The sound of a page turning in the old book she was reading was the only break in the silence of the library. Zerina spent most of her time there when she wasn’t sleeping, seeking the only escape she could from Hades.

Since she was a young child, books had always captured her imagination. Now older, she had turned them into old, treasured friends, imagining herself back in her mother’s library, where Fate would walk through the door at any minute. She hadn’t.

It had been two moons since Jinx had left, and while she missed her every day, she was relieved that she was where she could get well.

“This isn’t what I meant when I told you not to confine yourself to your bedroom. You have free reign of my castle, other than the restricted areas.”

Zerina didn’t look up from the page she was reading. Every day, he tried to initiate a conversation with her. Usually, she would leave the room or ignore him, as she was doing now. At night, Grimm would request her to have dinner with Hades. Then the reaper left as soon as she spoke her refusal.

She heard the rustle of his clothes as he sat down next to her on the bench she had found in the upper story of the library. “What are you reading?”

Zerina forced herself to concentrate on the words before her, not even stiffening when he bent down to look at the page.

“Ah, you’re reading poetry. That book has one of my favorite poems by Seamus Heaney.” Hades unabashedly took the book from her, turning the pages then giving it back.

Zerina read the title of the poem aloud, “The Toome Road.” She read it then flipped the book back to the page she had been reading.

“It mentions the Omphalos Stone. Did Fate ever tell you about the stone?”

She turned another page, not answering his question.

“The only time Mother stepped foot on earth was when she created it. Before leaving to return to the heavens, she took a stone from the center of the earth as a memento. Knowing she would never step on earth again, she wanted the stone so, if she was angry enough, she could throw it back to earth to destroy that which she had created.

“Mother made the mistake of confessing this to a goddess. The goddess didn’t keep the secret, and the gods started looking for where she could have hidden it. It’s a mystery that has never been solved.”

Her curiosity was sparked. “My mother told me that Zeus found it. That he sent out two eagles, and when they met, there was a large stone that could be seen poking out above the ocean. That he tried to take it, but it was too heavy.”

“That’s one of the myths. No one but Mother knows what it looks like or where it is.”

“Why does Zeus want to hurt Mother?”

“He doesn’t. Zeus has always had a troubled history with Chronos. Mother was always the peacemaker between all the gods. Time hasn’t been kind to Chronos. I haven’t been around Zeus for centuries, but I would have thought if Zeus tried to destroy anyone, it would be Chronos, not Mother.”

“Then why did he search for the stone?”

“He said it was because he didn’t trust it in anyone else’s hands.”

“Not even Mother’s?”

“If she had made the mistake of confiding it to one goddess, what would keep her from confiding in another where the stone is? In the wrong hands, it would not only destroy earth, but every immortal, god, and goddess bound to earth. It would be apocalyptic.”

“That means, even you wouldn’t survive.” As much as she hated him, she didn’t want him destroyed, either.

“As wouldn’t Poseidon, which is why I don’t believe it is Zeus. We’re brothers. We’ve had our moments, but not enough to forget we have that connection.”

“You don’t hold a grudge against Zeus because of Persephone?”

“Zeus goes after every goddess. I warned Persephone, and she cheated, not once, but twice. I gave her one more chance than I would have given anyone else.”

“She was probably sick of seeing the portraits.” Zerina rose with the book, intending to leave. He had piqued her interest, making her forget her vow of silence where he was concerned. However, she had no intention of remaining in his company and pretending all was forgiven.

“How long are you going to act out like an injured innocent?”

Zerina lifted her chin stubbornly, narrowing her eyes on Hades. His reflected a hatred that had her wanting to throw the thick book at him.

“Are you reading my mind?”

Hades sighed. “Yes.”

“Then how long do you think it will take?” She opened her mind, letting him read it just like one of the books on the shelves behind him, letting every emotion blast at him. Her hurt. How humiliated she felt. The deep sense of loss from his friendship. Through a veil of tears, she regarded him until he looked away, wincing.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to return to my room so my injured innocent act doesn’t incur further recriminations from you.”

Aware that he was watching, she went down the steps.

Standing at the railing that overlooked the library, Zerina’s resentment toward Hades grew as she was confronted by the portraits on the side of the wall. Each one was like a knife thrust into her injured heart. The necklaces they wore showed Hades hadn’t cared about her more than the others. And the look of aching love in their eyes highlighted that she wasn’t the first nor the last who had fallen in love with the callous god.

The only comforting thought she had was that at least a portrait of her wasn’t hanging around, silently mocking her stupidity.

“What will it take for you to forgive me?” Hades stood stoically at the railing, his hands gripping it.

As angry and hurt as she was, her sensitive soul cried out for her to forgive him.

It wasn’t in her nature to remain detached. That’s why her job as bearing souls had been gifted to her. The joy of seeing the parents welcome their child into the world, whether the parents were good or bad, even they felt the overwhelming miracle of birth.

Her soul eagerly tried to convince her to take what she could get from Hades, not to ask for more than he could give. But she couldn’t. Even through her anger, she loved him. But to open herself once again was asking for more than she could give.

“It’ll take more than you have—a heart.” Her answer was brief and succinct.

Irritated, Hades waved his hand, transporting himself to the last step below her. “I made no promises to you. Your anger toward me isn’t justified.”

“That’s true. I am just as angry with myself as with you. I have castigated myself for blindly not seeing what was before my eyes. In my ignorance, I can only say that what my mother and Destiny gossiped about you had affected my judgement.”

“You based your opinion of me on gossip?”

“Yes, they spoke highly of you. That, unlike the other gods, you always summoned one goddess at a time, waiting until she returned before summoning another. That the list of goddesses waiting to be summoned were numerous, but that, unlike Zeus and Odin, you didn’t keep concubines. I guess they didn’t realize you’ve changed since your divorce. I didn’t expect what we shared to be forever, but I did expect faithfulness while it did.”

“Since you hate me, what’s keeping me from taking what I want?” His chilling voice sent a shiver down her back. Hades’ impenetrable expression and bearded jaw firmed until his lips thinned ruthlessly.

She stared back at him fearlessly, raising her hands in question. “What do you want that I haven’t already given? I gave you my friendship, which you broke. I shared your bed, which you must have enjoyed or I wouldn’t have been graced with a necklace to show your appreciation. You want me on my knees? Is that it? That is something you will never see.” She tried to push by him, but Hades forestalled her with a wave of his hand.

Her senses spinning, she closed her eyes, opening them when the world stopped swirling chaotically to find herself in Hades’ bedroom.

“Do you want to tell me that again?”

“What’s wrong? Is your pride hurt because I’m not begging for more? Is your manhood threatened because I haven’t?”

Hades’ eyes flashed at her angrily. She could practically see the fury radiating off him.

Zerina threw the book she was holding to the floor. “You want me on my knees? Fine!” She swept her gown to the side then bent her knees, lowering herself to the floor and staring up at him with her head raised to show her withering contempt. “Still not happy?”

Seeing the dangerous way he was looking at her, she didn’t suppose he was.

She feigned a look of adoration. “Is this what you want?”

“Let me show you what I want.” Hades reached out, pulling her to her feet then crashing his mouth down on hers, trusting his tongue into her mouth. She quiescently let him kiss her, not responding. When he realized she wouldn’t, Hades released her, giving her his back.

She could hear his rapid breathing, magnifying the tension in the room.

“May I go now?” She didn’t know how much longer she could hide behind the veneer of detachment.

“Go.”

Zerina went to pick up the book she had dropped, her eyes catching on a portrait that she hadn’t seen since her back had been turned to it.

“How could you?” she whispered. “Do you get a kick out of tormenting me?”

“Why should it make a difference to you? Don’t worry; I’ll grow tired of it soon and put it in the library when I do.”

Zerina stared him speechlessly.

Hades meticulously shrugged out of his suit jacket, placing it over the back of a chair, which he could just as easily make disappear. When he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, she knew she was in trouble.

Even though he had given her permission to leave, he was preparing to take what little pride she had left before she did.

When a beautiful, slender woman appeared, she knew she was right.

Recognizing the goddess Ixcuina, Zerina walked to the bedroom door.

“Do you have a problem kneeling before me?”

“Hades, it is an honor to kneel before you.” The goddess’ sultry voice was the last thing she heard as she steadily moved down the hallway.

She regretted not closing his door when she heard the sound of her moans travel the length of the long hallway. Tortured beyond bearing, she almost ran the last few steps.

Shutting her door behind her, she leaned back against it, sliding down to land on her bottom and letting the book fall to her side.

She sat there until the sunlight turned to darkness and a table appeared with her dinner. It was the first time since the night she had spent with Hades that Grimm hadn’t appeared to ask her to have dinner with Hades.

Food was the last thing she wanted as she imagined Hades having sex with the erotic beauty.

She reached for the book at her side, placing it on her lap to read.

* * *

Hades watched Zerina walk to her room in his mind as he ran caressing hands over Ixcuina’s breasts, pinching her nipples to have her moan louder.

Seeing her return to the safety of her room, he then dropped his hands when he saw her sliding down the door in despair.

Satisfied that he’d had his revenge, he turned away to rebutton the sleeves of his shirt and put his jacket back on.

“You don’t want me?” Crestfallen, the goddess made no attempt to berate him or make an emotional storm. She did what all his concubines were supposed to do—cater to all his demands.

“Not for now.” Waving his hand, he reached out and gave her a large ruby necklace that he latched around her throat.

“Thank you! You’re so kind to me!” Her lovely blue eyes stared at him adoringly. “Just being with you makes me happy. I’ll treasure this gift, as well as the other ones you have given me.”

“Ixcuina, you have no idea the pleasure you’re about to give me.”

Hades waved his hand and sent the goddess away before she could misinterpret his words. With another flick of his wrist, he saw the new portrait appear on a wall in Zerina’s room.

She looked up from the book she was reading, yet had no other reaction. Then she rose, going to the table that Grimm had sent for dinner. He had expected her to rant or start yelling for Grimm to come remove the portrait. She didn’t do either. She merely poured herself a goblet of ruby-red wine. He expected her to lift it to her lips when she flung the contents at the portrait, splattering the image.

Hades chuckled in the silence of his room. He could easily replace it with another one, but he didn’t. He had proven his point.

Regrettably, he may have also proven that, if she didn’t want him, there were women waiting to take her place. The bone-crushing chill that invaded his limbs had him going to the fireplace, aware that the flames wouldn’t relieve the chill. There was only one thing that could.

Zerina.