A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone, #1)

by Scarlett St. Clair

“He has taken on the role of puppet master,” Demeter had chided. “Deciding fates as if he were one of the Moirai himself. He should be ashamed.”

With a vanilla latte.

“Gods marry for power, my flower.”

“Adonis.”

Had she thought earlier that Adonis was the most handsome man she’d ever seen? She’d been wrong.

She couldn’t tell the color of his eyes, but they ignited a fire under her skin, and it was like he knew; his full lips curved into a harsh smile,

“Darling, I win either way.”

His name on her tongue seemed to have an effect on him, but she couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.

All the while, she was highly aware of the spot on her wrist where Hades’s fingers had touched her skin. Was it an exaggeration to say it burned?

She’d allowed Hades, the God of the Underworld, to instruct her, touch her, play her, and question her. And he had won.

No, the worst part was that there was a side of her—a side she’d never known existed until tonight—that wanted to run back inside, find him, and demand a lesson in the anatomy of his body.

Then he spoke against her ear, his lips brushing feather-light over her skin. “You are full of surprises, darling.”

looked…primal. Like a starved animal that had finally cornered his prey.

“Oh, darling, you have no idea.” The word darling slid across her skin and she shivered again. He seemed to notice, because he smiled a little bit more.

It felt intimate to describe Hades, and part of her wanted to keep him all to herself, though she was well aware she was only describing a toned-down version of the god. She had yet to see him in his true form.

“Do you have an appointment with Lord Hades?”

he hadn’t defended her because she was a goddess, he’d defended her because she was a woman.

“Wonder what that means.” “Shall I get you a dictionary?”

“Wake, my darling.”

“It’s either this or nothing at all, Persephone.”

“What? Undress you? Happily, and with far more enthusiasm than you realize, my lady.”

“You bastard!” “Names, Persephone,” he warned.

“Oh, darling. You don’t know what I’m capable of.” Then he was gone.

It was like he starved for her.

“Why did you revoke my favor?” she demanded. “To teach you a lesson,” he replied. “To not bring mortals into your realm?” “To not leave when you are angry with me,” he said. “Excuse me?”

“Trust me, darling. I’m aware.”

“We’ve been through this, haven’t we? You are mine. I think you know that just as well as I do.”

know you.” He trailed his fingers over her collarbone and moved so that he was behind her. “I know the way your breath hitches when I touch you. I know how your skin flushes when you’re thinking about me. I know there is something beneath this pretty facade.”

“Come, my darling.”

“A touch of darkness.”

“Darling, don’t pretend you weren’t watching me. I know your gaze upon me like I know the weight of my horns.”

“Patience, darling,”

She was in love with him.

“Well, Lady Persephone. It looks like you won.”

am Persephone, Goddess of Spring,”