Hades (The God Chronicles #3) (19 page)

Finally, we reached the top of the steps and
the party laid out in front of us, a small, plant lined path
leading the rest of the way. Fairy lights hung in the air,
sparkling softly over the few tables I could see. It looked like
there was a large open space where most of the people were
standing, some of them dancing to the music being played by a few
musicians off to one side.

We followed the path out to the party, hands
clasped tightly together and smiles on our faces. A few of the
people we passed voiced greetings, surprise on their faces as they
watched us.

It was shaping up to be an interesting night,
for sure.

We passed the line of tables lining the grassy
area that everyone else occupied and wound our way through the
crowd, having decided before hand to get our greeting to the happy
couple out of the way first. More surprised looks and greetings
were offered by others as we slipped by, everyone obviously either
expecting us not to show up or at least to not be so friendly with
each other.

“Hades, you made it!” Poseidon said, finally
catching sight of us and moving to throw his arms around his
brother.

“Whoa,” Hades laughed, untangling himself. “Had
a touch to drink, have we?”

“I can’t help it,” Poseidon laughed, waving his
hand. “I’m so happy! You would be hugging everyone,
too.”

“I highly doubt it,” Hades smirked.

“Persephone!”

Poseidon turned to me then, giving me a hug
just as big as his brother’s. “So happy you’re here. Have you met
my fiancé?”

He released me and turned to the woman behind
him, grabbing her hand and pulling her into his arms.

“I, uh,” I stammered, not sure if Persephone
ever had or not.

“We didn’t get to talk at all,” the woman said,
smiling warmly. “You kind of stole the whole show by not being
dead, remember?”

“That’s right,” Poseidon said, smiling down at
her, a love that could destroy nations in his eyes.

“I’m Audrey,” she laughed, looking over at me
again. “It’s very nice to meet you, officially.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” I said happily.
“Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Yeah, don’t take three lifetimes to pick a
wedding date, like you did with this party,” Hades
joked.

“Karly actually decided to throw the party,”
Audrey laughed. “She felt we were being too slow as
well.”

“It’s all those wave like emotions,” Hades
snickered. “Keeps you from ever being solid about
anything.”

“Well, my feelings for Audrey are definitely
solid,” Poseidon chuckled, leaning in and kissing her on the
forehead.

“We would all hope so,” a voice said from
behind me.

Hades and I both turned, eyes landing on a
beautiful woman who was obviously pregnant.

“Karly,” Hades said in welcome. “The party is
lovely.”

“Thank you, Hades,” she said with a grin. “I’m
glad you could make it. Zeus was saying that you were pretty busy
with things back at home.”

“Oh really?” Hades asked intrigued.

“Yes. However, I didn’t exactly get the
impression they were work things.”

She smiled knowingly at me and
chuckled.

“How are you, Persephone? It’s been a while
since we last saw each other.”

“Very well, thank you,” I said, blushing. “I
see that congratulations are in order for you as well. How are you
feeling?”

“Wonderful, for once,” she laughed. “I expect
that Zeus will descend at any moment, though, insisting I sit down
and rest for a while.”

“What a good husband,” I chuckled. “Watching
out for his wife and baby.”

“He is a wonderful man,” she said.

“Well, we will get out of everyone’s way,”
Hades said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “I would like to dance
with my wife.”

He smiled at everyone and pulled me away,
towards where other gods and goddesses were dancing.

A thrill went through me as he dragged me
along. I loved hearing him claim me, telling others that I was his
alone. The way he held onto me only made me want to kiss him more,
to show him I wanted him to be mine just as much.

We danced for several songs, clinging to each
other and laughing as we talked, doing our best to keep the public
displays of affection to a minimum. Even so, there were a few
lingering kisses we couldn’t help.

As the night went on, it became apparent we
were among the talk of the evening. I could hear the whispers
around us and see people looking, but I didn’t care.

“They’re surprised,” Hades whispered into my
ear, holding me close during a slow dance. “Our relationship has
always been one they felt they should pity, taking sides. I kind of
love seeing them all with their jaws on the ground now.”

“Me too,” I giggled, wrapping my arms around
him tighter. “Let them look. This is what happiness looks
like.”

“Are you really happy?” He asked, pulling away
slightly to look at me.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked with a smile. “I’m
with the most handsome man in the room, locked in his
arms.”

“You’ve never told me that you were happy
spending time with me before.”

“I would have thought it was obvious, what with
me telling you what a good time I was having,” I
snickered.

“This is different, though,” he said, reaching
up and brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You’ve never told
me you were happy. Not once in the entire time that we’ve been
together.”

I smiled at him, running my hands over his
shoulders and smoothing his jacket. A sadness pricked at me,
knowing he’d spent so long with someone who never took the time to
discover who he really was, but instead chose to focus only on the
bad.

“I am happy,” I said softly. “The happiest I
have ever been in my life. You gave that to me. You make me
happy.”

His eyes looked into mine for what felt like a
lifetime, a mysterious emotion in them I’d never seen before.
Suddenly, he stopped our dance and leaned in, holding me tenderly
as he kissed me. It was different from the many ways he’d kissed me
before, like he was trying to convey something to me through it. My
heart melted at his touch, my mind and body completely lost to
him.

“I want to show you something,” he said quietly
as he pulled away. “Tomorrow morning.”

“Okay,” I said, grinning. “Whatever you
want.”

“I want you to be happy for the rest of all
time,” he said, starting our sway to the music once
more.

“As long as I’m with you, I will
be.”

“May I cut in?”

The low male voice surprised me and I jumped
slightly, turning to see who was coming to take me away.

“Helios,” Hades said in surprise. “You really
want to steal my wife from me?”

“Only for a moment,” the god laughed. “She
looks so beautiful, I thought I would save her from your advances
and give you the chance to talk with your brothers.”

“I’m flattered,” I said, disappointed we’d been
interrupted.

“Only for a moment,” Hades said, frowning as he
released me and passed me into Helios’s arms.

“I will take good care of her,” he laughed. “I
promise.”

“I miss you already,” Hades said to me, smiling
sadly.

“Come back quickly,” I said, mirroring
him.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Helios
chuckled. “Just one dance.”

“Get to it then,” Hades said, grinning in a
teasing manner and clapping him on the shoulder. “I will be back
shortly.”

The next song started and we began dancing as
Hades walked away, towards the dessert table it
appeared.

“What do you think you are doing?” Helios
hissed in my ear.

“Excuse me?” I asked in confusion, my attention
immediately turning back to him.

“Have you even been looking for the helmet? Or
has your whole time down there been spent making out?”

My mouth popped open in surprise, wondering how
on earth he knew about my search for the helmet.

“Close your mouth,” he ordered me. “You look
even more stupid than you really are.”

“How did you—”

“Did you think that Erebos was working alone?
There’s much more than just him involved.”

His grip was painfully tight on my hand and I
tried to pull away, not liking where the conversation was
going.

“You listen to me,” he all but growled,
grabbing me even tighter. “You find that helmet, and you do it
soon, or your family will suffer. Do you understand?”

“Leave my family out of it,” I spat back. “I’m
doing the best I can.”

“Oh please,” he chuckled. “You’re obviously
not.”

“What do you expect?” I asked grimly. “I don’t
even know how I’m supposed to get the helmet out once I find it.
Maybe you should have told me a little more about your plan before
sending me in blind.”

“Erebos will come for the helmet when you find
it,” he hissed, his tone getting quieter as he looked around to
make sure no one was watching us. “After that, you can do whatever
you want. It’s not like you could help us with the fight that will
happen after.”

“Fight?”

“What did you think?” he asked smugly. “That we
wanted the helmet for decoration? No. There are big plans ahead,
ones that not even Zeus himself will be able to stop. So, you
better find that helmet quick, or you’ll be seeing your family
locked down there with you, dead as doornails.”

I could feel the color draining from my face at
the death threat and looked around, hoping Hades would return
quickly.

“Leave them out of it,” I said quietly. “They
don’t have anything to do with this.”

“Oh, but they do. Anyone who means anything to
you has everything to do with it.”

He looked pointedly at something behind me and
I turned my head, eyes landing on Hades, who was talking with
someone. As I watched, Hades looked over at me and smiled, his
teeth showing from between his lips.

“Quickly now,” Helios said, releasing me as the
song ended. “Remember, you’re a mortal among gods. I wouldn’t push
too many buttons if I were you.”

He smiled warmly at me then, bowing his head
before turning and walking away.

“Now I can have you all to myself again,” Hades
said from behind me.

I turned around, taking the glass of water he
held out to me.

“Trust me,” I said, trying to calm my nerves.
“I would have much rather danced with you.”

Chapter
Eighteen

“Persephone.”

I snuggled deeper into the warm sheets, not
quite ready to be woken yet as I was still reliving all of the good
parts of the evening before.

“Persephone.”

The voice laughed softly and I felt the covers
next to me moving slightly as someone slid in next to
me.

“I told you we were leaving early.”

My eyes fluttered open, taking in the soft
light around me and rolled over, right into Hades’s waiting
arms.

“Good morning,” I sighed contently, pushing
myself deeper into his embrace. “I like waking up like
this.”

“You are a sight for sore eyes,” he chuckled.
“We have to get going, though. I have a big day
planned.”

“Don’t you have a meeting or something to talk
about some breach the guards thought they found?”

“I pushed it to tomorrow,” he said, his hands
sweeping up and down my back as he held me. “They said they had it
taken care of. The meeting was to discuss how to keep it from
happening again.”

“I don’t want to mess up your day,” I said
sleepily, letting my eyes shut as I rested against him.

“Then you better get out of bed!”

He sat up, bringing me with him and uncovering
my body. I moaned at having been displaced, but got out as he asked
all the same.

“What are we doing?” I yawned, walking towards
the closet to pick out something to wear.

“It’s a surprise. We’ll be taking the horses,
though, so you probably want to wear something that will work with
that.”

“Got it,” I said, turning to smile at him.
“Breakfast before we leave?”

“When we get there.”

“I like seeing you in my bed,” I said boldly
before disappearing into the dresses.

“All you have to do is ask,” his teasing voice
replied.

“Speaking of asking,” I said, emerging from the
closet. “Will you zip me up?”

I turned my back to him, biting my bottom lip
as I waited for him to come and help finish dressing me. I heard
the bed move as he stood up and walked my way, his footsteps
falling slowly and softly on the floor. The anticipation was about
to kill me when I finally felt his hands at my waist, his lips on
my neck.