Page 68 of Spring's Descent
“Yes,” Hypnos muttered, turning his eyes on me. “I heard I missed quite the show.” His gaze roved over the makeshift crown somehow still pinned in my hair before dipping to the gold chain I hadn’t realized I was gripping. “What an interesting piece of jewelry, Lady Persephone. Might I have a closer look?”
“You can see just fine from there,” Hades said, his hand protectively dropping to my waist. I leaned into his touch, taking comfort in the thickening shadows around him.
Hypnos lifted a brow at the display of power. “Of course. The crystal must be very valuable. I’d take care not to misplace it.”
I could have sworn Morpheus pulled in a sharp breath, but his face was a sheet of practiced control, giving nothing away.
“It’s good to see your power so clearly manifesting, Lord Hades,” Hypnos said, but there was nothing kind about his smile as he retrieved his goblet from the table, swirling its contents before taking a long sip. “I’d heard rumors they were waning. That you’d been trapped on the banks of the Lethe, no less.”
My pulse raced as sparks of anger—not of my own making—simmered in my veins. Hypnos was pushing Hades. Testing him. And it looked like he’d just hit the mark. Judging by the cruel twist of his lips, he knew it, too.
“Such a joy the rumors are false, isn’t it Morpheus?”
“A joy to be sure,” Morpheus answered dryly, those dark eyes boring a hole into my soul.
“With the earth witch now returned to us, our realm will be healed in no time.”
“Lady Persephone,” Hades corrected. “And after tomorrow, you may choose between Queen Persephone or Your Grace.”
Hypnos’s smile grew tight at the edges, the tips of his fingers seeming to shimmer with a soft light as a thin layer of very fine powder collected beneath. A few of the others seated at the tablebeside him pushed to stand, a dozen leathery wings shimmering into being. More than one of them offered threatening smiles showing off their red-ringed eyes and sharp fangs: The Night Children.
Where in gods’ names were Hecate and Thanatos.It looked like a fight was about to break out any moment. But then Morpheus stepped forward and dropped into the most exaggerated bow imaginable.
“Lady Persephone, Queen of The Underworld, we are overjoyed to have you among us. You bless us with your life, with your magic, but most importantly, your beauty.” Morpheus winked, the cocky tilt of his lips far more endearing than it should have been. He was just the type of guy Lark would’ve gone for. The thought of her flashed through my mind as he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the back of my hand.
“Enough,” rumbled Hades, but The Night Children were mimicking Morpheus’s antics, bowing to one another in exaggerated supplication as he had me.
“How foolish of me, Lord Hades.” Morpheus’s voice dripped with false innocence as he pivoted, dropping to his knees. “Would you like me to kiss something of yours?”
My eyes widened, more from curiosity than jealousy, but Hypnos yanked his son back before Hades could respond.
“You are prince to The Night Children, heir to The Sleeping Realm, andthisis how you behave?”
Morpheus was prepared with a witty reply, but a flash of white wings along the periphery caught my attention. Thanatos strode forward with Hecate at his side.
Her shrewd gaze took inventory of the situation for all of a second before she snapped her fingers. Waitstaff carrying great platters of food poured from the kitchen, forcing everyone to claim a chair.
“Perfect timing,” Morpheus drawled, leaning into a particularly attractive server, much to Hypnos’s dismay. His father’s cheeks darkened from red to purple, but Morpheus didn’t seem to care as he took a seat, fork and knife already in hand. “I’m starved.”
43
PERSEPHONE
I hadn’t realizedhow hungry I was until the first course was served. It was a simple salad dressed with walnuts, crumbled feta cheese, and a drizzle of honey-glazed pomegranate seeds, but my mouth was watering the moment it was set before me.
Reaching for my fork, I dug the metal tongs through the center, the rumble of my stomach spurring me on, but Hades’s hand covered mine before I could raise the bite to my mouth.
“Wait,” Hades said, his voice low enough for only the four of us to hear. Hecate and Thanatos had joined us at a small table set in front of the throne immediately upon their entering with Thanatos seated to his right and Hecate to my left. A quick glance their way showed that both were staring at me.
“Why?” I breathed, matching his tone. “You think someone would try to poison me here?”
“No,” Hecate answered, though Hades had yet to look away. “You haven’t eaten anything since you’ve passed into our realm. Your life magic and my healing magic has sustained you thus far, but if youdo…”
“You’ll be tied to The Underworld forever,” Thanatos finished.
“Isn’t that the whole point with our marriage and bonding tomorrow?” I asked, trying to lift my fork as my stomach growled.
“Yes, little witch,” Hades said. “But even with our threads woven, you’d be able to come and go as you pleased. You would be Queen of The Underworld, and therefore no longer hindered by the same restrictions others are. Consuming food would tie you further to this realm, making it impossible for you to step foot from The Underworld for half of the year.”