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They cut through the garden, and he was pleased with the easy silence between them, though as they continued toward the palace, he thought more on what she’d said in the field—about wanting more and fearing he would not want her.

“What is it?” she asked as his steps slowed.

“When you said you wanted to…try…things with me. What things, exactly?”

He liked that she still blushed.

“What are you willing to teach?”

“Anything,” he breathed. “Everything.”

She studied him, tilting her head as if considering what to do next. “Perhaps we should begin where we failed. With…bondage.”

There was something about this that felt completely unreal, like every fucking fantasy he’d ever had was coming true in this tempting form.

He’d never had any doubt that she was made for him, but she proved it every day.

“Are you sure?” he asked, brushing a stray piece of hair from her face.

“I will tell you when I feel afraid.”

He was glad they could begin again, even if it meant standing on the ruins of trauma. He drew her closer, his hand on the back of her neck, his forehead against hers.

“You hold my heart in your hands, Persephone.”

“And your cock too, apparently,” said Hermes, amused.

Hades tore away from Persephone, growling Hermes’s name, but his frustration quickly turned to dread when he saw what the god was wearing—gold robes.

“I thought interrupting now was probably better than a few minutes ago,” Hermes explained.

“You were watching?” Persephone asked, cringing noticeably.

“To be fair,” said Hermes, “you were having sex in the middle of the Underworld.”

“And I have thrown you just as far,” Hades said. “Need a reminder?”

“Ah, no. If you are going to be angry at anyone, be angry at Zeus. He sent me.”

“Why?” Persephone asked, apprehension already seeping into her voice.

“He’s called for a feast,” Hermes said.

“A feast?” She looked at Hades, and he ground his teeth. “Tonight?”

“Yes. In…exactly an hour,” Hermes said, looking at his wrist, which conveniently bore no watch.

“And we must be in attendance?”

“Well, I didn’t just watch you have sex for nothing,” Hermes replied.

Hades was already thinking through how he would punish the god for that.

“Why must we attend? And why at such short notice?” she asked.

Hades knew why—because this was meant to be their engagement feast. A misnomer if there ever was one, given that at the end of the event, Zeus would decide whether they could wed.

“He did not say, but perhaps he has finally decided to bless your union.” Hermes chuckled. “I mean, why would he call for a banquet if he was going to say no?”