“Go away,” he snapped.

There was a beat of silence. Then the voice said, “It’s important, Hades.”

Even Persephone noted to heightened alarm in the person’s tone. Hades sighed and stood, taking her face between his hands.

“A moment, my darling.”

“You won’t hurt him, will you?”

“Not too terribly.”

He didn’t smile as he stepped into the hallway.

Persephone felt ridiculous sitting on the edge of the table, so she slipped off, adjusted her skirts, and started to pace the extravagant dining room. Her first impression of this room had been that it was over-the-top. The ceiling boasted several unnecessary crystal chandeliers, the walls were adorned in gold, and Hades’ chair looked like a throne at the head of the table. To top it off, he rarely dined in this room, often preferring to take his meals elsewhere in the palace. That was one reason she’d decided to use it during the Solstice Celebration—all this beauty would not go to waste.

Hades returned. He seemed frustrated, his jaw flexed, and his eyes glittered with a different kind of intensity. He stopped a few inches from her, hands in his pockets.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “And no. Ilias has made me aware of a problem better dealt with sooner than later.”

She stared at him, waiting, but he didn’t explain.

“When will you be back?”

“An hour. Maybe two.”

She frowned, and Hades’ touched her chin so that her eyes were level with his. “Trust, my darling, leaving you is the hardest decision I make each day.”

“Then don’t,” she said, placing her hands around his waist. “I’ll go with you.”

“That is not wise.” His voice was gruff, and Persephone’s brows knit together.

“Why not?”

“Persephone—”

“It’s a simple question,” she interrupted.

“It isn’t,” he snapped, and then sighed, running his fingers through his loose hair.

She stared. He had never lost this temper quite like this. What had him so agitated? She thought about pushing for an answer, but knew she would get nowhere, so instead, she relent.

“Fine,” she took a step away, creating distance between them. “I’ll be here when you return.”

Hades frowned. “I will make it up to you.”

She arched a brow and commanded, “Swear it.”

Hades’ eyes simmer beneath the glow of the crystal lights.

“Oh, darling. You don’t need to extract an oath. Nothing will keep me from fucking you.”

CHAPTER II - A TOUCH OF DUPLICITY

CHAPTER II - A TOUCH OF DUPLICITY