A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone 1)
“Yes, ah.”
He grinned. “So, you’ve heard of me?”
She rolled he
r eyes. “The God of Trickery and Thieves.”
“I beg your pardon, you forgot trade, commerce, merchants, roads sports, travelers, athletes, heraldry…”
“How could I have forgotten heraldry?” she asked absently, and then shivered, staring up at the dim sky.
“You are cold?” he asked.
“Well, I was just pulled from a river.”
He took off his cloak and covered her. The fabric suctioned to her skin. It was then she remembered that she had worn a short, silver dress to Nevernight and flushed. “Thank you.”
“It is my pleasure,” he said, still watching her. “Shall I guess who you are?”
“Oh yes—entertain yourself,” she said.
Hermes looked serious for a moment and tapped his full lips with his finger. “Hmm. I think you are the Goddess of Sexual Frustration.”
Persephone barked laughter. “I think that is Aphrodite.”
“Did I say sexual frustration? I meant Hades’ sexual frustration.”
Just as the words were out of his mouth, the god was thrown back. His body made the ground shake beneath her as he landed, tossing up dirt and rock.
Persephone sat up despite the pain and turned to find Hades. He stood, towering over her in his sharp, black suit. His eyes were dark and angry.
“Why did you do that?” she demanded.
“You try my patience, Goddess, and my favor,” he said.
“So you are a goddess!” Hermes sounded triumphant and rose from the rubble unscathed.
She glared at Hades.
“He will keep your secret, or he will find himself in Tartarus.”
Hermes brushed dirt and rock from his arms and chest.
“You know, Hades, not everything has to be a threat. You could try asking once in a while—just like you could have asked me to step away from your goddess here instead of throwing me halfway across the Underworld.”
“I’m not his goddess! And you—” Persephone looked at Hades. Hermes’ brows rose, and he looked very amused. She struggled to her feet, because up until now, she’d been glaring up at them both from the ground. “You could be nicer to him. He did save me from your river!”
Once she was on her feet, she regretted moving. She felt dizzy and nauseous.
“You wouldn’t have had to be saved from my river if you had waited for me!”
“Right, because you were otherwise engaged,” she rolled her eyes. “Wonder what that means.”
“Shall I get you a dictionary?”
Hermes laughed and Hades turned on him. “Why are you still here?”
Persephone swayed. Hades lunged, catching her before she hit the ground. The impact jarred her side, and she moaned.