Page 76 of Bride of Death

Did Demeter call me Persephone in the garden? Or is that from a past life?

I can’t remember, but I can distinctly hear her saying it now in my head.

Closing my eyes, I force myself to concentrate on the flavors bursting across my tongue. I understand now why Maliki asked if I preferred savory or sweet. Because mine is cheesy with some sort of salty meat. Peeking through my lashes, I see that his crepe is stuffed full of fruit.

“Want to try a bite?” he asks, his voice soft.

“Yes,” I admit.

He cuts one off and offers it to me with his fork.

Rather than take it from him, I just lean in and accept the piece directly into my mouth.

His golden irises burn as he watches me, some foreign emotion darkening his features.

I swallow slowly, then groan at the taste as it finally registers. “Wow,” I say, surprised. “I don’t normally enjoy sweets in the morning, but that’s really good.”

“I know,” he answers, cocky as ever.

My lips twitch. Arrogance isn’t usually a trait I find endearing, but it seems appropriate on Maliki.

He offers me another bite without comment, and I accept it into my mouth like the last one.

Then I return to my own food, and we finish our meal in silence.

When we’re both done, I stand to clean up, but Maliki ushers me back to my seat and takes over my kitchen again. I watch him work and let his fluid movements distract me from thinking about everything I’ve learned.

For the most part, I’m successful in forgetting everything else.

At least until a shadow appears to my left.

A shadow that slowly turns into an ominous presence.

Hades.

His gaze finds mine, his cold, dark orbs conveying so much meaning that I nearly stop breathing.

Because I can see his hatred now.

And not only that, but I can understand it also.

He has every right to wish me dead. Persephone used him for his power and hurt so many others in the process.

I’m honestly lucky he hasn’t imprisoned me in Pandora’s Box next to Demeter.

It’s probably what my spirit deserves.

So why hasn’t he done that?I wonder, frowning at him. “Why in all the realms would you want to marry me?” I ask him, so utterly confounded by that desire that I don’t even bother with formalities or greetings. Just bluntly add, “My soul doesn’t deserve a nuptial event. It deserves to be punished. So why would you make me your bride? How could you possibly want me by your side?”

Chapter 19

Hades

My mate’swords are so unexpected that I simply stare for a moment.

Then I say the first response that comes to mind. “I don’t want you by my side, pet. I want you kneeling at my feet.”Preferably with my knot in your fucking throat, I nearly add aloud, but manage to stop myself from continuing when Maliki slams down a pot in the sink.

“I respect you. I do,” Maliki says in a slow, measured tone. “But speak to Sera like that again and I will fucking deck you.”