Page 33 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
‘Okay. I get the picture,’ I cut in, raising a hand. Hecate grinned, then immediately sobered.
‘You ate six pomegranate seeds from the Underworld each time you visited, so you could spend half the year with Hades and half the year with Demeter. You felt guilty about leaving her. When Hades was bound to the Underworld, you had to returnhere to be with him. You made a conscious decision to divide your time between them both.’
‘That must have been hard for Hades?’ I squinted at her, and she sighed in response.
‘It was, but he would agree to anything to make you happy.’ She paused for a beat. ‘A bond forged by true fate is unbreakable. It exists between you and Hades, Sephy, whether you want to admit it or not.’
After nature,books were the second best thing, so before I had to face Hades, I escaped to the library again for the next few hours. I buried the emotions that Tee’s words elicited in me. Now was not the time to throw a hissy fit. I mulled over Tee’s words regarding Zeus’s relationship with Hades but also suppressed the overwhelming feelings of compassion.
The thought of seeing Hades, after discovering I was trulythePersephone—especially following that lust-filled dream—sent nerves and embarrassment slithering through my body. But, I chastised myself; it was merely a dream. He knew nothing of my intense attraction to him. Then I reflected on Tee’s conversation and what Hades had done when he lost Persephone—me—but I buried those thoughts deep within the darkest recesses of my mind.
I curled up in a chair and escaped the fuck-upery that was my life as I became engrossed in a fantasy romance book.
Simos’s voice broke the spell. ‘Look at you, reading your book without a care in the world.’
‘Well, nothing cures a bad day quite like reading and escaping into make-believe. Plus, I’m at a particularly spicy part.’ I grinned at him, and his cute face flushed adorably.
‘I love a bit of spice.’ He winked at me, and I let out a splutter of laughter.
‘Tell me, Sim.’ I set the book down. ‘Do you remember Persephone from… from before?’
He shook his head. ‘Nope. I lived in Dionysus’s realm. I’ve never seen much of Olympus.’
‘So how’d you end up here?’
‘I was Dionysus’s librarian. He gifted me to Hades to manage his library.’
‘Gifted you?’ I puckered my brow. ‘Gods can’t own people.’
‘Ah, Dionysus isn’t so bad. He asked me first,’ Simos replied with a half-shrug.
‘And now you serve Hades?’
‘I don’t serve him. I work for him. Don’t believe badly of him; he’s a great boss. He cares for and protects those loyal to him. We all love him.’
‘Oh.’ I didn’t know what else to say. That statement intrigued me, along with the story Tee told me about him. He was an arrogant prick, but was he really an okay person? I shelved the thought.
‘So!’ I jumped up, probably having the best idea ever. ‘I’ve got several, though I’m not entirely certain how many “events” to attend. Like dinners and such, I suppose.’ I threw my arms up in an “I haven’t a clue” gesture. ‘And I’m allowed an escort. I wondered’—I looked into Simos’s eyes as he studied me—‘if you might be my escort? You’d at least get to see more of Olympus.’
He took a step back as his eyes roamed over me. ‘Like a date?’
‘No, you moron. As my friend.’
He raised his shoulders and tilted his head slightly. ‘Disappointing, but yes. I’d love to be your date.’
‘Not a date. Idiot.’
He chuckled wickedly. ‘Once you’ve gone Satyr, you never look back. We’re great lovers.’
‘Ugh. You’re grim.’
He laughed evilly, then sobered up as his gaze met mine again. ‘You’re a good person, Persephone.’
I hesitated, feeling my heart swell. ‘Thanks, Sim. And you’re a good friend.’
The time cameto see Hades, and after my chat with Tee, I dressed to impress—perhaps I could persuade him to free me? He sounded like a reasonable man, after all. Plus, if I werehisPersephone—that thought elicited a pleasant shudder through me—surely he’d do whatever I asked of him?
I opted for a bold, form-fitting deep blue jumpsuit featuring a sleeveless lace top tied around my neck, with silk noil trousers draping softly against my legs.A pair of ballet pumps in the matching colour completed the look, and I was good to go. I left my hair loose and coloured my lips with pale coral lipstick. I left my divine blade in the room; I couldn’t risk angering Hades by threatening him again. Not if I wanted to get the hell out of here.
