A Touch of Malice (Hades X Persephone #3)

by Scarlett St. Clair

“I want control,” she whispered. Hades stared at her for a beat and then held out his hand. “I will help you claim it.”

I am Persephone, future Queen of the Underworld, Lady of Your Fate. May you come to dread my presence.”

“We are old gods, my dear,” Hecate had said. “You cannot compare yourself to us.”

Darling, I would burn this world for you.

Her gaze trailed all parts of him—from his glittering eyes to his swollen cock. He was a work of art as much as he was a weapon.

Hades withdrew, and Persephone rolled to face him, studied his face, glistening after their lovemaking. He looked sleepy and content.

“Has Zeus approved of our marriage?” Hades stilled, as if his heart had stopped beating and he had ceased breathing.

She knew him well enough now—Hades never said or offered more than was needed. He stared at her for a moment before answering, “He will not deny me.”

“You are so certain, but even you will not challenge the Fates.” “Oh, darling, but I have told you before—for you, I would destroy this world.”

“You should have known I would find you once you took your clothes off. It is a sixth sense.”

He offered a wicked grin. “Darling, we both know I could make you come in five, but what if I’d like to take my time?”

“Do not ruin your evening thinking of her, my darling.” “It is a little hard to ignore her given the weather, Hades.”

Persephone’s gaze slid from the oracle to the mortal as she accepted his clammy, outstretched hand. “It’s…nice to meet you.”

Ben shifted toward Hades. The God of the Dead looked down at his hand. “You do not want to shake my hand, mortal.”

“But it is in your nature to appease me,” Persephone said. “Alas,” he said, his voice low. “You are my greatest weakness.”

“Neat?” Ben asked. “Real whiskey drinkers at least add water.” Persephone’s heart pounded as she watched Hades’s eyes connect with Ben’s. “I add the blood of mortals.”

“No.” He looked down at his suit. “Do I not meet your expectations?” She had giggled then. “No, by far, you exceed them.” He’d grinned then, and she thought her heart might beat right out of her chest. There was nothing as beautiful as Hades when he smiled.

“But…he is the Lord of the Underworld.” “We’re all aware,” Hermes said. “Look at him—he’s the only goth in the room.” Hades glared.

Ben went next. “Never have I ever stalked an ex-girlfriend.” There was a collective awkwardness that followed the false prophet’s statement. Was he trying to prove he wasn’t a creep? No one drank.

“Never have I ever faked an orgasm,” said Helen. Persephone wasn’t sure what came over her, but at that statement, she tipped her drink back and swallowed a gulp of wine.

“You had to know your actions would ignite me.” His voice was raw and rough, and it made the bottom of her stomach tighten. His body was rigid, a force barely contained. “When have I left you wanting?”

She swallowed hard and knew he wanted the truth. “Will you not answer?” He lifted his hand to her throat—not squeezing but forcing her gaze to his.

Hades be mine

“Sybil should keep a blade beneath her bed in case he comes back,” Zofie said.

Zofie is my favorite person

“Or she could just lock her door,” Helen suggested. “Locks can be picked,” Zofie said. “A blade is better.”

Persephone felt herself growing impatient. “Whatever your issue, it must not be as pressing considering it is taking you forever to get to the point.” Gods, she really was starting to sound like Hades.

Once, she’d asked Hades why he preferred whiskey as his drink of choice. “It’s healthy,” he’d said. She’d snorted. “It is,” he’d argued. “It helps me relax.”

“If the suggestion comes from your lips, I have no doubt he will bend to your will.” Milan was not wrong. Persephone understood the power she wielded over Hades. He would do anything for her. Burn the world for her.

“Exquisite,” he said. “But I have tasted divinity and there is nothing sweeter.”

“Before you, I only knew loneliness, even in a room full of people—it was an ache, sharp and cold and constant, and I was desperate to fill it.” “And now?” she breathed. Hades chuckled. “Now I ache to fill you.”

“I was only given to punish,” she said. “No, you are pleasure. My pleasure.”

“What are you doing?” she asked as her feet touched the ground. There was something dark in his gaze and it was erotic and violent, and Persephone wanted to challenge it, to bring it to life.

“I would like you to investigate Adonis’s and Harmonia’s attacks,” Aphrodite said. “No,” Hades said evenly. The goddesses glared at him. “You are asking my fiancée to put herself in the path of these mortals who hurt your sister. Why would I say yes?”

Tell em bae

“You will keep me informed of every step you take, every bit of information you glean on this case. You will teleport to work. If you leave for any reason, I have to know. You will take Zofie everywhere.” As he spoke, he closed the gap between them. “And, Persephone, if I say no…”

Okay bae says sephy

“Are you angry with me?” she asked, her fingers twining into his hair. “No, but I am afraid that I have agreed to something that will only hurt you, and already I cannot forgive myself.”

“I never thought I’d thank the Fates for anything they gave me, but you—you were worth all of it.” “All of what?” “The suffering.”

His mouth quivered, as if the words made him want to vomit. “I’m sorry,” he finally managed, shuddering. “Is your brain hemorrhaging?” Persephone asked.

In the silence, Hades turned to her. “Let me make love to you.” “In my mother’s temple? Hades—”

“When I see you, I cannot help but think of you like this,” he said, his voice a sultry whisper against her skin as his lips continued up her thigh. “Bare. Beautiful. Drenched.”

“My cock is heavy for you,” he said. “And I am desperate to fill you.”

Could this be a case of the Impious striking out on their own with the help of Demeter?

“Of course. How could I forget?” Hecate offered a sad smile. “Oh, my dear. I can make you regret that we were ever friends.”

Hades wanted to hear from her, wanted to understand her perspective—and she wanted the same from him.

She couldn’t help it—she spared a glance at Hades as she spoke and saw that he was pale. Her chest felt tight. She hadn’t thought about what this might do to him—perhaps she should have told him to leave. Though she doubted he would have listened.

“Well…I couldn’t exactly heal if I wasn’t injured,” she explained, but she could tell by the look on Hades’s face that was the wrong thing to say. He tilted his head to the side, mouth hardening.

“You should be practicing on fucking…flowers. Not yourself. What did she have you do?”

“I figured at some point Hecate would teach you,” he said. “Until then, it was my pleasure to heal you.”

“You…slap the deck?” Hades asked. “Yes.” “Why?” “Because that is how you claim the cards.”

“What?” he asked when he noticed her expression. “You said to slap.” “That wasn’t a slap. That was more like a collision.” He smirked. “I just really want to win.”

Hades they can never make me hate you

Part of her wanted to discard the game completely just to embed his body into hers.

“Do not look so smug, darling. I will come back with this card,” he promised.