Page 17 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
I gave a lazy shrug, but it still rattled my brain. ‘And me being a witch?’
‘You’restillPersephone.’ I huffed a frustrated breath. She was utterly convinced I wasthePersephone, so I swallowed my retort. ‘Eventually, you may be able to help sort out the banishment of magic. You never know. You could be the saviour of witchcraft in the human realm.’ I narrowed my eyes and tapped my forefinger against my lips. Would that be possible? ‘But, oh, the irony of it.’ Tee chuckled darkly. ‘The crafty old crone.’
‘Old crone?’
‘My lips are sealed, sorry. Speak to Hades. In fact, he’s eager for you to have lunch with him.’
‘What?’ I gasped so hard, I almost choked.
‘He won’t bite, Sephy. Well, not unless you want him to.’ At her words, a hot, tight shiver ran through me, and my lady parts tingled. I cursed my ridiculous body. ‘We can start doing some magic training if you’d like?’
My breath hitched in my throat. Magic training withthegoddess of magic? ‘I, I only have flora magic.’
She gave me a knowing smile. ‘You sure about that?’ I nodded emphatically. I couldn’t mention the dark magic I wielded. Because it was uncontrollable. Dangerous.
‘Come on, let’s choose an outfit to impress.’ Tee stood up.
‘I have no desire to impress him.’ I grimaced at her as she lifted her brows. I closed my eyes and said, ‘I need some advice. Not about Hades, obviously, because there’s no way I’m interested in him.’ Again, Tee cocked her brow at me. ‘I’m, erm… I’ve never had sex—like, you know—fullsex, before.’
Tee bellowed with laughter. ‘Seriously? You’ve never been penetrated by a penis? Or anything that resembles a penis?’
I wrinkled my nose, shifted uncomfortably, and gave a slight shrug. I’d pleasured myself if that counted; had a bit of foreplay with Matt, but maybe my vagina was broken because sex with a man just wasn’t that important. Or hadn’t been.
‘You’re a twenty-two-year-old virgin?’ She choked out the words through her laughing fit. I scowled at her, feeling rather offended. She wiped her eyes and sucked in her cheeks.
‘Glad you find me so amusing,’ I said with a clenched jaw. ‘Why does society believe someone not wanting casual sex is a freak?’ I spat. ‘Just bang someone and move on. It’s no biggie. But I refuse to follow society’s conventional wisdom. Do what works for you, I say… Andstoplaughing at me,’ I growl-hissed at her.
‘Sorry.’ She burst out laughing again, then sobered for a beat. ‘What about Matt?’
I shook my head. ‘I’ve never really been attracted to anyone in that way. I think I might be frigid.’ My shoulders sank.Well, unless I’m around the god of the dead.At that thought, an involuntary shudder ran through me, but Tee cracked up laughing again.
I glared at her as she carried on with her inappropriate laughter. Eventually, she settled down from her hilarity; she cleared her throat and managed to speak.
‘Sex is fun. Much more entertaining than slaying demons. You’ve obviously never had the right guy or girl.’ She blew out a breath and shook out her arms, still trying to control her laughter. I narrowed my eyes at her. ‘Come on, let’s get you ready for lunch. I’ll sort your hair. It looks like a rat's nest.’ She snorted through her nose, which made me grit my teeth, but I ignored it. I swear to the gods, if she laughed again, I’d punch her.
‘Gee, thanks,’ I muttered as she shoved me towards the bathroom.
‘Shower. Hurry up, you only have an hour. I’ll be back soon; need to see the boss. Oh, and here’s your blade.’
The divine blade, still in its sheath and with the leather straps attached, appeared in her hand. ‘And keep that thing away from me.’ She squinted at me.
I laughed evilly as I sauntered into the bathroom, then dramatically slammed the door shut.
CHAPTER 6
HADES
When Hecate appeared, I was brooding in my office.
Seeing Persephone in the Underworld again stirred need deep in my belly… Wrapped only in a towel, the lust in her gaze, combined with the scent of her arousal, ignited the desire I’d always felt for her; it coursed through my veins like venom. She wasmine. She belonged to me. But it broke my heart that she didn’t know me.
The emptiness within me since her disappearance had consumed my soul. It was a void that only she could fill.
Butwasshe still my Persephone?
Spikes of unease gnawed at my chest—what if she left me again?
‘Who made you the demon lord of downers today?’ Hecate remarked as I lifted my gaze to her.
