Page 54 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
He stiffened. ‘Are you spying on me, little goddess?’
‘What? No! I?—’
‘They were my emotions, Persephone. Occasionally, the recipient of the life force experiences heightened emotions after consuming blood. I’m sorry you experienced that. I should go. Get some rest.’
Before I could answer, he disappeared into the aether, leaving me irritated and confused. What was going on with him? One minute, he was devouring my mouth; the next, his shields were back up. His fluctuating mood swings were worse than PMS. I lowered my brows as I chewed my lip.
The emotions I’d sensed…Was that how he felt about me? Or are those the feelings he held for his original Persephone?
I needed to be cautious, because I wasn’t her anymore.
CHAPTER 20
HADES
Istripped off and took a cold shower.
Watching Persephone eat that hotdog, licking her bottom lip, and sucking her fingertips… pure torture. The actions had juiced my brain like an orange, making my cock uncomfortably hard. I closed my eyes as the cold water hit my shoulders.
Persephone affected me in ways no other woman ever had. The image of her sucking her fingers flashed behind my eyelids, setting my skin aflame. I curled my fist around my painfully hard cock and groaned, taking a tortured breath as I stroked myself from base to tip. Bracing my other hand on the wall, I continued fisting my hard length, starting with slow, firm strokes that made me shudder as I thought about Persephone’s mouth.
As I pumped harder, my eyes closed with pain and pleasure, and as my fist moved up and down my length, I imaginedherlips around my cock instead of my hand, causing the base ofmy spine to gather and jolt. Coming with a roar, I leaned my forehead against the shower wall and rasped, ‘She’s mine.’
Gods, this woman would be the death of me.
Every part of me—every cell, every molecule—desired, needed, and coveted Persephone. Was it obsession? Maybe… but it was also love. True love. Are they the same thing, I wondered? Regardless, I would do anything to make her happy—anything.
She felt my emotions when she consumed my blood. I allowed her to drink too much, yet I wasn’t ready to lay myself bare for her. Not if she continued to reject our bond. Hecate was right about protecting my heart.
Sighing, I readied myself for the Council meeting, wondering what news had Zeus’s pants in a twist. But first, I needed to talk to Hecate, Charon, and Thanatos.
‘What?’ Hecate screeched. ‘How in Olympus did she end up in Tartarus?’
‘Teleported. By whom, I do not know. But the Empousa mentioned ashe,’ I replied.
‘It must be a god… a traitor,’ Thanatos mused, his face twisted with fury.
‘I think there’s more than one.’ I placed a finger on my lower lip.
‘But why Persephone?’ Charon asked. He, too, looked murderous.
I gave a half-shrug. ‘We must protect her at all costs. I instructed her to never leave the castle's safety without one of us accompanying her.’ All three nodded at me. ‘I have a meeting. Hecate, do not let Persephone leave the castle alone.’
‘Of course,’ she replied.
Ten minutes later, I stood in Zeus’s grand meeting room at his New York offices, along with my fellow gods. The room was flamboyant, much like Zeus; plush leather chairs encircleda large silver conference table, while servers offered trays of ambrosia canapés and nectar as the gods mingled in groups.
We had dwindled to ten members due to the disappearance of Hera and Artemis in the war, now presumed dead, and Demeter’s self-imposed isolation. I had reluctantly accepted a seat on the Council, despite my lack of interest in politics, to closely monitor Zeus’s decision-making.
‘Hades!’ A beaming Hermes clapped me on the back before slinging an arm around my shoulders. ‘How’s the lovely Persephone?’ he whispered in my ear.
‘Exasperating,’ I grumbled, much to his delight.
‘She always did put you in your place and lead you a merry dance.’
I eyeballed my friend, scowling. He was correct, though—my Persephone had been a force to be reckoned with. Many gods feared her, yet all of them respected her.
‘Hades, brother.’ Zeus strode in our direction, the trademark cocky smile plastered across his face.
