A Touch of Chaos (Hades x Persephone Saga, #4)
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Read between February 19 - February 21, 2025
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“What am I supposed to do?” “You are going to shape-shift into this man,” said Naia, turning her tablet around. She showed Dionysus a picture of a pale mortal with graying hair. “His name is Dr. Phanes. He is the only one allowed in Phaedra’s room along with two other nurses. Lilaia will disguise herself as one. The other will be a hospital employee,” Naia continued and then met Dionysus’s gaze. “We figured at least one person should know what they’re doing.” “I don’t see your name on this plan,” Dionysus said. “I will make sure Dr. Phanes and his nurse do not make it to their posts,” she ...more
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Persephone returned dressed similarly to Ariadne, in head-to-toe black, including a leather jacket. “Is the jacket necessary?” Persephone asked, her cheeks flushed. “If the labyrinth is as I remember, then yes,” said Ariadne. She returned the cat to Persephone and reached for her duffel bag, swinging it over her shoulder. “Ready?” “That’s it?” Dionysus asked. “What is your plan?” “The plan is to make it out of the labyrinth with Hades,” said Ariadne. “That’s the goal, not the plan, Ari.” She glared at him. “I know what a plan is, Dionysus. I have this under control.” Her eyes shifted to Naia ...more
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“Are you sure you can do this?” she asked. “Of course I can do this,” said Dionysus as the elevator doors slid open. “How hard could it be?” “Okay,” she said in a rather singsong voice that made him think she didn’t believe him at all. He glared at her back as they stepped inside the lift. They were pushed into a corner as several more people piled inside. “You think I am not capable,” Dionysus said. “I did not say—” “You said it with your face.” Lilaia sighed and then she looked up at Dionysus. “I don’t think you’re prepared. There is a difference.” “I think I can pull off an abduction,” he ...more
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“You’re late,” the man said. “Lord Theseus isn’t gonna be happy.” “Lord Theseus can suck it,” said Dionysus. “His wife isn’t the only patient I have in this hospital.” Dionysus was proud of that retort. The man—Tannis, Dionysus recalled—slammed his palm against Dionysus’s chest, halting him in his tracks. The god met the man’s beady-eyed gaze. “Watch your mouth, Doctor.” Dionysus pushed his hand away. “How will your boss feel when he learns you delayed me further?” Tannis scowled at him but took a step back.
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Suddenly she was crying harder and breathing faster, her chest rising and falling rapidly. For a moment, Dionysus felt panicked, but then he remembered one thing he’d learned about women in labor—and that was how they were supposed to breathe. “Hee-hee-hooooo,” he started. “Hee-hee-hooooo.” He kept going even when he noticed Lilaia glaring at him and the other nurse staring at him in horror, but then Phaedra joined in, following his lead. Before long, they were all breathing in tandem, and when Phaedra was calm again, Dionysus looked down between her legs, and his breaths dissolved into a ...more
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“Why is he doing this?” Persephone asked, following Ariadne down a set of steps that led into what was now a large, square courtyard, though it was clear that it had once been the foundation for a much larger palace. “What does he want?” “He wants to be important,” Ariadne said. “He does not want anyone to look beyond him for anything they need in life. That’s what he wanted from me, but when I could not be swayed, he chose my sister. He treats the world the same, only he usually executes those who do not follow where he leads.”
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Clutching her knife, she rolled onto her back as something large and black leaped over her and crashed into the boar. A mix of deep growls and roars erupted, booming in Persephone’s ears. For a moment, she couldn’t take her eyes off the large creature engaged in battle with the boar. “Persephone, let’s go!” Ariadne said, pulling her to her feet, but as they started to race away, the boar’s deep growls turned into something that sounded like a high-pitched oink, and then it was suddenly silent. Persephone slowed, and so did Ariadne as they looked back only to find Galanthis sitting in front of ...more
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“Are you ready for bed?” he asked. His voice was warm but sent a shiver down her spine. She pulled away. “I think my mind is too busy for sleep.” “Is it?” he asked, raising a brow. He leaned closer, and she took a shuddering breath as his lips brushed her ear. “I can take your mind off things.” She turned her head, and their lips touched. “Bold of you, God of the Dead, to assume I want to take my mind off things.” His lips quirked. “Forgive me, Lady of my Fate,” he said, his fingers threading through her hair. “Please advise how I might be of service.”
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She wondered if she could retrace her steps and stumble back into that world. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on her arm. She hissed and looked to her right. Ariadne had pinched her. “I know what you are thinking,” she said. “But you cannot go back.” Persephone ground her teeth. She was frustrated, both by the fact that Ariadne had known exactly what she wanted and because she felt weak. “The danger wasn’t the dream,” said Ariadne. “It’s the aftermath.”
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The bull’s eyes were fixed on Galanthis, who stood before it, the hair down her back raised. “Whatever you do, don’t give him your back,” said Ariadne. “How are we supposed to run away then?” Persephone demanded. “I don’t know,” Ariadne snapped. “Isn’t your cat a fucking monster?” “She isn’t my cat!” Persephone said. She looked behind her, wondering if they should return to the labyrinth, except that Hades was in front of them, not behind them.
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“You might want to move a little faster,” she said, out of breath. “We’ve got visitors.” Persephone drew away from Hades, and they turned to see five Minotaurs approaching. They were large and had bulging muscles. Some were covered in fur; others had bare chests. Some had the head of a bull while others had more human features, but their one common trait was that their eyes were trained on their prey. “What the fuck did Theseus do?” Hades said. “He’s been breeding them,” said Ariadne. They both looked at her. Breeding? Persephone’s stomach turned. She didn’t need details to understand what she ...more
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“Oh my gods,” said Ariadne. “What?” Persephone said, pulse quickening as she whirled to see what she was staring at. She’d feared another monster. “Galanthis,” said Hades, a note of surprise in his voice. “You know Galanthis?” Persephone asked. “Yes,” he said, and then he frowned, starting toward her. “She is hurt.” Hecate’s creature limped along, blood spotting the ground as she walked. She had not reverted to her cat form, still sporting her large wings and horned head. “She was injured by the bull,” Persephone said, following. “What…is she?” Ariadne asked. “She is a eudaimon,” said Hades. ...more
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“Are you well?” he asked. “Yes,” she said in a hushed whisper meant only for the dim glow of their bedroom. His hand tightened at the base of her head, desire igniting in the pit of his stomach. “I dreamed only of you in the dark of that labyrinth,” he said, resting his forehead against hers.
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“Where is Dionysus?” “Wherever you left him,” Hades replied. “Hades,” Persephone chided. She pulled away, and he was frustrated by the distance. “I answered the question to the best of my ability,” he said. He did not know where the God of Wine was, and frankly, he did not care. The only thing he wanted to know was how long until he could be alone with Persephone. “If that was your best, I feel sorry for you, Persephone,” Ariadne said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I am just giving you the same energy you gave me,” Hades replied. “What is wrong with you two?” Persephone demanded, looking ...more
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hands and held the detective’s gaze. “Thank you for leading me through the labyrinth,” she said. “I couldn’t have done that on my own.” Ariadne offered her a small smile. “Yeah, you could have,” she said, glancing darkly at Hades even as she added, “Sometimes our love forces us to do extraordinary things.” That was the first time he’d ever agreed with anything the mortal said.
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Hades wasn’t sure what he expected when they arrived, but it certainly wasn’t Dionysus passed out in a chair wearing the skin of some old white man dressed like a doctor—except that was exactly what they found. Ariadne’s brows lowered. “Are you sure you brought us to the right place?” she asked, looking around, but it was definitely the right place, and this was definitely the right god. He kicked Dionysus’s foot, and the god startled awake. “What?” he snapped as he sat up in the chair, glaring at Hades, but his anger quickly melted into a strange mix of anticipation and fear. He gripped the ...more
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Dionysus must have hated the silence because he continued, “Congratulations. Today, you became an aunt.” “You took Theseus’s wife and his child?” Hades asked. Fuck, this wasn’t good. “I didn’t know there was a child until it was too late,” said Dionysus. “Did she give birth at your house?” he said. “No—” “Then it wasn’t too late!” Hades roared. “Don’t yell at him!” Ariadne said, stepping between him and Dionysus. “He did it for me!” Hades’s eyes fell to her, and whatever she saw made her take a step back. “You think I don’t know that?” Hades seethed. “You think I don’t know that everything ...more
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He had watched Ariadne and the Goddess of Spring from the moment they had arrived on the island of Knossos and made their descent into his dark prison. He’d heard every conversation, every scream and desperate cry. He’d witnessed their greatest desires come to life as the magic of the labyrinth took root in their minds, though neither surprised him. Persephone desired identity. Ariadne desired family. Theseus desired to strip them of both—and he would. It was just a matter of time. What both failed to realize was that he could not be defeated. He had fulfilled the prophecy of the ophiotaurus. ...more
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“I have prepared a statement announcing the birth of your son. As requested, it states you were present upon his arrival.” The corner of his lips lifted at her disparaging tone. “Is that contempt I hear in your voice, Helen?” Her silence spoke volumes, but then she asked, “Do you even know his name?” He turned to face her as he knotted his tie. “Have you suddenly developed a moral compass?” “I have always held certain values,” she snapped. “Oh? And what are they? Dishonesty? Treachery? Desperation?” She glared. “You have no reason to accuse me of such things.” “Of course I do. You displayed ...more
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“You wouldn’t lie to me, would you, Helen?” “No,” she said. “No?” he asked, increasing the pressure against her throat. He felt her swallow beneath his hold. “Or never?” She did not answer, and after a moment, he dropped his hand, pleased by the way she seemed to slump when he released her. He thought he almost liked her fear more than her acquiescence. “If you had said never, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he said. “And then I would have killed you.” She didn’t even blink, and he could not decide if she was brave or foolish.
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“His name is Acamas,” he said, and when Helen looked back at him, he offered a warning. “I know your loyalty is tied to ambition, Helen. Just remember you can’t rise from the dead.”
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“I will find her, my lord, and your son.” But Theseus did not need help locating them. He knew exactly where they were. “No,” he said. “You will bring me Dionysus.”
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“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 ...more
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“Not so ticklish anymore?” he asked, sucking on one peaked nipple. She drew in a sharp breath between her teeth. “You are impossible,” she said. He smiled, bringing his mouth level with hers. “But you love me,” he said, letting his nose graze hers, his lips hovering over hers. “I hope that wasn’t a question,” she said. “You can answer it all the same,” he said. She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him close. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I love you.”
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“You’re not healing,” she said and then moved back, pressing a hand to her mouth as if she wished to contain her emotions. “Persephone, I’m fine,” he said. Her eyes flashed with anger, and she dropped her hand. “You’re lying!” “I do not want to deal with this tonight,” he said, straightening to his full height. “I just spent an immeasurable amount of time away from you. I want to make love to you, and I want to sleep.” “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” she said and then paused to shake her head. “Though I shouldn’t be surprised, given everything I was told while you were in the labyrinth.”
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“I can’t believe you kept this from me just so you could have sex!” He didn’t see the problem. It wasn’t his dick that was injured.
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“You know you can use your magic,” Hades said when Persephone vanished into the bathroom again. “Why do you keep sending her away?” “If I used my magic right now, the water would scald you to death,” Hecate snapped. “Besides, would you prefer I berate you in front of your wife?” “I’d rather you not berate me at all,” he said. “Then don’t—” “Be an idiot,” he spoke over her. “I know. Believe it or not, I really try not to be.”
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“Let’s hope by morning, you have managed to stave off infection.” She started to leave but paused, a stern look coming over her face. “Rest,” she said. “In case you need explicit instructions, that means you probably should avoid sex for now.” “I could have gone my entire existence without ever hearing you say those words,” Hades said.
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apologize for that,” he said. They stared at each other, and he knew she felt terrible. She crawled to the other side of the bed. He sighed, frustrated, and flopped onto his back. His cock mocked him, pointing straight into the air. He lay there, silent for a few moments, before he wrapped his fingers around his erection. He couldn’t believe he was going to have to jerk off while his wife lay beside him, wet as fuck. “What about ‘no sex’ is so hard for you to get?” Persephone asked. “My fucking dick, Persephone,” he snapped. “That’s what’s hard.” Silence followed his angry outburst. He let go ...more
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“Are you sure this is okay?” she asked. Her palms were pressed flat against his chest, her breasts swollen between her arms. “What are you worried about?” he asked, holding her glittering gaze in the dim light of their room. “Hurting you,” she said and then added sheepishly, “suffocating you.” “If this is how I suffocate, I would gladly drown in your heat.” “Hades.” “Put your weight on your knees, darling. I’ll do the rest,” he said. “Come.”
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“Gods, he is the worst,” Ariadne said. It took him a few more breaths before his heart stopped racing, and then he met her gaze. “He isn’t the worst, believe it or not,” said Dionysus. “But Theseus certainly is.” “What are you saying?” “I’m saying he isn’t wrong about Theseus,” said Dionysus. “If Phaedra doesn’t go back to him, he will come for her. He’ll come for you.” “We knew that going in,” she said. “Are you saying you regret it?” “I’ll only regret it if anyone gets hurt,” he said. He could tell she didn’t like his response by the way her lips flattened.
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“The baby,” she said. “Is he healthy?” “Yes,” said Dionysus. “And…who does he look like?” “You mean other than an alien?” She rolled her eyes. “I should have known better than to ask.” She turned and headed for the door. “I think he has your nose,” Dionysus called after her. She paused, and when she turned to look at him, he added, “And your eyes.” “You can’t know that,” she said. “He’s just a baby.” “I would know your eyes anywhere,” he said.
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“You okay?” she asked, her eyes alight with amusement. Clearly Lilaia had told her about what had transpired in the delivery room. He narrowed his eyes. “How much do you know?” he asked. “Oh, everything,” she said. “And how many of the maenads know?” “Oh, everyone,” she assured him. Dionysus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Great.” “If it helps, I expected you to faint,” she said. “It doesn’t,” Dionysus said dryly. She snickered. “I came to see if you have any clothes I could borrow,” he said. “We’re not really the same size, Dionysus.” “For Ariadne,” he said. “She’s out of the ...more
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“You don’t have to do this,” he said, except he was really hoping she would. She didn’t say anything, just took him into her hand and licked him from root to tip. He thought he was going to die, except he couldn’t, because then he would miss this whole thing, and he really didn’t want to miss this. He was also really glad she couldn’t hear his thoughts, because that would be embarrassing.
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“You are so fucking beautiful,” he said. A small smile curved her lips, and she leaned forward, her mouth moving over his as she teased. “And you didn’t want me.” “I always want you,” he said. “Even when you don’t want me.”
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“Did you see Theseus?” he asked. “In the labyrinth?” It took her a moment to answer, but when she did, he could tell her voice was thick with tears. “I didn’t see him, no,” she said. “Just the horror he was capable of.”
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It was the temple of divine direction, and it was here where Rhea sat staring off toward the east. From where he stood, she was only a shadow, the edges of her body illuminated by starlight, but as his eyes adjusted, he could see that she wore robes the color of the sunset, cast in orange and red hues. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back like the fringes of night, and a turret crown gleamed like the rising sun atop her head. On either side of her lay her two loyal lions. It would have been a breathtaking scene had it not been for the fact that the lions were dead and a river of blood ...more
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“That is Iapetus,” she said, though he already knew. She took a breath and shivered violently, which only deepened his anger and his guilt. He wished he had been here to protect her from this horror. She left the threshold and came to stand beside him, her eyes locked on the monstrous mountain. “I tried to hold him with my magic alone, but it was not as strong as yours,” she said. “There is no difference in our magic, Persephone.” As soon as he said the words, he realized how frustrated he sounded. It had not been his intention to reprimand her. It had to be overwhelming, to have only just ...more
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“I thought maybe you could change it back…to the way it was before,” she said, almost as if she were suggesting a new addition to the castle or a plot in the garden. “Why would I change it?” he asked. The thought had not even occurred to him. “Because of what it represents,” she said. He frowned, brows lowering. “What do you think it represents?” “Terror,” she said. “Is that because you were afraid you couldn’t contain him?” he asked. Her jaw tightened, and she did not speak. He stepped up behind her, grinding his teeth against the pain that radiated down his leg as he caged her against the ...more
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“I don’t see why death matters,” he’d told her. “You come to the Underworld every day. You would have seen Lexa again.” “Because it’s not the same,” she’d said, and at the time, he hadn’t understood, but suddenly he did. It didn’t matter that he could see her here—in another life. It was the simple fact that she had died out there. It was that she had been alone when Cronos had come for her. That he had killed her prized lions before he’d slammed his spear into her chest. It was that all she’d wanted was to see the sun rise a final time. It was that he would never forget looking upon her face ...more
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Persephone turned on her heels. “Persephone?” he called. She did not stop. “Persephone, where are you going?” he asked, catching up with her in the hall. She did not slow her quick stride. “To get ready,” she said. “For?” “If we are going to defeat Cronos, we need the Golden Fleece,” she said. “And do you have a plan to retrieve it?” he asked, though he did not disagree with her. He would need to be at full strength if he was going to face his father in battle. “I already told you my plan,” she said. He paused for a moment at the top of the steps while she continued down, practically sailing. ...more
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Suddenly, they were interrupted by a loud crunch, and when he looked over his shoulder, he found Hermes standing in the middle of the hallway, hugging a large bowl of popcorn, wearing only a pair of small floral boxers and a sheer pink robe lined with feathers. “Is that…my robe?” Persephone asked. Hermes was reaching back into the bowl as he looked down at his ensemble. “Oh yeah,” he said. “I borrowed it. I didn’t think you’d mind.” “When?” Persephone asked, a demanding edge to her voice. “When I got here.” “And when did you get here, Hermes?” Hades asked, impatience threading through his ...more
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“Too bad you can’t just trap Ares in a bronze jar again. He was gone for a whole year, imprisoned by giants, and only escaped because I rescued him.” He paused to pick some popcorn from between his teeth. “He still owes me for that.” Hades and Persephone both stared. “What?” he asked. “Ares owes you a favor?” Persephone asked. “Yeah, like, from ancient times,” Hermes said, still oblivious to what Hades and Persephone were thinking. “Hermes,” Persephone said, taking a step forward. “I need you to use your favor with Ares to get the Golden Fleece.” “What?” he asked. “No.” “Hermes, please,” ...more
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“You’re upset,” Hades said. For some reason, that made her even angrier. She gritted her teeth and refused to look at him. “Persephone,” he said as she reached for the shirt that she’d tossed on the bed. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, sliding the tank over her head. “I didn’t tell you how I was feeling because I didn’t want you to worry,” he said. She froze and looked at him and let her anger blossom. She had warned him. “You didn’t want to worry me?” she asked. “Did you think the worry just stops and starts on your command?”
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“You never tell the truth,” she said. His expression darkened. His anger slammed into her, a quick and violent thing. “I haven’t lied to you,” he said. “You don’t have to lie to not tell the truth,” she said and then shook her head. She almost felt unable to communicate how this had made her feel, but she needed to say it all the same. “I recognized it when I found out about Theseus’s favor,” she said, noting how Hades’s body seemed to grow rigid. “And in the moment, it was shocking but nothing compared to what followed, so I didn’t think long on it. But then there was Zofie and the belt. ...more
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“Be careful, Persephone,” she said. “Ares is a cruel god.” Any hope Persephone had had that she might sway Ares with Aphrodite’s suffering suddenly vanished at her warning. “I thought he was your friend,” she said. Aphrodite’s gaze shifted to Harmonia as she answered in a whisper. “Perhaps he isn’t anymore.” Hecate approached. “It is true that Ares is cruel, but he is also a coward. If you wound him, he will run.” “I thought he was the God of Courage,” Persephone said. Hecate smiled. “He is, but he is also the god of its opposite.”
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She continued down the hall and found her husband waiting in the foyer, and though she had expected him, she was surprised by the way he was dressed. He wore a pair of dark tactical pants and a gray shirt that only seemed to draw attention to his chest and shoulders. His hair was wet and pulled into a bun at the back of his head. It seemed ridiculous to say, but she found this version of Hades incredibly attractive. She had expected him to show up in a suit, no matter how impractical. “What is it?” Hades asked, suddenly concerned. “What?” she asked, surfacing from her thoughts. “You’re ...more
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“Are you hurt?” he asked as Persephone reluctantly peeled herself away from him. “No,” she said, wincing as he plucked a feather she had missed from her shoulder. “Thanks.” “Did you say not again?” Hermes demanded. “How many times have you been chased by assassin birds?” “Three,” Hades replied. “If you count this one. Though these are relatively harmless comparatively.” “Harmless? Harmless?” Hermes’s face was turning pink. “Look at my ass, Hades. Does this look harmless?” He turned to show his backside, which was covered in feathery darts. He looked like a peacock or maybe a porcupine, she ...more
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“Oh no,” she said and looked up to see a horde of birds speeding toward them. She covered her head, and Hermes screamed. It was shrill and sharp, worse than the sound he’d made at Zofie’s funeral. It twisted through her whole body, grated against every bone. She was so focused on the sound, it took her a moment to realize the birds hadn’t attacked, and when she looked up, she saw they had begun to swarm, darting in every direction as if the sound of Hermes’s scream had made them go mad. His wail slowly subsided. “Wh-what’s happening?” he asked. “It appears Ares’s birds find you just as ...more
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“What is it?” Persephone asked. “Earthbound warriors,” Hades said. “You mean the wheat?” she asked. “That isn’t wheat,” he said. “It is the tip of a spear.” The tip of a spear, and there were hundreds. “You mean…they are buried beneath this field?” “They were sown,” he said. “With dragon’s teeth. They are called Spartoi, the earth-born.” “Well, how threatening can they be underground?” Hermes asked. He started to bend and touch one of the spears. “Don’t,” Hades snapped, and Hermes snatched his hand back, holding it to his chest as if he’d been slapped. “If you touch them, you will awaken them ...more