They didn’t speak the whole ride back, Persephone preoccupied with trying not to lean against Hades whilst not falling off as Alastor picked up speed. Despite their combined weight, he galloped faster than before when it had only been Persephone at the reins. She was dizzy and aching by the time he trotted to the stables, coming to a halt by the door.

The young groom came out to greet them, his face turning red as he averted his eyes from Persephone. “M-my queen,” he stammered, the lump in his throat bobbing.

Hades gathered Persephone in her arms and leapt down. “The hour is late, Eustachys, but please find a treat for Alastor. He has endured much tonight.”

“Of course, Queen Hades.” The groom—Eustachys—reached out and took Alastor’s reins, though he cast a single sideways look at Persephone before heading into the stables.

She couldn’t believe that Hades would allow the servants to gawk at her like that. “Are you going to untie me now? I can walk,” she said in her frostiest voice.

“Why should I? You might run, and then I would have to chase you again. I cannot promise you restraint next time.”

If that had been restraint, Persephone didn’t want to know what Hades would do to her once they were married and her virtue became a distant memory.

It startled her to find herself imagining a life after marriage, as though she had already given up on the idea of an escape or rescue, not more than a day after her arrival. She blamed it on the underworld itself, which was dreary enough to make anyone lose hope.

Before Persephone could protest, Hades swung her over her shoulder again as though she were nothing more than a sack of grain and walked into the palace. Persephone couldn’t even scream for fear of attracting more servants; instead, she hung miserably in Hades’ grasp, the ichor in her veins rushing to her head, the ends of her wrist ties dragging on the floor.

To her relief, only Xenia was waiting for them in her chambers. Xenia’s eyes widened briefly, then she lowered her gaze. “Queen Hades.”

“Please do not permit her to run around for the rest of the night. I want her well-rested for tomorrow.”

“Yes, my queen.”

Hades set Persephone on her feet and then was gone.

Persephone flinched away, almost falling when Xenia tried to place a hand on her elbow to steady her. “Just untie me already!”

“Of course, mistress,” Xenia said in the calm, measured tone of a servant who could pretend she had not seen her mistress’s humiliation.

As soon as she was free, Persephone threw off the chlamys, unwilling to wear an article of Hades’ clothing for a minute longer. She pulled on a tunic, and Xenia escorted her to the bathing chamber, which was empty and silent at this time of night.