Page 52 of Hell On Earth
My frown faded as I realized I wasn’t having any of those feelings toward Eliana. I should have been. She’d worn nice clothes in front of me once, and it had been enough of a succubus pull that I’d tried to hit on her.
“No,” I said to Megan. “I actually feel fine. No interest at all.”
Hades’ fingers moved over my back.
“None?” he said with a seductive purr.
I narrowed my gaze at him.
“None. Do you understand how hurt I am? When you came back and called me Ashlyn and told me I was perfect, I actually believe you sawmeand were interested inme.”
“I am,” he said, trying and succeeding in pulling my head down to his chest.
“Don’t force me,” I said, slapping my hand against his side.
He released me like I was a hot coal and got in my face.
“You will love me,” he snarled as the ground shook.
“Who? Persephone? She hated you so much she liked using a knife, remember?”
The ground shook harder.
“Um, Ashlyn…” Megan said.
“That’s right. Ashlyn. I’mAshlyn,” I said, pointing at myself while glaring back at Hades. “I’m the one who takes showers with you and snuggles you at night. Me. If you keep comparing me toher, I’ll start refusing to say your name, just like she did. Is that what you want?”
The floor trembled under my feet.
“Stubborn. Spiteful.” He snarled at me again and spun away, shoving his fingers through his hair.
I grabbed his arm and turned him toward me. He didn’t flinch when I caught his ear between my fingers and tugged him down to my level.
“Love me!” I yelled in his face.
The shaking in the floor stopped abruptly. But not his shaking. He carefully cupped my face with unsteady hands and brought his lips close to mine.
“I do, Ashlyn. Goddess, help me, but I do. I will not lose you.”
“Then be smarter.”
He kissed me with a tenderness that I’d never felt from him before, then hugged me close.
“Forgive me,” he said softly.
“Always.”
“Yeah, so, um…I’m not really a fan of mommy and daddy fights. Let’s not do that again,” Megan cut in.
With a twinge of guilt, I looked at her.
“There’s zero point in trying to keep me alive if Hades believes I’m someone else. Pretending to be someone I’m not would be just as catastrophic.”
“I know who you are,” Hades said. “I will not mistake you again.”
“Good,” Megan said. “Now that that’s settled, can we get back to planning?”
“Should we bring the rest back?” I asked. “Wait. Where did you take Zotera and Eugene?”
