Receiver of Many (Hades & Persephone, #1)

by Rachel Alexander

She had ensured their victory and earned herself the title of Queen of Olympus. And with that, Demeter was forgotten.

“Hades Aidoneus,”

“Please, I’m Aidon to you. I was— I am your ally, even still. ”

“Zeus— the Fates— named her Persephone. Given her name, and who she is destined to become…” Demeter looked away from him. “She is not to marry. And certainly not to someone as hard-hearted as you.”

If you are going to swear off the Olympians for her sake, then so will I.”

Maybe if she met these gods herself they would see that there was nothing at all tempting about her.

“You dare to interrupt the Receiver of Many?

“Hypnos tells me you haven’t been sleeping.” “A full night’s sleep would be worthier of Hypnos’s gossip, no?”

“I can protect you better than you can protect me, Minthe.”

She wouldn’t want you around anything… a-anything that’s…” Kore gave the nervous nymph a half-smile. “Dead?”

But sometimes, if they loved someone deeply, they will find the one they lost, and journey to the Land of the Dead together.”

When he saw narcissus flowers dappled with sunlight, he knew. Fates, he thought, why now?

He could not see her, but he knew it was her— his unknown betrothed— that haunted his dreams.

My lord husband, she said within his very thoughts. Come to me… Find me, Aidoneus.

And any remedy Hypnos offered by way of poppies allowed deeper, darker things to dominate his dreams.

“She danced in your dreams again, didn’t she?” He stopped.

“If,” Demeter continued, “and only if, you promise not to speak with Hermes or Apollo.”

“Impossible! He hasn’t left that place since…” The Ruler of the Sky’s voice grew irritated. “Why would he come here for that?”

A river of black smoke flowed into the hall, startling all but one. Demeter stood her ground, fists balled in anger.

“Lord Zeus, Queen Hera, I have come to claim what was promised to me during the Titanomach—” “No!”

“Persephone was long ago promised to Hades. She is a woman now and has been of age for centuries. It is past time for her to leave you.”

“Know this. If you so much as touch her,” she hissed at Hades, “I will know of it.

“You and her mother swore her to me on the banks of the River Styx. A binding oath on the Styx, Zeus.

Persephone will always be her Kore.” Aidoneus clenched his teeth. “Then what do you suggest?” “Take her.” “That’s it?”

Turn into a swan?

😂😂😂😂😂

she would always be a goddess of little consequence or responsibility.

So this is how these mortals worship each other, she thought. The ache of loneliness grew stronger as she turned away from the tent.

“I think I’ll call them lilacs.”

“Mother?” “Yes, dear one?” “Will I ever get married?”

“Darling, what you saw wasn’t true love, it was just lust. They were pricked by Eros, and their love will die someday.

Please learn from my folly, my bitter experience. This is what’s best.”

“Maybe it would be different for me,” she muttered under her breath.

“What they all want: a girl’s maidenhead.

He tensed, almost imperceptibly. Though his face remained steady, she saw the pronounced lump in his throat bob nervously, knowing that she was now studying him.

Kore had never been kissed before, and she realized she still hadn’t. This was a dream.

It was only once she leaned into him that she felt something hard and hot pressed against her hip, eliciting a soft groan into her mouth and a shiver that moved like a wave along his entire body.

“This is your dream, remember? Tell me who I am,”

“I am not an oneiroi, sweet one.” “What are you, then?” “Deathless,”

He whispered in her ear. “I am your lord husband.”

She was entirely at his mercy.

“He was here.”

“If that monster laid a finger on you…”

HE'S NOT A MONSTER!!!!

She wanted to see him again, and hiding in Nysa would make that impossible.

For Fates sake, I have to preside over Thanatos’s dreams, and let me tell you—”

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

A smile crossed her face. “Did you plant asphodel in her shrine?” “No,” he said, confused, “I— Wait; is that a euphemism for something?”

😂🤣😂🤣

Then Hades did something he had never done before in all his ageless years. He blushed.

Need. Purpose. Longing. Desire. Rapture. Lust. “Love,” the voice of the Maiden said. “I never thought that word.” “You didn’t have to,” the three voices answered.

“Father told us not to interfere. It will be alright, Artemis.”

Demeter would bring her back to Eleusis and Kore would be these people’s sacred tree for all time.

“Why do you keep calling me Persephone?” “It is who you truly are,” Aidoneus said on the wind. “It’s who you were born to be.”