In any other conversation, Persephone would not have understood the question, but in this context, its meaning seemed clear. If there was a right answer, one that would make Hades lose interest in her, she wasn’t entirely certain what it could be, so she fell back upon the truth. “None of them.”

Hades nibbled at her fingers and looked down at Persephone like a starving man faced with a chalice of ambrosia.

If Persephone had been able to sink down and become one with the earth, she would’ve done so. Better to disappear than to remain in this fleshy body and be subjected to Hades’ all-seeing gaze.

Persephone’s voice trembled. “We are—”

“Not yet wed. I know.” Hades heaved a great sigh and rocked back on her heels, chewing on her bottom lip. Her breath fogged in the cool night air as she exhaled.

“Hades—”

“Be quiet, Persephone.” Hades took the dagger, wrapped it in Persephone’s ruined underwear and tucked it into her belt. She then picked up Persephone, still bound at wrists and ankles, and slung her over her shoulder.

The sudden movement made Persephone gag, and she might have thrown up if there had been anything left in her stomach. Every step Hades took made her head sway from side to side, the tip of her long braid trailing against the grass. She didn’t dare believe that Hades was not going to assault her that night until she caught a glimpse of Alastor’s head as he munched idly on some grass. They were leaving this place and returning to civilization. Relief swelled in her chest.

Hades swung Persephone sidesaddle over Alastor’s back. Persephone gripped his mane with the tips of her fingers, unable to properly balance herself.

Hades climbed up behind her and wrapped her arms around Persephone’s waist, her chin nestled above Persephone’s head. It was a disturbingly intimate position, even accounting for what she’d almost just done, and had Persephone not been bound hand and foot, she would have found the proximity intolerable.

Hades took the reins and clicked her tongue. Alastor began to move, jolting his riders and forcing Persephone to lean against Hades in order to avoid falling off.

“You’re taking us back? Like this?” Persephone asked.

“If you would prefer me to leave bite marks all over you first, there is still time for that.”

Persephone swung her ankles and managed to kick Hades’ shin, bruising her own heels in the process. “I’m naked!”

Hades rolled her eyes, but she released the reins for a moment to pull off her chlamys and place it over Persephone’s shoulders. The cape was too short to be anywhere near decent, but Persephone shrugged her way into it so it at least covered her from shoulders to thighs.