A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone 1)

It seemed like a silly question, but she was curious. Over the months, she gathered that Hades liked cards, walks, and playing with his animals, but she wondered what else.

“What do you mean?”

Persephone laughed. “The fact that you just asked that says everything. What are your hobbies?”

“Cards. Riding.” He swirled his hand in the air, thinking. “Drinking.”

“What about things not related to being the God of the Dead?”

“Drinking is not related to being God of the Dead,” he said.

“It also isn’t a hobby. Unless you’re an alcoholic.”

Hades raised a brow. “Then what are your hobbies?”

Persephone smiled, and though she knew he was avoiding talking about himself, she answered, “Baking.”

“Baking? I feel like I should have known about this sooner.”

“Well, you never asked.”

Silence fell between them, and they walked a little further before Hades came to a stop. Persephone turned to look at him when he said, “Teach me.”

She stared at him for a moment, stunned. “What?”

“Teach me,” he said. “To bake something.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, and he raised a brow, not amused.

“I’m sorry—I’m just imagining you in my kitchen.”

“And that’s difficult?”

“Well...yeah. You’re the God of the Underworld.”

“And you’re the Goddess of Spring,” he said. “You stand in your kitchen and make cookies. Why can’t I?”

She couldn’t take her eyes off him. It wasn’t until now that she realized something had changed between them. It had been happening gradually, but today, it hit her hard.

She was in love with him.

She hadn’t realized she was frowning until he touched her face, brushing her cheek with his finger.

“Are you well?”

She smiled. “Very well.” She stood on the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his mouth, pulling away. “I’ll teach you.”

Hades smiled, too. “Well, then. Let’s get started.”

“Wait. You want to learn now?”

“Now is as good a time as any,” he said.

She opened her mouth to argue that she didn’t have the right supplies to do this in the Underworld, when Hades said, “I thought maybe...we could spend time at your apartment.”

She stared at him, and he shrugged. “You’re always in the Underworld.”

“You...want to spend time in the Upperworld? In my apartment?”