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PRAISE FOR CAPTIVE IN THE UNDERWORLD

“Everyone knows I won't shut up about this book, but I can't help it―it rung me like a BELL. ...Gorgeously written, dark and sexy, everything about this book was a deep pleasure to read.  And Hades is perfection. I'd let Hades drag me to her cold castle any day.” ―Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author

“A dark, erotic sapphic romance… entertaining, captivating, and exceptionally enjoyable… I read it twice in a row without stopping.” ―Rae D. Magdon, author of Lucky 7

“I adored this brutally ruthless Hades… likely the hottest lesbian romance novel I have had the pleasure of reading… a beautiful example of classic dark romance.” ―Roses and Thorns Book Reviews

“A wonderful, immersive experience… a beautifully written, atmospheric story.” ―Jewel, Goodreads reader

Dedication

For my precious flower.

CONTENT NOTES

Captive in the Underworld is a standalone dark lesbian romance novel set in mythological ancient Greece. It is rooted in the misogyny and cruelties of the Hades/Persephone myth and contains sensitive material. Due to mature content and dark themes, this book is intended for adult readers only. It contains scenes depicting death, abuse, kidnapping, assault, rape, and other intimate partner violence. It is not recommended for readers sensitive to such content. Neither the publisher nor the author endorses any behavior carried out by any character in this work of fiction. Additional content tags are available at: go.lianyutan.com/underworldtags

1

SOMETHING YOU WANT

No one would blame Persephone for being so nervous she could vomit—no one except her mother, of course. Demeter’s breath was hot on her cheek; Persephone focused on maintaining her smile. Bland smile, modest clothes, and a silent tongue. Gaia forbid she do anything to embarrass her mother.

Demeter adjusted Persephone’s girdle for the seventeenth time and smoothed the curls back from her forehead. “You’ll remember what I told you?” she asked.

“Of course.” Persephone cleared her throat. “Mind the wine. And no promises.”

“No promises,” Demeter echoed. She stepped back from her daughter and smiled. “Lovely.”

Persephone did her best to look gracious, but the woolen himation wrapped around her shoulders was stifling her. It did its intended job to conceal her figure—she might as well be taking vows of chastity today, instead of attending her first celebration in what felt like forever.

The gates of Zeus’s palace loomed above them, sparkling gold in the afternoon sun, as glorious as ever. A pair of guards nodded to them on their way in. As they passed through the gates, strains of music and laughter met their ears. The crisp, warm scents of Olympus in autumn mingled with the sweet fragrance of nectar and ambrosia. A minor godling stumbled past them, reeking of wine.