Persephone’s cheeks flushed as she turned the lever once more so that the water stopped flowing. “Mother could use something like this for her crops.”

“Mm hmm.” Hades sat down at her writing desk and moved a stack of scrolls to one side. She had turned the chair so that she could sit and face Persephone at the same time. “Come here and tell me about your day.”

Persephone walked back into the main sleeping area. Her palms were sweating, and she wiped them over her hips. She had done nothing wrong. Why did Hades have such an effect on her?

It was awkward standing when Hades was not, so she sat on the end of the bed, for there were no other chairs to be had. “I visited Tartarus today.”

“I see. Did Xenia not instruct you about your duties as my bride, to receive your wedding gifts?”

She tried to read Hades’ face. She seemed calm, but her gaze had such an intensity that Persephone felt the need to look away. “She may have mentioned something.”

“And yet it was not done. What did you do within Tartarus?”

Persephone stood. She walked to the window and opened the shutters, closing her eyes as the cool night air wafted over her. “You already know, don’t you? Why are you asking me this?”

“I wish to hear you tell me. Please do not walk away when I am talking to you.”

“Is this an interrogation? I’ve committed no crime.”

“Come back here and sit down, Persephone.”

“No.”

“Do not force my hand.”

Oh! The gall of her! “You do as you please, and you don’t care what I think!” Persephone said, raising her voice at last. “You took me here against my will—you took my maidenhead—you took my freedom! Don’t pretend I have a say in this!”

There were not enough loose objects nearby for Persephone’s needs, but she made do, grabbing an ornamental vase and throwing it at Hades, followed by a small hand mirror, then a bust of what looked to be Athena but might have been one of her acolytes, and finally, when she ran out of hard implements, every single cushion on the bed.

Tears blinded her eyes, but she was not surprised when Hades strode up to her and grabbed her wrists, crushing them in her grasp.

“If you wish to behave like a child, then I will treat you as one,” Hades said, her voice low and soft and dangerous. She advanced, forcing Persephone to retreat until the wall was at her back. Hades’ eyes softened, and she dropped one of Persephone’s hands, reaching up to trace the bruise on her neck.

Persephone turned her head and bit Hades’ thumb.

“Oh!” Hades said, recoiling.

And then Hades pushed her, and she landed on the bed, the frame squeaking with the impact.