Darklight by Jill Myles Read Free Book Online Page A

more like a devil’s bargain. What would Hades think when she stole from him and then disappeared?
    It wouldn’t be anything good.
    ~*~
    She was coming around to him. This pleased Hades, almost as much as it made him yearn for her.
    Persephone would be his. He would not think otherwise.
    He knew that the stubborn goddess had not eaten or drunk anything since he’d abducted her.
    Every day, he had servants bring her food and wine. Every day, they were returned, untouched.
    She was clever enough to know that partaking of the underworld meant she could never leave.
    And it was obvious to him that Persephone still intended to leave.
    This frustrated him.
    He could not keep her here forever, not if she was determined to starve. The human half of her had not shown any frailty yet, but how long could she last with no food and no drink in her?
    It would destroy a human. He did not want Persephone hurt.
    Not when she was starting to respond so sweetly to him.
    She still amazed him at every turn. It was like his Persephone had a complete change of heart. A change of heart that made her lush and seductive… and fascinated by him.
    Hades was still hard thinking of the night before when she’d entered the judgment hall, seeking him out. Her tanned skin had been oiled from her massage, the barest hint of a flush on her cheeks. Not a flush of embarrassment at her half-clothed state, but of desire. And she’d climbed atop him and rocked herself to orgasm.
    That had only intensified his need for her. That she wasn’t afraid of him was incredible. That she was so unabashed in her sexuality was tantalizing. He knew Demeter had tried to stamp out her daughter’s sensual nature. She’d been such a timid creature before. He’d barely thought of her, and when he’d looked in her direction, she’d cringed away from him as if he were repulsive.
    His Persephone wasn’t that meek, frightened creature of Demeter’s. He didn’t know what had changed, but he liked it. She was bold now, different. She took to pleasure with an almost ferocious hunger.
    She would make an amazing queen. An incredible partner for him. He wanted no other at his side.
    Tonight, then, he’d have to show Persephone everything that he could offer her. And if she declined him, if she would not bend, he’d have to consider sending her home.
    And the thought made his fists clench.
    ~*~
    Hades sent a servant to her that evening with a message—her presence had been requested by the lord of the underworld, who had a surprise to show her.
    He knew that would bring her to him.
    ~*~
    Sure enough, the double doors to the courtyard gardens opened a short time later, and Persephone swept in behind the servant, her pale green chiton making her tanned skin glow with health. Her curling hair had been twisted into a knot at the base of her skull, and the strange, pale leaves that grew in the soft, muted light of the underworld were twined in her hair.
    Even underground in his kingdom, she was very much the goddess of spring. This pleased him.
    When she raised an expectant eyebrow at him, he extended his arm to her. “Come. I wish to show you something.”
    Intrigued, she took his arm and looked curiously at the helmet tucked under his arm. “Why are you bringing that with you? Are we going somewhere dangerous?”
    Had her eyes just gleamed at the thought?
    “Nothing like that,” he said with a hint of a smile. “And its use will become apparent soon enough.”
    He took her on the ferry barge he had for the River Lethe. Mortals that touched the water would instantly have their memories drained from them. He wasn’t sure how it would affect Persephone, so he kept her hand clasped against his arm at all times, lest she be splashed. As lord of this realm, none of the magic affected him. With Persephone at his side, it would not affect her either.
    Hades watched her, though, as the barque moved down the river. Her gaze flitted around, soaking everything in. The spirits rising