Page 49 of Spring's Descent
“Yes, and I’ve spent the lastthreestitching a shredded soul back together,” the feminine voice clipped.
The bed dipped again, less so than before and the subtle scent of moonflower swirled around me. My magic tingled in my veins, rising to the surface as Hecate leaned forward. I felt the heat of her hand a moment before her palm pressed flat against my chest.
“Oh,” Hecate breathed.
“Oh?” Aidoneus repeated, the drop in temperature causing the fine hairs on my arms to rise. “Oh what?”
“Keep that death magic in check. Persephone is awake.” There was a beat of silence before the cold withdrew and Hecate continued. “The wraith that attacked her must have been cursed to never know a moment’s rest, because though her body is still healing from the gouge marks created from its bones, her mind is very much present. I’ve no doubt she’s heard everything you two have said. I hope you were gentlemen.”
Heat built beneath her palm, seeping into my body right over my heart. Each beat pushed her magic through my vessels, the core of it circulating until the restlessness holding me hostage broke and my eyes fluttered open.
“There,” Hecate said, her deep, green eyes finding mine. Her full lips were tilted into a kind smile, and her dark hair was half pinned back with a serpent pin, her long curls tumbling down. A golden tunic draped across her full figure, the silky material captivating as it caught the light from near-by torches along the walls. The white tattoo lining her forearm dimmed as the heat of her magic lessened, the snake winding through a crescent moon seeming to settle.
My gaze bounced to the minimalistic room behind her, the white curtains and dark walls shadowed by the hulking form poised over her shoulder. His blue eyes bored into mine, causing my heart to flutter.
“The energy you feel now is remnant from my power,” Hecate said, pushing to a stand. “The crystal you’ve chosen to wear will maintain it for a few minutes longer before the fatigue of your mind catches up. But don’t worry, you’re safe here. Daddy Darkness wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Daddy Darkness?” I breathed, gaze flashing to Aidoneus.
Aidoneus stiffened as the figure who must have been Thanatos failed to hide a chuckle. Thanatos was the complete opposite of Aidoneus, his bright crystal-blue eyes crinkling at the edges as elegant, feather white wings shook with his suppressed laughter. He was bright, all soft angles and androgynous features to Aidoneus’s hard lines and shadows.
Thanatos nudged his shoulder, the force of it causing Aidoneus to take a step forward. “You’ve been called worse things.”
Aidoneus only lifted a brow at Hecate, waiting for her to give him the all clear.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she held his gaze a moment longer, before rolling her eyes. “Go ahead, but I’m serious about keeping your death magic in check.”
“It’s not his fault,” Thanatos chimed in.
“Isn’t it?” Hecate pressed. “He should’ve anticipated Persephone would face challenges with her magic after learning what Demeter was doing to the witches in the Earth Coven.”
“Yes but we couldn’t have foreseen she’d know nothing?—”
“Enough,” Aidoneus rumbled, his voice low and cutting through their bickering with ease. Cautiously, he sat on the edge of the bed beside me. With a gentleness I didn’t know he was capable of, Aidoneus helped me to a sitting position. My limbs were stiff and achy, but the worst of the pain had gone as I accepted his help. “I wish to be alone with my little witch.”
“I think that wise,” Hecate mused from the doorway with Thanatos at her back. “The two of you have many things to discuss.”
32
HADES
She had been awakethe entire time, able to hear everything Thanatos and I discussed while her body remained paralyzed. There were too many secrets between us, too many lives relying on Persephone weaving her life thread with mine. I would need to force her if she refused me. It was the only logical option. Our two realms would continue to be ravaged, the souls in both subjected to the wrath of unconfined death magic. The stakes couldn’t be higher… but there was a gnawing ache in my chest at the thought of her notwantingto be mine.
Shoving the barb of rejection aside, I made sure Persephone was strong enough to sit on her own, before folding my hands in my lap.
“How much did you hear?”
Her green eyes narrowed as she lifted her chin. “Enough to know there’s a lot you haven’t told me. Like Willow’s soul being shredded.”
Persephone’s voice wavered on the last word, her bravado flickering as she no doubt pictured a witch she’d known her entire life undergoing such a thing, but if that was her greatest concern, she hadn’t learned my true title. Good. I would have totell her soon, but enough things were spiraling out of control at the moment without adding that into the mix.
“Hecate was able to patch her up,” I said. “The Lethe will wipe any lingering memories from her time in The Realm of the Living, including the pain she felt.”
Persephone flinched. The slight furrowing of her brow and far off look confirmed her mind was elsewhere when she dared to ask, “What has the power to shred a soul?”
“We don’t know, though Hecate has her theories.”
Her eyes snapped to mine. “Thatwasthe real Hecate?”