Page 39 of Raising Hell
“Father, those you’ve freed will want to see you.”
He nodded while swallowing his bite and looked at me.
“You will accompany me.”
He said it in a way that I couldn’t quite tell if it was a question or a demand. I decided to take it as a question.
“Sure. Now?”
He shook his head and motioned to my food.
“Eat.”
While I knew he liked the steak, he seemed to enjoy watching me devour my portion more. By the time I cleaned my plate, my stomach was full.
“I’m not sure I have room for dessert,” I said, leaning back on my cushions.
“I have room,” Zotera said happily, reaching for the remaining bag.
I nodded when she glanced at me in question, and she took out a clear container holding a slice of cheesecake. After helping her open it, I watched her take an eager bite.
“It’s sweet,” she said. “Oh, Father, you’re going to like this. It tastes like summer.”
Hades took out another container, glancing at the wooden fork that came with it before taking the one he was used to. The second he opened the container, I could smell a hint of lemon. I took the spare fork and stole a bite from his piece before he could try it. Lemon and lavender flavors danced on my tongue. I licked my fork after I swallowed and went back for another bite.
Hades caught my hand and brought the second bite of his treat to his mouth instead. My eyes went wide at the intimacy of feeding him from my fork.
He didn’t release my hand until he swallowed.
“It does taste like summer,” he said, studying me. “Your face is flushed again.”
I cleared my throat.
“I shouldn’t have stolen a bite from yours. Sorry.”
“I would gladly share a plate with you. This wouldn’t be needed, though.” He plucked the fork from my loose hold. “I would feed you from my fingers for the simple joy of your tongue licking them clean.”
My chest tightened, and I had to focus on keeping my breathing steady.
“Uh, you wanted to visit someone now, right?” I said, standing.
A knowing look entered his gaze as he slowly rose, a show of grace and strength, and held out his hand.
“Come, Ashlyn. Let’s ensure those freed will never wrong you again.”
When he put it like that, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go anywhere with him. Yet, staying and eating from his fingers wasn’t any safer.
“Can I have the remains?” Zotera asked as we walked away.
“Enjoy yourself, my daughter,” Hades said. “I will keep your mother distracted.”
I frowned, unsure how exactly he meant that. Sex and torture seemed to be common themes with him, and neither appealed to me.
Liar, my inner voice yelled with a laugh.
Okay, fine. Sex no longer sounded horrible. I just didn’t want to do that when Hades believed “Ashlyn, the human” was some roleplaying game his psycho-wife invented. I wanted to be loved for me, as me.
It took us a while to reach the first room. The man inside was hacking away at his hair with a golden shear.
