Page 60 of Raising Hell
“Technically, you—you know what? Never mind. If you like it, that’s all that matters.”
He looked down at the ring.
“I like it.”
“Good. Now, what else should we do? Do you think Zotera managed to convince everyone to do what they wanted? Should we go back and check on them?” The idea of them dancing like I’d stolen their wills made me feel horribly guilty. I knew how that felt and how much I resented the few creatures who had managed to do that to me. Well, except for the glutton who’d done it here. I didn’t resent him. I pitied him.
“I’m not yet ready to share you with others again. Perhaps you would like to see the gardens?”
I looked out over the barren landscape now exposed by the light of Hell’s blue sun. There wasn’t any visible vegetation anywhere.
“Sure. Show me the gardens.”
Hades smiled, all boyish eagerness, as he took my hand in his and led me away from the balcony. We came across a few people as we walked through the curving halls. They paused their progress and bowed their heads until we passed. There were no monsters like before, and I felt bad that Persephone had forced them to look monstrous just so that she could continue to hate everything about Hell.
We took a winding staircase down several levels, and the air grew warmer. When we emerged through an opening, I wasn’t surprised to see a lava river in the distance. What did surprise me, however, was the sun shining above.
I was outside the castle for the first time ever. I glanced over my shoulder at the huge cluster of towers and halls. It consumed the mountainside in which it was built. The lava river disappeared into the mountain, too, explaining how I’d found the lava river on another lower floor.
Distracted by my gawking, I stepped on a sharp rock and yelped.
Hades stilled, and his eyes flared red as he looked at me.
“What happened?” he asked with suspicion.
Clutching his forearm, I balanced on one foot and checked the other. A cut was already welling with blood.
“I need shoes to walk out here. How are your feet not bleeding?”
He frowned and stooped to one knee to hold my foot. I had to brace myself on his shoulders as he ran his fingers over the wound. White light flared, and the cut closed as I watched. The blood and dirt disappeared too. He brought the unmarred bottom of my foot to his lips and kissed it tenderly.
“You’re lucky I’m flexible,” I said, wobbling a little.
He made a non-committal sound and kissed my foot again. This time with some tongue. That was when I noticed he wasn’t looking at my foot. My skirt was hiked up to my knee, and he could see everything since he refused to magic me any underwear.
I didn’t think. I simply smacked the back of his head and tried to tug my foot free. He didn’t let go.
“No sex,” I scolded.
He chuckled, unfazed by my efforts.
“We are not having sex. I cannot help but remember it, though, when presented with your beauty. How good it felt to be inside you. Your taste.” He finally tore his gaze away and released my foot. “Allow me to taste you again. No sex. Merely a sip at the cup overflowing with your essence.”
“We’re going to the garden,” I said, unsure if I was reminding myself or him because my head was filled with pictures of Hades tasting me and how much I would like it.
He stood fluidly and took my hand. Instead of holding it, he placed it on his shoulder and scooped me into his arms.
“You’re right. The gardens.” His determined pace along the base of the mountain worried me that he wasn’t done thinking about sipping from my cup.
My face heated more, and I tried to blame it on the increasing nearness to the lava river. Ahead, I saw a large bridge arching over the slowly moving glow. Heat waves distorted the air above the stone.
“Is that going to be too hot to walk on?” I asked.
“No. I don’t feel the heat like you do.”
Crossing the bridge was like walking through an oven, but it was over quickly, thanks to his long stride. On the other side, I saw an oasis of green vegetation amidst the craggy stone. Beyond that, verdant fields of green stretched as far as the eye could see.
“Wow,” I said, taking it all in. “I can’t believe all of this survived without the sun.”
