Page 71 of Raising Hell
“Thank you. Can you put on pants now?”
He reached around me and plucked the finished chain from the air.
“They are already in place. Lift your skirt and allow me to place your trinket.”
I made a face as I realized my mistake in asking for an ankle bracelet. Hades was far too interested in what was under my skirt not to make putting it on an uncomfortable experience.
“No need. I can put it on.” I held out my hand over my shoulder. He brought my palm to his mouth and kissed it.
“I place the trinket, my love.”
“Nope, we removed that contract.”
“There are so many that remain. As Ashlyn, can you be certain there isn’t another that gives me the right?”
“You’re being stubborn.”
“No more than you.”
“Okay. Fine. But can we go somewhere else? I don’t want to fall off the wall when I have to kick you in the head for being indecent.”
He laughed so hard that it shook us both. The sexy sound echoed off the mountain and rang out everywhere. An answering smile tugged at my lips. I really did love it when he laughed and wished I could turn around and see his humor for myself. But I knew how dangerous that was. I couldn’t. No matter how badly I wanted to.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked.
“The throne room.” It was still semi-private but not the bedroom. I didn’t want him anywhere near my skirt when we were in the bedroom.
“So be it.” He hugged me close, and I watched the world in front of me shimmer and fade. No sickness tugged at my middle as we reappeared in front of his throne, which was good, considering the number of people milling around in the room.
“Uh…what’s going on?” I asked Zotera, who was sitting on the edge of the platform.
She popped up and faced us along with half the occupants.
“We were worried and wanted to see you.”
Forgetting myself, I glanced back at Hades. He met my gaze, and my stomach dipped. How could one person be that beautiful, and how could I have forgotten that in the thirty minutes that I’d managed not to look at him?
Gods, I was so screwed.
“They are worried about you, my love,” Hades said softly, breaking my enthrallment.
I faced the room again, glancing at all the creatures that Persephone had hurt in some dreadful way or another, and wondered why they would care.
“I’m fine,” I called out. “There’s no need for you to stay here. Please. Do whatever you’d like. The sun’s out now, so you can see where you’re going if you leave the castle.”
“They don’t want to leave, Mother,” Zotera said.
“Why not?”
“They wish to be near you. They don’t want anything to happen to you again.”
“Since the first attack was in a room full of people, I’m not sure this is going to help anything.”
“First attack?” Zotera’s panicked question quieted the low murmur of conversation in the large space.
“Yes, my children,” Hades said. “There was another attempt to take my queen and your mother. This cannot continue. Watch the halls. Find the intruder.”
Zotera gripped her hands so tightly in front of her that her fingers turned white. I eased from Hades’ arms to hug her.
