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She lifts a shoulder. “I can't say for sure, but I think the Moirai have cloaked this pregnancy. I'm not the only one who will be incapable of sensing them, Persephone.”

The peace in my heart quickly vanishes to be replaced with something ugly and tense. “Okay…?”

“I've been thinking about the drawings on the walls of Hydra’s sinkhole that you spoke of,” Hecate tells me. “I've been thinking much about the future you predicted while your soul lived in the deep of the Underworld. I believe there is a reasonyour daughters are now cloaked. A reason your pregnancy is cloaked.”

I don’t realize I’ve been holding my breath until silence sits between us. My lungs ache when I release it, gasping, “What do you think the reason could be?”

Hecate’s swirling grey eyes lock on mine. There is grave warning in the depths, warning I know I must heed.

“I think you should be careful who you entrust this secret to.” Shivers erupt across my skin. Aethon whinnies, sensing my distress. “There will be those who would happily destroy them before they ever have a chance to be. If what you saw on the walls is correct, and I suspect it is, then you will be in grave danger very soon, my sweet friend.”

Aethon stiffens beneath me. Under Hecate, Nycteus’ muscles coil tightly beneath his sleek black hair.

“You think I am in danger?”

“I think you will soon be in danger. That you must be careful who you trust.”

“But…”

“I think you need to be prepared for this danger, Persephone.” Her eyes close slowly before reopening just as slowly. As though she, too, has been bestowed a vision. Tension seeps from her as she says, “I think you need to be prepared, for this danger you will soon face is not a danger that Hades, as much as he will try, will be able to protect you from.”

Chapter

Fifteen

Persephone

ConvincingLinus to hand over his kitchen was no small feat. But a night off for Maya and Linus to visit Asphodel City wasn’t something either could deny once I dangled the carrot.

Now, I’ve got the castle kitchen to myself. After familiarizing myself with the layout, which is huge, and scoping out all the goodies stored in all the places, I’ve got a saucy lasagna with extra cheese sprinkled with crispy bits of ham cooking in one of the ovens.

That’s right, there is more than one oven in this kitchen, which is why I’m cracking eggs into a bowl of ingredients that already smells mouth-wateringly sweet.

I’m whipping up those ingredients when the air shifts. A hot heaviness settles in the massive space, and yet goosebumps rise on my skin. A quickening in my chest dances with a flutter in my belly. My breath hitches on a sharp inhale.

I don’t dare look over my shoulder, trying my best to pretend that I don’t feel him as he stalks me.

I fail, breath shuddering from my lungs as that hot heat teases a touch that doesn’t come at my back. His hands find the counter on either side of my body, and the deep pitch of his murmured words trails hot against the bare skin of my shoulder.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

I fight the smile that threatens to reveal just how much I love that he found me. “Oh?”

“For a moment, I worried I would have to hunt Tartarus for you.” Needles of awareness prick my skin at the darkness in his words. “Hydra convinced me that you’d not left the palace.”

“Mmm.”

He lifts his hands from the counter to gather my hair before pushing it over one shoulder. Then his hands settle on the counter again, bracketing me there in the circle of his arms.

He dips his face into the nook of my neck that is now exposed for him. I feel the blade of his nose run the column of my neck. I shiver under the featherlight scratch of his scruff on tender skin.

“It smells good in here.”

I suck in a rattle of breath at the feel of his hot lips pressing into my skin.

I can’t speak.

I don’t have to. Hades has plenty to say, apparently. “Are you cooking for me, little goddess?”