A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone 1)

Hades threw the ball, his strength and power evident in how impossibly far it went.

The hounds bolted and Hades laughed, deep and loud. She froze. It was warm like his skin and echoed in her chest.

Then the god turned, and his eyes found Persephone immediately, as if he were drawn to her. Her eyes widened as she took him in. His skin was sun-kissed and her eyes trailed from his broad shoulders to the deep v of his abs. He was beautiful—a work of art, carefully sculpted. When she managed to look at his face again, she found Hades smirking, and she quickly averted her eyes, blushing.

Hecate marched forward, like she wasn’t even fazed by Hades’ physique.

“You know they never behave for me after you spoil them,” Hecate said.

Hades grinned. “They grow lazy under your care, Hecate.”

Then his eyes slid to Persephone. “I see you have met the Goddess of Spring.”

“Yes, and she is quite lucky I did. How dare you not warn her to stay away from the Lethe!”

Hades eyes widened, and Persephone tried not to smile at Hecate’s tone. When the Goddess of Witchcraft was finished lecturing Hades, his eyes fell on Persephone. She felt flushed under his gaze.

“It seems I owe you an apology, Lady Persephone.”

Persephone wanted to tell him he owed her far more—but she couldn’t make her mouth work. The way Hades looked at her took her breath away. She swallowed hard and was relieved when a horn sounded in the distance. Persephone watched both Hecate and Hades turn in its direction.

“I am being summoned,” she said.

“Summoned?”

Hecate smiled. “The judges are in need of my advice.”

Persephone didn’t understand, and Hecate didn’t explain.

“My dear, call the next time you are in the Underworld. We’ll return to Asphodel.”

“I would love that,” Persephone said.

With that, Hecate vanished, leaving her alone with Hades.

“Why would the Judges need Hecate’s advice?”

Hades cocked his head to the side, as if he were trying to decide whether he should tell her the truth.

“Hecate is the Lady of Tartarus,” Hades explained, “And particularly good at deciding punishments for the wicked.”

Persephone shivered. “Where is Tartarus?”

“I would tell you if I thought you would use the knowledge to avoid it.”

“You think I want to visit your torture chamber?”

He leveled his dark gaze upon her.

“I think you are curious,” he said. “And eager to prove I am as the world assumes, a deity to be feared.”

“You are afraid I will write about what I see.”

He chuckled. “Fear is not the word, darling.”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course, you fear nothing.”

Hades responded by reaching to pluck a flower from her hair. “Did you enjoy Asphodel?”