A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone Saga Book 1)

Graduation came and went in a flurry of black robes, blue and white tassels, and parties. It was a bittersweet end, and Persephone had never felt prouder as she walked across that stage…or more alone.

Lexa had been spending more time with Jaison, she hadn’t heard from her mother since she destroyed the greenhouse, and she hadn’t returned to Nevernight or the Underworld since she’d left Hades tangled in her vines.

Her only distraction was work. Persephone had started full-time at New Athens News as an investigative journalist the week after graduation. She arrived early and stayed late, and when she had nothing left to do, she’d spend the evening deep in the Garden of the Gods practicing her magic.

She was getting better, and while the instinct to reach for her power was stronger, she hadn’t managed to reclaim the abilities she’d had when she’d transformed Minthe into a plant, Adonis’ limbs into vines, and destroyed her mother’s home. The things she grew now had returned to resembling dead vines. She found herself wishing she could train with Hecate.

She missed Hecate, the souls, the Underworld.

She missed Hades.

Now and then she considered returning to the Underworld to visit. She knew Hades hadn’t revoked her favor, but she was too afraid, too embarrassed, and too ashamed to go. How was she supposed to explain her absence, and would they forgive her?

As more days passed, the less Persephone felt she could return, and so she continued her daily routine: work, lunch with Lexa and Sybil, and an evening walk through the park.

Today, that routine was disrupted.

She checked her watch as she at her usual table at The Coffee House. She was waiting for a text from Lexa. It was her birthday weekend, and they were going out tonight to celebration with Jaison, Sybil, Aro, and Xeres and while Persephone was excited for the distraction, she had needed to finish her final article on the God of the Dead.

Writing the article had been more painful than she expected. She’d written through tears and clenched teeth. As a result, the publication was delayed. She hadn’t expected to be so emotional, but she guessed she’d gone through a lot in the last six months. The worry and stress over fulfilling the terms of her contract with Hades had taken a toll in so many ways. Against her better judgment, she had fallen for the god, and she had slowly been trying to figure out how to put the pieces of her heart back together.

The problem was, it didn’t fit together the same way.

She was changed.

And it was both beautiful and terrible. She had taken control of her life, severing relationships as she went. The people she trusted six months ago were not the people she trusted now.

The most painful part of it all was her mother’s betrayal and subsequent silence. After she’d destroyed the greenhouse, Demeter had kept her distance. Persephone wasn’t even sure where her mother had gone, though she suspected she was in Olympia.

Still, she had expected something from her—even an angry text.

Nothing was a stab in the heart.

Her phone beeped with a message from Lexa: Ready for tonight?

She texted back, You know it! Have you made a decision?

She hadn’t decided where to celebrate yet. They’d both agreed Nevernight and La Rose were out of the question.

I’m thinking Bakkheia or The Raven. Bakkheia was a bar owned by Dionysus and The Raven was owned by Apollo. What do you think?

Hmm. Definitely The Raven.

But you hate Apollo’s music.

It was true. Persephone dreaded every album the God of Light released. She wasn’t sure why—something about the way he pronounced his words irritated her, and it was the only music that played at his club.

But it’s your birthday. Persephone reminded her. And The Raven is more your style.

It’s settled. The Raven it is! Thanks, Persephone!

Despite seeing less of Lexa, Persephone was happy for her. Lexa was thriving with Jaison and she would forever be indebted to the two mortals for their service to her—especially Lexa, who had stayed with her for a whole week while she reeled from her breakup with Hades and managed to keep Minthe the Mint Plant alive after Persephone had promptly forgotten her existence in the kitchen window.

She’d had plans to return the nymph to the Underworld and offer her to Hades, but she didn’t have the courage to face him.

She texted Lexa that she was heading out and started to pack her things when a shadow fell over her. She looked up into a familiar pair of dark, gentle eyes.

“Hecate!” Persephone stood and threw her arms around the goddess’s neck. “I miss you.”

Hecate returned her embrace and inhaled sharply with relief. “I miss you, too, my dear.” She pulled away and studied Persephone’s face, her brows knitted together over her caring eyes. “We all do.”

Guilt slammed into her, and she swallowed. She’d essentially been avoiding everyone. “Sit with me?”

“Of course.” The Goddess of Witchcraft took a seat beside Persephone.

She couldn’t stop staring at Hecate. The goddess looked different in human glamour, with her hair in a braid and swear a long, black maxi dress instead of regal robes.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Hecate added.

“No, just…working,” Persephone said.

The goddess nodded. They were quiet for a moment, and Persephone hated the awkwardness between them.

“How is everyone?” she hedged.

“Sad,” Hecate said, and Persephone felt a pang in her chest.

“You’re really not one to beat around the bush, are you, Hecate?”

“Come back,” she said.

She couldn’t look at Hecate. Her eyes burned. “You know I can’t.”

“What does it matter that you found each other through this contract?” Hecate asked.

Persephone’s eyes widened, and she looked at the Goddess of Witchcraft. “Did he tell you?”

“I asked.”

“Then you know he deceived me.”

“Did he? As I recall, he told you your contract had nothing to do with Aphrodite’s wager.”

“You cannot tell me that he didn’t consider I might help him fulfill his contract with her.”

“I am sure he considered it, but only because he was already in love with you. Was it so wrong for him to hope?”

Persephone sat, stewing in her silence. Was Hecate only here to attempt to convince her to return to Hades?

She knew the answer—but it was more complicated than a yes.

She was here to convince her to return to the Underworld, to a kingdom of people who had treated her like a queen—to her friends.

She knew Hecate was right. Did it really matter that they had found love for each other because of a contract? People found love in all sorts of ways.

The hardest thing, though, was that when she’d told Hades she loved him, he hadn’t said it in return. He hadn’t said anything at all.

She felt Hecate watching her, and the goddess asked, “How do you think you fulfilled the terms of your contract?”

Persephone looked at her, confused. “I…grew something.”

It wasn’t beautiful. She wasn’t even sure it could be called a plant, but it was alive and that’s what mattered.

The goddess shook her head. “No. You fulfilled the contract because you created life within Hades. Because you brought life to the Underworld.”

Persephone looked away, closing her eyes against the words. She couldn’t hear this.

Then Hecate whispered, “It is bleak without you.” She took Persephone’s hand. “Do you love him?”

The question brought tears to her eyes, and she wiped at them furiously before uttering a breathless, “Yes.” She sniffed. “Yes. I think I’ve loved him since the beginning. That’s why it hurts.”

Hades had challenged her to look at the whole picture, to not be blinded by her passion—except when it came to her passion for him.

“So, go to him. Tell him why you hurt, tell him how to fix it. Isn’t that what you’re good at?”

Persephone couldn’t help laughing at that and then groaned, rubbing her eyes. “Oh, Hecate. He doesn’t want to see me.”

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Don’t you think if he wanted me, he would have come for me?”

“Perhaps he was just giving you time,” she said.

Hecate looked away, down the pedestrian street, and Persephone followed her gaze. Her breath caught, and her heart pounded in her chest.

Hades stood a few feet away. Dressed from head to toe in black, he had never looked more handsome. His gaze, dark and piercing, settled on her, and it was the most vulnerable she’d ever seen him—hopeful but afraid.

Persephone rose from her chair, but it took her a moment to get her legs moving. She stumbled forward, and then broke into a run. He caught her as she jumped into his arms, legs twining around his waist. He held her close, burying his face into the crook of her neck.

“I missed you,” he whispered.

“I missed you, too,” she said and then pulled back. She studied his face, brushing the curve of his cheek and the bow of his lips. “I’m sorry.”

“As am I,” he said, and she realized he was examining her just as intently, like he was trying to memorize every part of her. “I love you. I should have told you sooner. I should have told you that night in the bath. I knew then.”

She smiled, her fingers coiling into his hair. “I love you, too.”

Their lips crashed together, and it was like the whole world melted away—though they were surrounded by a legion of people taking photos and filming. Hades broke the kiss first, and Persephone looked up at him, both frustrated and slightly dazed.

“I wish to claim my favor, Goddess,” he said, his eyes darkening.

Persephone’s heart hammered in her chest.

“Come to the Underworld with me.”

She started to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss.

“Live between worlds,” he said. “But do not leave us forever—my people, your people…me.”

She blinked back tears—he understood. She would have the best of both worlds. She would have him.

Her smiled turned mischievous, and she smoothed his shirt. “I’m eager for a game of cards.”

The corners of his mouth twitched and his eyes darkened. “Poker?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“The stakes?”

“Your clothes,” she answered.

Then they vanished.