Page 34 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
As my thoughts turned to Hades, anxiety bloomed in my chest. I took a deep breath through my nose and shook out my shoulders, but tension lingered deep in my muscles.
Tee walked in and gave me an appraising look.
‘Let’s go.’ She extended her hand, and as soon as she touched me, we teleported to Hades. I found myself in a lovely, expansive room; the walls were infused with glowing light and painted a soft gold, while plush velvet sofas and chairs encircled an immense fireplace, with sumptuous rugs giving the huge space a cosy feel. The dining table was as black as onyx, embedded with sparkles that twinkled like scattered moondust. Enormousdoors filled one wall, standing open and leading to the beautiful terrace where we had dined.
‘This room is lovely,’ I whispered as I touched the table laden with a massive vase of asphodels.
‘It’s part of Hades’ private chambers.’ My head whipped around at her words, and she let out a throaty chuckle. ‘Hades will bring you back; don’t go wandering off alone again.’ She gave me a pointed look, and raised a finger. ‘And don’t try killing him. Have fun,’ she said, winking at me before disappearing again.
Gods and baby kittens everywhere. I was in his private chambers.If I were Persephone, I must have been here before…and in his bedroom.The thought made my stomach tumble, but I pushed it aside. I wandered around the space, trailing my fingers over the furniture, when my eyes were drawn to a large screen with intricate designs etched into the metal. As I peered behind, I saw an enormous hole in the tiled floor, filled with what appeared to be sizeable pieces of beautiful black opal. I picked one up and rolled it between my palms, feeling the humming energy of the gem as my gaze fell upon a spectacular eight-foot rose tree—sadly, a very dead eight-foot rose tree.
‘Oh, baby! What happened?’ I whispered as I made my way towards it.
‘You happened.’ His voice made me whirl around. The ridiculously handsome, hulking form of the god of the Underworld stood relaxed, resembling some dashing hero from a sexy-as-hell romance novel—and a host of hummingbirds took flight in my belly.
Control yourself, Sephy. For fuck’s sake.
‘What do you mean?’ My throat thickened as I met his gaze.
‘When you vanished, life in the Underworld gradually dwindled too, Persephone. Including my vis vitae.’
A tangled web of emotions choked my throat as guilt dug like ice-tipped fingers. It was my fault he was so miserable—my fault that he lost control all those years ago. I wanted to go to him and wrap my arms around him … comfort him. The pull in my chest was growing stronger. Instead, I swallowed down the bitter knot of emotions and bit my lower lip as my gaze fell to the floor. After a few beats, my eyes met his again.
‘May I?’ I pointed to the rose tree, and he inclined his chin. ‘You’ll be fine,’ I reassured as I stroked the thick trunk of the tree. My flora magic pulsed within me, its powerful energy skittering across my skin—it surged, heady and rich through my veins. At my touch, the tree slowly transformed; the bare branches shifted colour as glossy green leaves with toothed edges sprouted, followed by a thick array of rose buds. The sharp thorns contrasted beautifully with the blooms as they unfurled into a mix of very full-bloom purple and red roses. I breathed in their scent and smiled—a magical experience with delicate notes of musk, violet, and lemons.
‘I’ll never tire of seeing you do that, sweetness. Roses were always one of your favourites.’ His voice was hoarse. With the snap of his fingers, the screen vanished, revealing the full splendour of the tree. ‘What you have already created in the Underworld’—Hades gestured towards the windows, showcasing the plethora of colour—‘is like you bringing the promise of life back to us.’
My gaze met his again as heat invaded my cheeks.
‘I have flora magic.’
He sighed. ‘Flora magic has always been one of your gifts, among others. Your powers will grow anew while you visit the Underworld.’
The word ‘visit’ made my heart race… Hope sparked, but I squashed it before it caught fire and spread. At the thought ofleaving, though, I was conflicted. Did I want to leave him? My heart squeezed at the prospect of never seeing him again.
‘Oh,’ I squeaked.
‘You are a goddess, Persephone, not a witch.’
‘Yeah, apparently. That’s what Tee said.’ I squinted up at him. In my ballet pumps, I was tiny. He was tall—so big and tall.
‘You were reborn and raised to believe you were a witch. To think I was your enemy.’
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I kept my mouth shut. He drew his lower lip between his teeth, and for some weird reason, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his mouth. A heated curl in my stomach made me suck in a shaky breath. I didn’t like this feeling at all, for a truckload of reasons. The foremost being that he was king of death and shadows. I might be Persephone reborn, but I wasn’t her anymore. I was me. I pried my gaze away and focused on my clasped hands.
‘Tee mentioned your fangs are retractable. How come you’ve not hidden them from me?’ I said, lifting my gaze to him again.
He gave a half-shrug. ‘I don’t want you to be scared of them. And, in certain situations, they are an asset.’ One side of his mouth curled into a half-grin. The hidden meaning in his words and the intensity of his perusal caused my skin to heat and my thoughts to muddle.
Dropping my gaze, I muttered, ‘Can you… can you tell me what happened?’
‘No,’ he said, almost commanding, and my temper sizzled.
My head snapped up. ‘I beg your pardon?’
He lowered his brows, running a hand over his head. ‘I’m sorry.’ He looked pained at having to say those words—the arrogant tool. ‘What I meant to say is yes, I will, but not today.’ The darkness in me rumbled like a slumbering beast, but I suppressed it as I turned back to the rose tree and inhaled the gentle, restorative aroma of the blooms. I didn’t want to argue.
‘Okay. As long as you promise.’
