Page 34 of Raising Hell
“She comes,” he said in a flat tone.
I turned toward the entrance and waited for the fury to appear. It was the older one like the night before.
“Father,” she said with a respectful nod of her head. “How may I serve you?”
“Hi,” I said quickly before Hades could say anything. “I’m Ashlyn, Megan’s friend. You must be her…grandmother?”
The woman nodded. “I’m Grace.”
“Nice to meet you, Grace. I’m sorry to bother you again, but I was wondering if you would be willing to provide another meal from the human world like you did last night. Hades’ food options are really limited, and I’d like to introduce him to something new.”
“Something to appease his appetite?” she asked, giving nothing away yet making the message very clear. Appease the King of Hell and save the world. Did she think I was sitting here playing games?
“That’s a pretty lofty goal when I’m still getting to know him, but that’s the hope,” I said, keeping my tone light. “I’ve eaten several meals that had cheese here. So I was thinking a cheesecake. You’re probably well-traveled enough to know where the absolute best is.”
“Anything else?”
“An uncomplicated steak dinner that would make any man groan in appreciation?”
Her gaze flicked from me to Hades then Zotera.
“For three?”
“Please,” I said, feeling like an ass under her stare. The furies weren’t a delivery service, and I could see that I was pushing my luck with Megan’s grandma.
She shifted her gaze to Hades.
“Father?”
“That is all. Thank you, daughter.”
She vanished when he flicked his hand in her direction.
My mind was stuck on how lowkey annoyed she’d been and not on Hades, so the sudden feel of his lips against my neck jolted me.
“Would you mind if I stand for a bit?” I asked in a rush. “I saw hidden entries I want to inspect.”
He loosened his hold, and I scrambled from his lap. His fingers locked around my wrist, halting my escape while he slowly stood.
“How much are you willing to concede to this game of yours?” he asked.
“What do you think I gave up? Other people’s freedoms that weren’t mine to take? Questionable room décor? Let’s look at what I did instead. I spoke to Unt just like a normal person would. I didn’t make the fury’s eyes bleed. I sat on your lap while you petted me in front of everyone. You said Persephone wouldn’t have done any of that. But I did. Me. Ashlyn. And what did it earn me? More angry looks and distrust. The exact opposite of what it should have done.”
“It will take far more than sitting on my lap to earn my trust.”
I made a sound of frustration and tugged my wrist free of his hold. I wasn’t sure who I was more annoyed with. Him or me? By his own admission, Persephone had spent an eternity tormenting him. Three random acts of non-Persephoneness weren’t going to undo that. I knew that.
But he wasn’t even trying.
“Now, you’re the one annoying me,” I said. “Should I threaten to toss you to the ground like you did to me?”
“That would align with your nature.”
I turned away from him, almost tripping over Zotera. At the last second, I caught myself on her shoulder.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, straightening. “Your father is an ass.”
She gave me a commiserating look and nodded.
