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And the way she screamed.

The memory of it nearly brings me to my knees.

The bark spread like a poison on her body, cutting into calf and thigh before I finally reached her. As I had with Minthe, I called on the powers of spring and birth, healing and love. I reversed the curse my mother had put on my friend, releasing her from the roots that held her in their eternal prison. But I’d never been able to heal her.

Like Minthe bore the tattooed vines of the mint plant over her feet and calves, Leuce bore the scars of the bark that had split her skin. Her hair, once silky black had turned the color of silvery bark. And her eyes, once rich brown had faded to the gray green of the underside of a white poplar’s leaves.

I realize now that I’ve never seen Leuce in a gown. Never seen her show her legs. She’s always worn flashy pantsuits.

Now, I suspect I know why.

My gaze shifts to Minthe to see that she’s turned ashen with fear. The thought of setting Leuce, her lover of centuries, in the path of Demeter’s ire once again strikes a fear inside her she can’t hide. Still, she says nothing.

I shake my head. “I can’t let you do that.”

“You go with protection, or you don’t go at all,” Hades says firmly, but it takes only one look into my eyes for him to sigh. “Little goddess, please. Don’t fight me on this. I can’t lose you.” There is true fear in his eyes. “I won’t survive it. The Underworld won’t survive it.”

I can’t help myself as I move into the circle of Hades’ arms. They close around me tight, and when I hear the vicious pounding of his heart, I know he’s nearing the end of his control. He loves me. It’s not easy to stand back and watch the one you love walk willingly into harm’s arms.

I understand his short temper. I want only to soothe him.

“I’m not weak as I once was, Persephone,” Leuce says. “I’ve trained every day since that day.”

“Demeter is a Goddess, Leuce. And she hates you.”

“I am an immortal nymph, thanks to you. I’m powerful, too.” She smiles a confident smile. “I will keep you safe.”

“Let her come, my Persephone. She loves you.”

I smile a small smile at Hydra’s words. Then, resigned, I nod. “We’ll keep each other safe.”

Chapter

Twenty

Hades

I sentLeuce and Minthe to tell Ares that Persephone would be ready tomorrow. If I have no choice but to give her to them as per the deal of the seasons, and I can’t convince her to stay at my peril, then I will at least have one final night with her.

It may very well be my last.

No. No, I will not think such thoughts. They are poison.

But Ares is dangerous. He is a ruthless God with little compassion and diabolical interests. I can’t see a future in which he becomesgood.

He is a monster. He’s always been a monster, hungry for blood and death and destruction. One only has to look into the wars of human history to see the truth of such claims. Ares was there at the heart of them all.

And yet, when the Moirai pulled the souls of the Gods from the cauldron to bind to my daughters’ souls, I’d recognized one of them as Ares’ God of War. One of my daughters had beenbound in a soul bond, a bond stronger than the bond of soul mates, to the God of War.

I’m not sure I’ve had a moment of true peace since.

Persephone lets loose a sigh that tightens the knots of unease around my heart. I watch as she wastes no time loosening the ties of her dress. The material falls to the floor around her feet, leaving her entirely bare. There is the slightest swell to her lower belly. A swell that infuses my heart with too much emotion. So much, I fear it may very well burst.

She steps from the pool of fabric to the warmth of the bathing pool, sinking her body into the water. Her eyes, so lovely and green, never leave mine.

The veins of magma surge faster as heat rises from the core of me. My cock begins to harden, lengthening for her.

My muscles coil with desire. Every part of her calls to me, calls to the want inside me. To the man, the beast, theGod. All of me is addicted to her, craves her. Aches to possess her, to be possessed by her.