I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, a smear of blood covering my tattooed skin.

  I stared down at my knuckles. My dark thoughts went to how my little Persephone would look with that virgin blood smeared across her inner thighs after I popped her cherry.

  My heart raced; my depraved cravings for her rose. And I knew the longer I kept Persephone close, the less I’d be able to control myself.

  And I wouldn’t stop. Because Persephone would be mine in any way I saw fit.

  Chapter 8

  Persephone

  He avoided me for three days. And on that third one, he demanded I be ready in ten minutes so we could go shopping for the things I’d need.

  We didn’t speak about the incident in my room. I didn’t even know if that was the correct term for what had happened. It had felt like a life-changing event to me.

  In fact, I was pretty sure he was avoiding me as much as I was avoiding him. That was clear by the fact he hadn’t made himself known for three whole days.

  So here I was, standing in the obscenely large, totally over-the-top dressing room. Hades had taken me to this bougie boutique, and the staff had even closed the store specifically so that we could shop privately.

  To say that this had been over-the-top was an understatement, but I kept my mouth shut, let the sales associate, and even Hades, grab items for me before she ushered me into a room and hung up everything Hades selected.

  “Come out here, Persephone. Let me see the outfit.” I could hear the smugness in his voice outside of the dressing room.

  I opened the door to see him sitting on a plush chair he’d pulled over so it was in front of the dressing room. He leaned back, arms on either side of the chair, one leg crossed and the ankle resting on his knee.

  For a second, he had no expression as he looked me up and down. My outfit wasn’t anything extravagant, just a pair of skinny jeans and a cashmere sweater, but it had been an outfit he picked out, so it felt almost… intimate.

  He lifted his hand and made a circle with his finger, indicating I should turn around. My belly tightened, and my heart raced as I did just that. And when I heard this deep rumble come from him, my body lit up in the most intimately obscene way.

  “Try on the dress now, sweetheart.”

  I glanced over my shoulder to see his focus on my ass, and when he slowly lifted his gaze to my face, he gave me a slow, satisfied smile. He didn’t give two shits that I’d caught him checking me out.

  “You realize checking out your niece is so inappropriate?”

  His grin widened until he flashed his straight, white teeth. “No blood relation, Princess. And I’m all about being inappropriate.” He flicked his hand toward the dressing room. “Now go on. Change for me.”

  Oh my God, this was so wrong, yet why didn’t it feel that way?

  I closed the dressing room door and leaned against it, my head gently connecting with it and making a soft thud. My heart thundered, and there was something new and confusing as hell happening to me.

  I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling, trying to center myself and not allowing my body to wage war with my mind. I could blame this all on the fact it had turned my world upside down, and I was just in a weird place in my life.

  The tragedies that had been thrown my way launched me into a dark spiral.

  Maybe that was why Hades affected me the way he did? Maybe that was why I was looking at him in a way a niece shouldn’t look at her uncle. He’s not my real uncle. Not really.

  When I opened my eyes, I trained my focus on the black garment bag that hung on the silver hook to my right. The staff who’d dropped it off said Hades had picked the dress out himself.

  I didn’t know when he’d gone shopping but had to assume it had been during the three days he’d been like a ghost.

  My hand shook as I reached for the zipper and pulled it down, not sure what exactly I’d find. And when I pulled the material apart to reveal the dress inside, my breath caught.

  It was beautiful.

  With delicate straps and a plunging neckline, the dress was a blood-red that looked like liquid silk.

  A wide belt of what appeared to be rubies—which I refused to believe were the actual gems, even though they probably were because this was Hades who’d bought it—wrapped around the waist.

  I let my fingers skate across the little stones. They resembled the pomegranate seeds I’d eaten at dinner with Hades.

  The dress was far shorter than anything I’d ever worn, with the hem falling mid-thigh and exposing more leg.

  “I’m waiting.”

  The deep drawl of his voice coming from the other side of the door came through, and I snapped out of my thoughts. I took another shuddering breath.

  Once I dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror, wondering who the person was that stared back. I looked like a… woman.

  My body was curvy, my breasts filling out the bust, the cleavage spilling over the top. I’d piled my hair into a messy bun and little, wispy strands framed my face.

  I felt beautiful, and the thought of if Hades would also think so played through my mind before being whisked away.

  I heard Hades’ deep voice rumble as he said something to the sales associate and gave myself one more moment to gather my composure before facing him.

  When I opened the door, I watched as he sat in the leather chair. Whoever he’d been speaking with was nowhere to be seen, with the dressing rooms being slightly secluded so we couldn’t see the main part of the boutique.

  He shifted slightly and relaxed all the way back, his legs spread, his forearms resting on either side of the chair.

  He made a very slow show of looking me over from the top of my head, lingering on my breasts, moving to my abdomen, and down my legs. He let his gaze linger on the heels I wore, ones he’d picked out for the dress.

  When he was staring back into my eyes again, I took in a slow breath to steady myself. There was just this magnetism Hades exuded that could suck all the air out of the room in an instant.

  I didn’t know what it was about him, but even a look from him had my insides feeling a certain way.

  He started drumming his fingers on the other armrest as he watched me. And the longer he stayed silent, the more on edge and uncomfortable I became. It was a discomfort you felt that wasn’t terrible. In fact, it made you feel pretty good.

  And that kind of good had my nipples beading until they were almost painful, had my skin feeling flushed, and had me achy and wet right between my thighs.

  My face grew even hotter at that realization, and I pressed my thighs together. I saw Hades’ jaw clench and his nostrils flare. I knew he picked up on my body’s reaction.

  Without breaking eye contact, he snapped his fingers, and a second later, the sales associate stopped a few feet from us. “We’ll take everything. Also, box up all your Louboutins.” He glanced down at my heels and hummed in the dream.

  He looked down at my chest again, and I felt my nipples stab through the delicate material. I reached up and draped an arm over my chest on instinct. He smirked.

  “Wrap up the dress, too. I’ll end up killing someone if she wears that out of the shop.”

  He smiled slowly and arrogantly, and I turned around and retreated into the safety of the dressing room, shutting the door as if that would keep him away from me.

  But do you really want him to stay away? I was so confused. My mind and body, my emotions and convictions telling me he was the very devil himself, yet still growing warm and wet at the thought of him touching me… making me his.

  Once I changed and the associate had taken all the items of clothing, Hades headed to the front.

  As he paid, I stepped out of the boutique; the sun catching me in the eyes so I had to move my hand and shield my vision. I took a step to the right, but because I couldn’t see very well, I didn’t realize there was someone coming in my direction. I collided with them, the heel of my shoe catching on the cobblestone sidewalk, which caused me to stumble back.

  Hands gripped my upper arms to steady me, and I placed my palms on a very defined male chest.

  “Whoa, there.”

  I glanced up to stare at the face of a boy who looked around my age. Shaggy blond hair fell across his forehead, and the corners of his blue eyes crinkled as he smiled down at me.

  He took a step back and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. My gaze went to the jacket he wore. I saw the crest of the private school I’d be attending. When I glanced back up at him, I could see he, too, was looking down at his jacket.

  “They make me wear this when I do any kind of school shit.” His voice was deep but easygoing and held a boyish tone. “And I just got done filling out forms for the upcoming football season.”

  I nodded, not sure what to say.

  He ran his fingers through his hair, making the same strands even shaggier.

  When things became weirdly silent, I said, “I’ll be starting my last year there.”

  His smile was back as he dropped his arms to either side of him. “Cool. That’s really cool.” His smile made me blush.

  “I can show you around. It’ll be great. I’m Trevor, by the way.” He thrust his hand out, and I took it.

  His hold was firm, and I felt the brush of his thumb across the back of my hand before I jerked it back.

  “Persephone Cronus.” His eyes widened.

  “As in Cronus Enterprises?” There was wonder in his voice, which irritated me.

  I nodded but didn’t bother verbally confirming.

  “So is Hades Cronus your—”

  “Uncle.”

  The sound of Hades’ voice right behind me had my body instantly reacting. I felt this tightening on my skin, this tingle starting at the tips of my toes and moving to the top of my head.

  Now that I focused on Hades, I could feel his body heat and sense his monumental presence right behind me.

  “Adoptive uncle,” I corrected.

  Trevor took a step back, his head needing to angle back so that he could look into Hades’ eyes.

  Hades placed his big palm on my arm, his fingers curling into my flesh as he pulled me back a fraction. My shoulder blades hit the wide expanse of his hard chest, and my breath caught.

  “You’re the Wilcox kid, right?” There was a strange snap to Hades’ voice, and I watched as Trevor swallowed. His trepidation was clear.

  That name sounded so familiar, and it was then I realized where I’d heard it. Judge Wilcox.

  The man who’d signed my care over to Hades even though I was a legal adult. I knew there was more to that story.

  And here I was, staring at his son. What were the odds?

  “Yeah, my dad is Judge Wilcox.” I saw the way Trevor’s throat worked as he swallowed. “And you’re Hades Cronus.” He didn’t state it like a question.

  I looked over my shoulder and up at Hades. He had his focus trained on Trevor, his expression giving nothing away.

  He slowly glanced down and looked at me, and the small curl of his lips, that arrogance on his face, had certain parts of my body clenching.

  “I was just telling Persephone I’d be happy to show her around school.”

  “Is that right?” Hades murmured while still looking at me.

  “Yes. Of course.”

  Hades turned his attention toward Trevor then. “Yes, what?”

  For a second, everyone was silent, and I could see the confusion move across Trevor’s face until whatever realization he came to slammed into his mind.

  “Yes… Sir?”

  Hades made a noncommittal sound and just stared at Trevor. It was such a long, tense glare I shifted on my feet, feeling even more uncomfortable.

  “Come on, sweetheart,” Hades finally murmured. “It’s time to go home.”

  I don’t know why, but I blushed at hearing Hades call me that nickname in front of people and state we had to go home.

  He curled his hand around my waist and turned me so we could walk in the car’s direction. The touch shouldn’t have felt as intimate as it did.

  “Oh,” Hades said in a conversational tone as we stopped and looked back at Trevor. “Keep your fucking hands to yourself next time.” Trevor’s eyes widened. “If I see you touch Persephone again, I’ll break your fingers.”

  He didn’t wait for a response, just ushered me forward and into the waiting car.

  And I sat wondering, once again, what in the hell just happened and why did it make me feel so good?

  Chapter 9

  Persephone

  I found myself wide awake at two in the morning. I tossed and turned for half an hour before finally realizing I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep.

  I got out of bed and slipped on an oversized sweatshirt over my sleep shorts and tank, and put on a thick pair of socks before leaving the room.

  Everything was dark and quiet, with the sound of a clock ticking in the distance breaking up the stillness. I enjoyed this. With no one around. Not having to pass any of the staff, who always averted their gazes when they saw me. I was uncomfortable enough here without that added stress.

  I headed down one hallway first, the house so big that a deeper chill settled in the old bones of the structure.

  I wrapped my hands around my waist and became nosy, peeking in open doorways. But everything was too dark for me to see much more than a couple of feet within the rooms.

  There was one room I passed, one that looked like a sitting area with a couple of couches, a few bookcases, and a massive vase with fresh flowers sitting atop a table in the center of the room.

  And then I passed the actual library.

  With built-in shelves, three of the walls were filled with nothing but books. There was a deep-colored leather couch in the center of the room and a small table with a reading lamp beside that. An open book flipped over sat beside that.

  Maybe Hades sat here and schemed on how to destroy people’s lives and torment them for sport?

  I shook my head because I was demonizing a man I truly didn’t know. I could only go off from the hatred my father had for him and the rumors I’d heard. Surely he’d been awful for everyone to dislike him. Right?

  I enjoyed the solace and calm of the house at this time of night. I felt like I was the only person here.

  But as I descended the stairs and started exploring the lower level, walking down hallways I’d never been before, turning corners I didn’t even know were there, I heard a deep thump thump thump the farther I ventured.

  I stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway, hearing muted, heavy music coming through.

  I probably shouldn’t have reached out and turned the knob and pulled the door open, but I stood at the top of a flight of stairs that descended into the basement.

  Before I was even down the stairs, I saw another closed door. By now, the music was growing louder as I moved down the steps and stood at the bottom landing. Curiosity was an accelerant as I opened the second door.

  I involuntarily took a step back at the sight before me. Music blasted out of the large gymnasium, and the scent of sweat and something deeper, dark and spicy, filled my nose.

  Maybe it should’ve been unpleasant.

  But it wasn’t the sight of the gym or the aroma of masculine sweat that had me transfixed. It was the fact Hades stood in the center of the vast room in just a pair of boxing shorts as he beat the living hell out of a dummy in the center of the room.

  Not only that, but his arms, chest, and back were completely covered in dark ink. I could see the way his muscles flexed underneath all those tattoos, and when he shifted on his feet, bouncing on the balls, his back facing me, I was staring right at a vicious-looking skull face.

  It covered him from shoulder blades to waist and disappeared beneath his shorts. Made up of scrollwork and flowers, knives, and even guns interwoven, the entire thing was a beautiful tapestry covering his skin.

  Music blasted from the speakers that hung in the corners of the ceiling. It was angry and loud. And despite Hades’ colossal size and intimidating body, his moves were fluid as he swung, ducked, and threw his arms hard and fast into the dummy.

  He did this repeatedly as if he were dancing a graceful, violent choreography.

  I felt my brows furrow the longer I watched him. When the light hit him every so often as he moved, I could see strange patterns etched into his skin.

  The marks were raised, long, and crisscrossing each other. It took me a moment to realize what I was looking at. Somebody had hit him. Whipped him. There was no other explanation for that type of pattern on his flesh.

  I could see droplets of sweat sliding down the wide, muscular expanse of his back.

  But seeing him like this? He looked brutal. Like a savage. He truly was as dangerous as he appeared.

  I didn’t know how long I stood there, just watching him, but at the moment he shifted on his feet and turned around, our eyes locked. It was as if my body knew I needed to edge away from the predator.

  I took a step back, my heart instantly racing, a flood of adrenaline filling my system.

  A second later, the music cut off on its own, and I swallowed, a thick lump suddenly lodged in my throat. I was afraid, yet that rush of adrenaline from the fear wasn’t abhorrent as it should’ve been. It was almost… exciting.

  “It’s late,” Hades said in a deep, rough voice. He didn’t even sound out of breath, although sweat covered his body and his chest pumped up and down from exertion. “What the fuck are you doing out of bed and down here?” He took a step forward, and I took one back, but the wall stopped my retreat. I glanced to the left to see the stairs. I could run up them fast and quickly go to my room and shut and lock the door.

  He gave a deep chuckle that had me slowly looking back at him.

  “Go on,” he taunted as he came closer. “Run up the stairs. Let me chase you.”

  I felt my eyes widen. I didn’t know what was happening between us. The shift in the relationship was completely inappropriate, yet I didn’t want it to stop.