Chapter 56

56

Finally, she was here in front of him. Hades stepped through the grand doors and out onto the balcony with her. His wife. They were reunited at last.

The last two months had been hell. Ask anyone who’d been around Hades. Charon, the Shades. They’d all learned to steer clear of him other than when absolutely necessary.

Persephone’s back was to Hades but he knew she felt him. She always could. They were connected, no matter the miles that might separate them. Nothing could sever their bond.

So he’d given her the time she asked for. She’d been scared. Everything that had gone down…it was bad. She thought she needed space, so okay. Every single day he’d wanted to drive over, tear down the door to her friend’s apartment, and drag her back to the Estate where she belonged. At his side.

For her, though, he’d fought his less evolved nature and let her be.

But enough was enough. She was his wife and it was time for her to come home.

“Persephone.” Her name was a sensuous caress on his tongue. He’d never wanted anything as much as he wanted her.

She turned and the string of connection between them pulled taut.

She was so fucking gorgeous, he almost lost his breath. She was statuesque and beautiful, delicate, with pale skin that glowed in the moonlight. The dress she wore molded to her curves but it also highlighted the fact that she’d lost weight.

A hundred disjointed thoughts ran through Hades’s head. He wanted to punish her for leaving him. He wanted to fall at her feet and beg her forgiveness. He wanted to grab her, flip her against the wall, and fuck all the frustration of the past two months out between her quivering thighs.

Her hands fisted at her sides as if she could read his thoughts and was forcing herself not to reach for him. He all but growled in satisfaction at the sight. He affected her as much as she did him.

Her eyes narrowed and she squared her bare shoulders, lifting her chin. Whatever statement she hoped to make by the posture was undercut by the fact that her nipples had clearly hardened, completely visible through the tight fabric that clung to her breasts. It was a good thing she’d retreated here for their reunion to take place because now Hades could enjoy the sight all for himself instead of concerning himself with blinding any fucker who dared to stare at what was his.

“Leaving the party so soon?” he finally fired the first volley.

Her eyes flared and she crossed her arms over her chest. More was the pity. “I’m not much of a party person.”

He couldn’t help smiling at that. “I remember.”

He lifted his hand, holding out her ridiculous shoes that she’d abandoned midflight.

“You left these on the stairs.”

Her eyes went wide for a moment and little pink spots appeared on her cheeks. “Yes, well. I’ve had a long night.”

He stalked forward, his eyes capturing and keeping hers. She backed up until her legs hit the balustrade. He knelt. So it was to be bowing at her feet after all. He lifted up the silky material of her dress and exposed her perfect ankle. Gods, to touch her skin again…

“Hades,” she breathed, and he looked up the length of her. Her chest was heaving and he grinned. She seemed to lose track of whatever she’d been about to say. Oh yes, her body remembered his command over it and soon the rest of her would too. He’d make sure of it.

But even as he thought it, he knew he wanted more. He didn’t want unthinking obedience. Not from her. No, what he wanted from her was so much more complex.

Lifting her foot, he slipped the first shoe on and fastened it, caressing her ankle and her calf. The chance to get his hands on her again was too tempting to pass up.

He worked on the other one while Persephone leaned on the balustrade. She was silent, but by the occasional hitch in her breath, his touch was affecting her.

When he finally straightened and stood, she swallowed hard before finally managing a tremulous, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Their eyes caught and held a moment before she dropped hers and took a small step back from him. As if any amount of distance could stop the blazing furnace of their chemistry.

“Hermes tells me you helped him with most of the preparations,” he said. She was like a skittish bird and she’d flee if he wasn’t careful. “He says you’re indispensable. Your company is taking off.”

“Well,” she croaked before clearing her throat and trying again. “I’ve been working hard.”

“Not too hard, I hope. You need to remember to sleep and eat.”

Persephone let out a brittle chuckle. “You should take your own advice. I learned my business habits from you.”

“I want to apologize.” It was suddenly out of his mouth and she looked taken aback.

He might not be on his knees anymore but hell, he realized only now that this was what he’d come here to say. This and more, but it had to begin here. He had so much to atone for where his wife was concerned.

“I need to ask forgiveness for the violence at the restaurant.”

Her eyebrow raised, maybe at the bare description of the shooting that had blown out the windows and terrorized at least a dozen guests, killing three and wounding another handful.

“I never thought Ajax would be so bold. I underestimated him and put you in a dangerous position. I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Her eyebrows were drawn together. “But, if it makes you feel better, I forgive you. I never thought you were to blame.”

“Then I apologize for leaving you alone at the Estate the next day.”

She looked down at the fabric pooling around her feet. “It’s alright. You would’ve stayed if you could’ve.” She took a deep breath. “I accept your apology.”

Did she? Did she really?

He still didn’t know how Ajax had gotten to her the night everything had gone to shit, but in the end it didn’t matter. The responsibility was Hades’s. If he hadn’t left her alone, she never would’ve been taken. She was his wife and his business was never meant to touch her.

He wouldn’t say more on the subject, though. He would never put her in that position again. He would protect her and keep her safe. Something he could only do when she was by his side where she belonged.

“Good.” He couldn’t help looking her up and down again in admiration. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you,” she said, and Hades grinned outright. “Hades?—”

“Persephone, we need to talk things out. I’ve given you time.”

“Almost two months,” she said softly.

“Have you been keeping track? Counting the days?”

“No,” she lied. He didn’t need her words, just her expression, to know the truth.

Their gaze locked. She looked both a little lost and a little like she hoped she’d been finally found. So much was said, and unsaid, in one simple look. She was his and she always would be.

“I’ve given you space, as you requested,” Hades said again.

Persephone crossed her arms. Almost as soon as she made the move, she dropped her arms again as if aware of her every vulnerable gesture. “You admitted to getting my friend to spy on me. And I’m sure you’ve had your men trail me.”

“Or I could’ve bugged your apartment.”

“You didn’t. Did you?” Then her brows came together angrily. “The flowers.”

Hades rolled his eyes. “Persephone, I was kidding. I didn’t bug the apartment. Have the programmer check.”

Persephone glared at him, clearly unamused.

“Listen.” He ran his hand through his hair. This wasn’t going how he’d envisioned. He wanted to be straight with her for once. No games. No bullshit. “I want to talk to you. To get everything out in the open.”

“Everything?”

He thought about it. “Okay, no, not everything. You know some of my secrets are better off kept. It’s not just about me, it’s about my business?—”

“Your business is the thing that’s keeping us apart.”

“Is that why you left?”

She clammed up, shaking her head and looking down again, hiding her eyes from him.

He took a step forward. She stepped back automatically and he stopped in his tracks. “Tell me why you ran. Talk to me.” It was infuriating not knowing what was going on in her head.

“Still giving orders.” She shook her head but didn’t look at him.

“I remember you liking when I gave orders.”

When she didn’t take the bait, he sighed. “What are you afraid of?”

The silence rose again between them.

“Is it Ajax? Because he’s gone.”

“Gods.” She turned her back to him, shoulders suddenly tense.

“I know you felt threatened.” If Hades could kill Ajax all over again, he would. And he’d draw it out this time. “But I can keep you safe.”

Persephone stared across the garden. The wind whipped the tops of the trees; the leaves shivered below them. She leaned forward onto the stone balustrade and Hades couldn’t read her body language. He didn’t like it.

He came and leaned on the railing next to her. “When Ajax called and said he had you, nothing else mattered anymore. You mean so much. You know that, right? You know you’re everything to me.”

Her eyes closed like his words pained her.

His arm brushed hers and she flinched away. Hades pulled back, chest cinching tight.

“Don’t ever be afraid of me, Persephone.” His voice came out more rough than he intended, but hell. “I’d never hurt you. I was angry, but mostly I was worried about you. I tried so hard to keep the ugliness of my world far away from you.”

“You failed,” she choked out, finally looking at him and there was such pain in her eyes. It sliced him to the bone.

“I’m sorry. I never wanted to put you in the middle of things. And when Ajax took you…” He broke off, shaking his head, not able to continue. He still didn’t know everything she’d endured that day. She’d come to him covered in blood.

His hands shook, thinking about it. Ajax had done something to her, made her witness something—not only brought her into their world but drenched her in it. And of course she’d run. If Hades were any kind of good man, he’d send her away instead of luring her back.

“It’s ok,” Persephone whispered. The wind blew hard enough that even though she wrapped her arms around herself, chill bumps were still visible on her skin.

Hades frowned. So much for taking care of her. “Let’s go back in. Get you out of the cold.”

She made a noise that could be interpreted as negative, so he took off his coat and came towards her instead. At the last minute, she turned around and let him place it on her shoulders.

“I swear to you, Persephone, I’m not a monster.” Standing so close and breathing in her familiar scent, he could almost believe it.

He’d done great and terrible things to ensure the stability of his city and they’d rightly named him King of the Underworld. He’d soullessly embodied the title for years, holding the wicked in his iron grip so the weak didn’t suffer unduly. It was purpose enough, he’d told himself. It was atonement for failing to protect his sister all those years ago.

But Persephone had burst into his black and white world in an explosion of vibrant color. She’d thawed the ice in his heart and he couldn’t go back. Not once he knew what it was like to love her and feel her love in return.

He felt her body tremble at his closeness. “Come back to me,” he breathed in the shell of her ear.

When she shook her head, he could feel her hair catch on the rough stubble of his chin.

“You’re not safe on your own. Without me.”

“People don’t think I’m safe with you.” She squeezed her eyes shut like if she closed them long enough, he’d go away.

Instead, he turned her gently towards him, and tipped her face to his.

“Who?”

“My friends,” she replied, a little breathless.

“Athena Jandali?” Hades gritted out. He’d looked into both her roommates. “Or the stripper? Your so-called friends who left you with Ajax? I don’t need to tell you what I think of their judgment.”

Persephone stiffened. He felt it, and his hands fell away.

“I want you back. I need you close to me, where I know I can keep you safe. I know we can work things out, if we just talk?—”

She whirled to face him. “This is why I left, Hades. You try to control me. You can’t let me be.”

“I haven’t called or spoken to you in months.”

“And you corner me and ask—no—tell me to come back to you. I left because I’d had enough of that. You can’t control me.”

She wrenched off the suit jacket and thrust it back at him. When he didn’t take it, she spun around and draped it over the parapet before leaning against the cool stone again. She gazed into the garden, stubbornly angling her body away from him.

Pushing her more tonight wasn’t going to get him anywhere. But she needed to know he wasn’t giving up. Not even remotely. She’d given him a taste of paradise, him who’d lived so long in hell. He wouldn’t live without her. He couldn’t.

“You can’t run forever,” he said finally. “We’ll talk again in a few days.” Before she could say anything else to contradict him, he turned on his heel and went back through the double doors into the mansion.

He’d allow her the illusion of choice for a little while longer.