A Touch of Chaos (Hades x Persephone Saga, #4)

by Scarlett St. Clair

“Everyone missed you,” Persephone said. He did not expect to feel such a strong wave of emotion at her words, but he thought maybe it had something to do with the way she was looking at him. Like something inside her had been broken in the time he had been gone and she was trying to hide it. Then he saw it. Her mouth quivered, and her eyes welled with tears, and she shook her head as if she were telling them to go away but they came anyway. “It was horrible without you,” she said. He dragged her into his arms and held her tight, hoping that at some point, she wouldn’t tremble anymore. “I am so sorry,” he said. “I should be sorry,” she said, pulling away, brushing at the tears on her face. “I should have never left—” He reached for her, his fingers closing around her wrists. “No, Persephone,” he said, shaking his head. “You knew exactly what I would do. I would have never let you leave with Theseus, never fulfilled that fucking bargain. I should have never made it in the first place.” She placed her hands on either side of his face, fingers combing through his wet beard, and after a moment, she giggled. He liked the sound. He wanted more. “Hecate is right. You do need to shave.” “You don’t like it?” he asked. “I was thinking about keeping it.” “Hades.” She was not amused. “Do you think it makes me look older?” She pressed her palms against his cheeks and spoke very close to his face. “I think it makes you ticklish.” “Does it?” he asked, nuzzling her neck. “Is this ticklish?...