Chapter 28

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

P ersephone

Hades told me to pack an overnight bag as he made a call. I took my time, feeling sluggish with the grief that I was falling for a man my mind wasn’t truly free to love. I never imagined that love could be this painful. I don’t know why I thought it would be anything else, honestly. Love has been painted in tragic colors since the very beginning of time.

My heart feels heavy as I find Hades in the living room, looking out over the beautiful view.

He senses me, saying nothing as he turns. In the spill of light from the golden sun, he looks like a dark angel coming to claim my heart and soul. My heart thunders and breaks as he stalks closer, taking my hand in his. His big hand swallows mine. It’s kind of like how everything about him swallows me. Devours me. Feasts on all that I have to offer—and I offer it willingly. I wish he would just take the little that lingers. Steal it. Steal my ability to deny that which I long for above and beyond all else.

I almost wish he was that dark angel. That he would ravish the innocence that remains within me, devouring it. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so guilty. Because if he stole my ability to choose, I could be with him without shame. Without the guilt of knowing that he deserves more, better.

If he just stole me like Hades stole Persephone so long ago—maybe I could let myself love him.

“Come.” Even his voice feels dark as it washes over my skin, pebbling every inch with gooseflesh.

I follow him into the elevator, and we ride it in silence. I want to ask where he is taking me, but I don’t. My mind is still replaying our earlier conversation. He knows I’m mentally unstable and yet he looks at me with the same desire that he looks at me always.

It should be impossible. He should be wary of me—unsettled by me. Because I am.

The doors slide open and a deep bark jolts me. Noc, followed closely by Prim and Jas, bound across the club. Behind them, moving slowly in sky-high heels, silver slacks, and a black blouse, is Leuce. Behind Leuce, I see Minthe sitting on the bar, kicking her feet .

I drop to my knees as a sob catches in my throat. My arms instantly close around Noc as he skids to a stop, scootching closer until his muscular doggy chest connects with mine. I squeeze, not afraid at all that he won’t like it. Against my chest, his echoes with a deep doggy growl of pleasure. I kiss his snout. “I missed you.”

Prim whines high, her booty wagging with the force of her whip-like tail. “You too, girl. Come here.”

I don’t have to tell Prim twice, giving her the same love as I gave Noc. When I turn to Jas, I don’t have to tell her to come for her lovin’. She’s already there, her head butting into mine. I tell the pups, “Don’t let your daddy take you away from me without a proper goodbye ever again.”

As though he understands me far clearer than he should, Noc’s dark eyes sway to Hades. A low, borderline menacing growl rumbles from his chest. The girls stop their booty wags, sitting sentry next to Noc who still guards me.

Hades’ mouth twitches, but he doesn’t smile. His eyes sweep over his dogs to me, still on my knees with the pups, before he looks to Leuce. His jaw is hard as his eyes fall to her black blouse. Unlike all her other blouses that are, to some degree translucent, this one, like the blouses she’s worn all week, is solid black in color.

“I’m fine,” Leuce assures, and my brows draw together.

Hades pulls in a breath that swells his chest. “Thank you for getting them for me.”

Leuce gives him a wry look. “They’re not easy to wrangle when they’re home.”

“I know.”

“Hecate mentioned Persephone, and they pranced right through the port— door —like good little puppies.” Noc looses another low growl. Leuce chuckles, but her eyes turn serious on Hades. “She’s healing, too. Slowly.”

My mind is still swimming at the reality that these people know someone with the name Hecate. I mean, the odds aren’t in favor of such an impossibility.

My gaze slides to Minthe, and she winks at me. My eyes narrow.

Are they messing with me?

Are these names nicknames? Are they character fanatics, only instead of an obsession with some fantasy book about Fae, are they obsessing over mythological players in ancient Greek history? So overcome with the obsession that they’ve allowed it to overtake their lives. Their identity?

Hades’ voice is rough, his frown deep. “She has not healed completely?”

“She cannot.” Leuce cocks her head to the side as her eyes slide to me. Ice slows the blood that rushes in my veins. Silence pulses between my ears. Leuce asks, “How can she when the power she pulls is from a land whose heart has stopped beating? ”

Hades’ eyes shutter, and he vows. “We are close.”

Leuce’s voice is cold. “We are not close enough.”

Minthe slides from the bar, sauntering between the two who stand as though ready to battle. “Go. Take today, Hades. And,” her eyes flick to mine and back to Hades, “take the time to see Herman. Sooner than later.”

Every inch of Hades’ body tenses at the mention of Herman. He points a long, thick finger at her. “We will be discussing your disobedience, Minthe.”

Minthe doesn’t look scared, even as fear flashes in Leuce’s faded gray-green eyes. “Sure. After you see Herman.”

Sensing that this bizarre conversation is close to turning dangerous, I move quickly to slide my hand into the one by Hades’ side. His body jolts, as though remembering my presence. He drops the finger he holds up at Minthe, and murmurs to me, “We leave now.”

With a shy smile of parting to Leuce and Minthe, I follow Hades outside with the pups in tow.