Page 36 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
When that insufferable smirk curved on his lips again, I bristled. ‘Do not tell me you cannot feel our soul bond,’ he whispered as his eyes locked onto mine—the arrogant prick. I wasnotbonded to the god of the Underworld.
But who was I kidding? I could feel it—that… something, deep within me. Something undeniable. It was a freaking horny nightmare of a bond. Dammit.
I grimaced at him. ‘Not really,’ I lied, chewing my lip and dropping my gaze.
‘I can taste your emotions. Your arousal,’ he said in a low, smoky voice.
My brows knitted together tightly. ‘Wait. What? I’ve told you before… That’s just creepy!’
‘And as I said, I can see through lies, little goddess.’ The chill of his voice sliced through me like an ice storm.
‘I’m not lying,’ I lied again.
‘Admit you love me,’ he growled.
‘What? I’ve only just freaking met you! And you kidnapped me, you jackass.’
His eyes shone gold as an angry frown marred his beautiful face. The next minute, I was falling onto my ass in my bedroom.
‘Youbastard!’I yelled.
Standing up, I brushed myself off, strode to the cupboard, opened it, and poured more wine, colourfully cursing Hades as I downed glass after glass. His words echoed in my head over and over:You were the only one I ever yearned for. The beacon of hope for every lost soul in the Underworld, including me, Persephone,and angry tears spilled down my cheeks.
Was it anger? Or was it something else? Something I couldn’t explain, like the ‘bond’? I was too confused to think clearly and, eventually, too exhausted. I don’t remember passing out.
CHAPTER 12
HADES
Iwas furious. I poured another glass of wine and downed it in one gulp. My erection strained against my jeans.
‘Fucking Persephone,’ I grunted. I’d taken her lips as if laying claim to her soul—a scorching kiss that left me unsteady on my feet; how I’d missed those kisses.
Remembering her taste, her tongue, the soft moans she made against my mouth, and the way her body ignited at my touch almost undid me. My cock grew even harder. I rumbled low in my throat. I should have taken her there and then on the table. I could have, but I knew I must not.
She still denied the bond, though I knew she was lying. The look she’d given me when I’d asked said she’d rather gouge her eyes out with a rusty spoon than admit to feeling it. I needed to get her out of my head. I needed to stop this before I fell any deeper for this stranger. She was getting under my skin like a sweet poison. She wasn’tmyPersephone. I wanted to both fuckher senseless and return her to the mortal world for my sanity, before she and that shadow magic enthralled me completely.
MyPersephone had been dynamic and powerful; she took shit from no one, including me—my equal—but she also loved me unconditionally, a love that both comforted and healed me. There is no arguing with the soul bond. She had been made for me—even separated, we would have walked the earth to search for each other. At the thought, I drank another glass of wine and paced the terrace.
Fates, what a mess.
‘Went well then?’ Hecate’s voice made me turn; she had my answer from the scowl I gave her. Her eyes lowered to my crotch, and she smirked. I fisted my hands and squinted at her. ‘Not saying a word.’ She raised her hands in a surrender gesture but carried on grinning.
‘She’s sweet one minute and downright infuriating the next. She flat-out denies that she feels the bond, and I know she lies,’ I ground out.
‘Hades, she’s always been the same. You know that. You were married for how long before she—’ Hecate stopped as my gaze shot to hers. ‘That’s one thing you loved about her—her downright feistiness and determination. You’re a god, and you expect her to throw herself at you. Stop being so freaking arrogant. This whole situation has turned her world upside down. Give her time.’
‘We do nothavetime, Hecate.’ My voice cracked despite myself. ‘I cannot bear to lose her again, so I must stop this. She denies the bond… our bond.’ A crippling pain lanced through my chest, and I forced the next words out like ash. ‘She isnotthe same goddess I married. She’s notmyPersephone anymore.MyPersephone would never put me through this.’
I drew in a ragged breath. ‘It’s best if she leaves.’ Hecate opened her mouth to argue, but I raised a hand to silence her.‘I’m going to see Zeus,’ I said, voice low and final. ‘I’ll tell him Persephone is returning to the mortal realm. I’ll dissolve the binding to me. She will be free.’
‘Well, I never took you for a quitter?—’
‘Do not push me, Goddess.’ My shadows stirred, curling like smoke as my words sliced the air.
‘As you wish.’ She shook her head in disgust and vanished, leaving me feeling even more morose.
When I thought of Zeus, my cock softened, and I shadow-walked to Olympus.
