s too late to take back Eros’ name without making the situation even worse for us both.
All she really needs to believe is that I have feelings for someone, anyone, other than Hades. As much as it sickens me to do so, I need to sell this lie to her.
“You don’t have to believe me,” I tell her, barely able to hear myself over the pounding of my heart in my ears. “You can see for yourself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hades had Eros imprisoned earlier today for trying to help me to escape.”
