A Game of Retribution (Hades Saga, #2)

by Scarlett St. Clair

“What are you doing?” Hecate asked. He had been so lost in thought, he had not sensed her approach. He refocused and continued choosing flowers. “What does it look like?” “Like you are about to add datura to your bouquet,” she said, and Hades’s hand hesitated over the white, trumpet-like flower. “It’s a nasty nightshade. Best leave it be.” He straightened and turned to face the witch goddess. “I’m ridiculous,” he said. “You are ridiculous often,” Hecate said. “But you are not ridiculous for picking flowers for your lady love, if that is what you are insinuating.” Hades wasn’t certain. He wasn’t even sure why he’d begun this. Why would the Goddess of Spring want a bunch of soon-to-be-dead flowers? “I am going to fuck this up,” he said. He often shared his doubts with Hecate, and while he knew they were safe with the goddess, her responses were not always comforting. “Probably,” she said. “But Persephone is forgiving. You’ll remember that when you need to forgive her, won’t you?” Hades’s brows rose. “Do you know something I don’t?” “I always know something you don’t,” she replied. “And yet you still do not listen to me. You’ll always need to be forgiving, but especially with Persephone, who has yet to learn the cruelty of the world.” Hades frowned. “I’d protect her from it if she’d let me.” “You can’t,” Hecate said. “Nor should you. How else do you expect her to become a goddess otherwise?”