Page 104 of Raising Hell
He glanced down at himself, and his pants immediately appeared.
“I look forward to their removal,” he said, holding out his hand to me.
“I bet you do.” I didn’t just hold his hand; I wrapped myself around his arm and hugged it to my chest. “I’m ready when you are.”
The bed disappeared, replaced by Zotera sitting at the table in the otherwise empty throne room. She was leaning over the top, a head on her arm, as she idly traced the marbling on the surface. I felt a stab of pity at the sight.
“Good morning,” I said, releasing Hades’ arm.
Zotera jerked her head off her arm and looked at us with wide eyes.
“Did you sleep at all, or have you been sitting at the table all night?” I asked.
“I—”
“Father! Would you and mother like to hear more tales?” someone asked, emerging from one of the hidden tunnels.
“I will tell another story that is sure to please you both,” another person said from the other side of the room.
I glanced around and saw more people emerging.
“They’ve been waiting for you,” Zotera said. “We all enjoyed yesterday too much to sleep.”
“We will gather again for stories before dusk,” Hades said to his children’s collective disappointment.
They didn’t leave, though. They clustered together in small groups, the low murmur of their conversation growing as more arrived.
The audience didn’t prevent Hades from wrapping an arm around my waist and nuzzling my neck from behind.
“What food tempts you this morning?” he asked. “Honey cakes?”
A tingle ran through me when he kissed my neck, reminding me of what we’d already done this morning—twice—and why we needed a distraction. Apparently, a crowded throne room wasn’t distracting enough.
I looked at Zotera, who was watching my expression closely.
“Honey cakes sound nice, but not here. Maybe we can make Zotera a bedroom and eat there?”
She nodded and stood.
“It’s still not safe to wander the halls,” Hades murmured in my hair.
“I wasn’t wandering any of the three times I was almost killed, so your logic doesn’t work anymore. Come on.”
I tugged on his arm, and he surrendered his hand to mine. If the others were disappointed that we were leaving already, they didn’t show it.
“I don’t need a room,” Zotera said as soon as we turned the corner.
“You keep saying that, but I’m not sure you understand how great having your own room could be.”
“I would rather stay where you can find me.”
“Good. I can find you easily if your bedroom is right next door to us.”
Zotera’s steps slowed for two seconds; then she hustled to catch up.
“You want me to have a room next to you and Father?”
“Yep. That way, when you’re awake and bored, you can knock on our door instead of waiting in the throne room for us to show up.”
