“Persephone.” He pushed away from her, feeling hysteria build in the bottom of his stomach. “Did I hurt you?”
“No,” she whispered, covering her eyes, and he felt an immense sense of relief. “No, you didn’t hurt me.”
He stared down at her for a moment as she wept quietly. He knew there could be a number of reasons for her tears, but he would not speculate and he would not ask. If she wished to tell him, she could. Still, he did not wish for her to hide, no matter the reason. He pried her hands from her face, brushed the wetness from her cheeks, and kissed her forehead before moving to his side and tucking her against him. He covered their naked bodies with blankets.
“You are too perfect for me,” he whispered, kissing her hair, and they fell into a peaceful slumber.
***
Hades woke instantly, and this time, it had nothing to do with desire and everything to do with the smell of Demeter’s magic. It curled through the air like a bitter frost.
He rolled into a sitting position but did not manage to manifest clothes before Demeter appeared, eyes like fire, face as cold as ice.
Persephone, oblivious to her mother’s arrival, rolled toward him, her hand reaching out across the sheets.
“Come back to bed.”
His heart squeezed in his chest, and then her mother’s voice filled the room, a sound like thunder and lightning warring in the sky.
“Get away from my daughter!”
“Mother!” Persephone sat up and paled, holding her sheets to her chest. “Get out!”
Demeter’s gaze fell upon Persephone, and it took everything in Hades’ power to remain where he was. He wanted to protect her from her mother, from the promise of revenge he saw written on her face. Even if he had roused Persephone in time to dress, it would have been impossible to hide what they’d been doing. Their scents clung to each other, their bodies still slick with the smell of sex.
Persephone reached for her nightshirt and shoved it over her head, covering herself as quickly as possible.
“How dare you.” Demeter’s voice shook, her mouth quivering with rage.
Hades remained sitting in the bed, body tense, ready to pounce at the barest hint of attack.
“How long?” Demeter demanded.
Months, Hades wanted to say, because he knew it would antagonize the Goddess of Harvest, but it was one thing to receive Demeter’s anger on his own and another thing entirely to watch Persephone suffer beneath it.
“It’s really none of your business, Mother,” Persephone snapped.
“You forget your place, Daughter.”
“And you forget my age. I am not a child!”
“You are my child, and you have betrayed my trust.”
Demeter’s magic was gathering around her like a vortex. Hades knew the goddess was preparing to teleport her daughter, and while he remained on edge, he was not afraid. Demeter couldn’t take Persephone from him while she was indebted to him. Still, seeing Persephone look frantically from him to her mother broke his heart.
“No, Mother!”
“You will no longer live this disgraceful, mortal life!”
Persephone closed her eyes, and he found himself torn between intervening and wishing to see how Persephone would react. Embrace your power, he thought. It was the perfect time, as she was protected by his mark. I know it is fighting inside you.
But she didn’t.
Demeter’s magic had culminated, and Persephone remained still, eyes closed, accepting of her mother’s punishment like a pawn in a game.
Except that as Demeter snapped her fingers, nothing happened. Her face fell, wavering between shock and anger, eyes finally falling to the gold cuff Persephone wore to cover the evidence of their bargain.
Demeter snatched the bracelet from her wrist, gripping her arm. Hades felt his magic pool. He would fight the goddess for his lover. He would kill her if she left a mark.
“What did you do?” Demeter demanded, turning her fierce and hateful gaze upon him.
“Don’t touch me!” Persephone tried to pull free of her mother’s grip, but Demeter’s nails bit into her skin and she cried out.
“Release her, Demeter.” Hades spoke quietly, but his rage was acute.
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do with my daughter!”
Hades snapped his fingers, and he was suddenly dressed, rising to his full height. His power gathered around him, an invisible but tangible weight he knew Demeter could sense. She released her hold on Persephone, who retreated to the other side of the room.
“Your daughter and I have a contract. She will stay until she fulfills it.”