Hades was unhurried in his exploration, and Persephone soaked up each second. Everything was slow—the kisses languid, the caresses dreamy. When he entered her, he paused and brought his lips to hers. There was something extremely raw about this kiss, though it was light and lingering. When she opened her eyes, she found him staring at her, still and swollen inside her.

She reached up and touched his face.

“Marry me,” he said.

She smiled. “Yes.”

Then he moved inside her, the friction built as slowly as he moved and despite the pace he set, her breath came faster. She gripped his shoulders, nails digging into his skin, lost in the sensations he elicited all over her body.

She loved it, loved him.

She came hard, but quietly.

“My darling,” Hades whispered. He kissed her face, brushing away tears. “Why are you crying?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

She just felt everything so keenly—every emotion was like a spear inside her. Her love for Hades was almost unbearable. Her happiness near-painful.

Hades lifted her and carried her into the lake where they showered beneath the waterfall.

After, they returned to the palace.

On the inside, Persephone was still struggling with her feelings. They were so powerful, so heightened. She was so deeply in love, it hurt.

It was a new level of love—one she had entered as his fiancée, as his soon-to-be-wife and queen.

The thought made her chest feel warm—a sensation that didn’t last when she saw Thanatos waiting for their arrival. She glanced at Hades, his face had turned stony, lips tight, eyes hard.

Something’s wrong.

She tried to keep from jumping to conclusions, but it was difficult given the last few weeks.

Hades dismounted and helped Persephone down.

“Thanatos,” Hades said.

“My lord,” he nodded, and his blue eyes met Persephone’s. “My lady.”

The God of Death opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He tried again.

“I don’t know how to tell you this.”

Persephone swore her heartbeat slowed, and it suddenly felt really hard to breathe. Unlike before, Thanatos didn’t even try to calm her with his magic.

“It’s Lexa,” he said.

Persephone was already crying. Hades arms tightened around her as if preparing for her collapse.

“She’s gone.”

CHAPTER XXVII - EMPOWERMENT

CHAPTER XXVII - EMPOWERMENT

There was a strange ringing in Persephone’s ears and she suddenly felt distant from the world around her—as if she were watching things from inside a globe. She couldn’t feel anything, a terrible contrast to the earlier intensity of her emotions. Even Hades’ touch was numb against her skin.

“Persephone,” Hades said her name, but it sounded so far away. She couldn’t look at him because her eyes wouldn’t focus. “Persephone.”