He raised a knowing brow. “Did you walk into that mob?”
“You were there!” She accused. “I thought we agreed. No invisibility.”
“I wasn’t,” he answered. “Hermes was.”
Damn you, Hermes.
She’d forgotten to extract a promise from the God of Mischief not to tell Hades about the crowd. He’d probably waltzed into Nevernight with a smile on his face to report what happened.
“You could always teleport,” Hades offered. “Or I can provide an Aeg—”
“I don’t want an Aegis,” she stopped him. “And I’d rather not use magic not...in the Upperworld.”
“Unless you’re exacting revenge?”
“That’s not fair. You know my magic has become more and more unpredictable. And I’m not eager to be exposed as a goddess.”
“Goddess or not, you are my lover.”
She didn’t mean to, but she wasn’t a fan of that word. She stiffened, and she knew by the way Hades’ eyes narrowed, he had noticed.
He continued, “It is only a matter of time before someone with a vendetta against me tries to harm you. I will keep you safe.”
Persephone shivered. She hadn’t thought about that.
“You really think someone would try to harm me?”
“Darling, I have judged human nature for a millennium. Yes.”
“Can’t you…I don’t know…erase people’s memories? Make them forget about all of this.” She waved her hand between them.
“It is too late for that,” he paused a moment and then asked, “What is so terrible about being known as my lover?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It’s just...that word.”
“What’s wrong with lover?”
“It sounds so…fleeting. Like I am nothing but your sex slave.”
One corner of his lips curled. “What am I to call you, then? You have forbidden the use of my queen and my lady.”
“Titles make me…uncomfortable,” she said.
She wasn’t sure how else to explain why she’d asked him not to call her my queen or my lady, but it added up to the fact that they were two labels she could get used to, and that meant she was setting herself up for potential disappointment. The thoughts made her guilty, but the echoes of the heartbreak she’d experienced while they were separated made her cautious.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be known as your lover…but there has to be a better word.”
“Girlfriend?” Hades supplied.
She couldn’t suppress the laugh that tore from her throat.
“What’s wrong with girlfriend?” He asked, glowering.
“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It just seems so…insignificant.”
Their relationship was too intense, too passionate, too ancient for her to merely be his girlfriend.
But maybe that was just how she felt.
The tension eased from Hades’ features, and he drew his finger under her chin.
“Nothing is ever insignificant when it comes to you,” he said.
They stared at each other, and the air was heavy. Persephone itched to reach for him—to bring his lips to hers, to taste him. All she had to do was close the gap between them and they would ignite—fall so deep in their passion, nothing would exist beyond their skin.
A knock at her door tore her from her thoughts and sent her heart into a frenzy.
“Persephone! I’m ordering pizza. Any requests?” Lexa called.
She cleared her throat. “N-no. Whatever you order is fine,” she replied through the door.
“So, pineapple and anchovies. Got it.”
Her heart was still hammering in her chest. There was a long pause on the other side of the door, and for a moment, Persephone thought Lexa had left, until she asked, “Are you okay?”
Hades’ chuckled and leaned in, pressing his lips against her skin. Persephone exhaled, her head rolling back. “Yes.”
Another long pause. “Did you even hear what I’m going to order?”
“Just get cheese, Lexa!”
“Okay, okay, I’m on it.” Persephone could tell by the tone of her voice, she was smiling.
Persephone pushed against Hades’ chest and met his gaze.
“You shouldn’t laugh.”
“Why not? I can hear your heart beating. Are you afraid to be caught with your boyfriend?”
Persephone rolled her eyes. “I think I preferred lover.”
His laugh was a deep rumble. “You are not easy to please.”
It was her turn to smile. “I would give you the chance, but I’m afraid I don’t have time.”
Hades eyes darkened, and his hold on her tightened.
“I don’t need a lot,” he said, hands twinning in her dress as if he wished to rip it from her body. “I could make you come in seconds. You won’t even have to get undressed.”
She almost took the bait and challenged him to prove it, but then she remembered how he’d left her in the dining room the day before, and despite returning and making up for it, she wanted to punish him.
“I’m afraid seconds will not due,” she said. “I’m owed pleasure—hours of it.”
“Allow me to give you a preview, then.” He held her close, his arousal pressing into her softness, but she kept him at a distance, palms pressed against his hard chest.
“Perhaps later,” she offered.
He smiled. “I’ll take that as a promise.”
With that, he vanished.
Persephone showered and changed. When she left the room, Lexa was curled up on the couch. Persephone sat beside her, sharing Lexa’s blanket and the popcorn.
“What movie are we watching?”
“Pyramus and Thisbe,” she answered.
It was a movie the pair had watched over and over, an ancient tale about forbidden love retold in modern times.
“I’m just glad you didn’t say Titans After Dark.”
“Hey! I like that show.”
“The way they portray the gods is totally inaccurate.”
“We know,” Lexa said. “They don’t do Hades justice, but if he has a problem with it, tell him it’s his own fault. He’s the one who’s refused to be photographed ...well, until recently.”
They started the movie, and it opened by introducing the feuding families, locked in a war for territory. Pyramus and Thisbe were young and eager for fun. They met at a club, and under those fierce and hypnotic lights, they fell in love, later learning they were sworn enemies. They were in the middle of a tense scene between the families, the one where Thisbe’s brother dies, shot and killed by Pyramus, when the doorbell rang, surprising Persephone and Lexa. They exchanged a look.
“It’s probably the pizza guy,” Lexa said.
“I’ll get it,” Persephone was already throwing off the blanket. “Pause the movie!”
“You’ve seen this a hundred times!”
“Pause it!” then she threatened playfully. “Or I’ll turn you into basil.”
Lexa cackled but paused the movie. “That actually might be cool.”
Persephone opened the door.
"Sybil!" She smiled wide, but excitement quickly gave way to suspicion.