From upon a small ledge, the sound of her scream reverberated around the large pit that she was looking down at. Staring down at the fire below her, she felt the heat that was rising toward her. Her fingernails dug into the rock wall behind her as a rock fell into the pit, making the flames flare.

Maintaining her balance, she looked upward, seeing if there was a way out. Then she gingerly turned to face the rock wall, nearly falling backward before she could find a grip to stabilize herself.

She bit down on her lips to prevent herself from sobbing. She was determined not to give Hades the satisfaction of making her cry.

“You bastard! When Mother finds out what you are doing, she will condemn you to your own hell!” Zerina yelled out, resting her cheek on the rock wall.

“You struck a god; it is within my rights to punish you.”

Looking upward at the sound of Hades’ voice, she wished he was closer so she could hit him again.

“When I get home, my family will make the poor souls you watch over dance on your mangled body.”

“Where’s the sweet, loving woman your mother told me about?” He sat down on the edge of the cliff over her, dangling his legs. Zerina raised a hand, trying to reach his feet. Hades laughed when she discovered he was out of her reach. “I’m immortal; there won’t be a body,” he told her sardonically.

“My sisters were made mortal, so you can be, too, with the right spell.”

“You threatening me with Jinx or Merlin? Neither one of them could turn me mortal. Merlin would be too afraid, and Jinx can’t even find a way inside my domain. Morgana is one of my guests; maybe you could convince her,” he taunted.

She carefully bent her knees, searching along the ledge with her hands for something. When she found one, she gripped it in her hand and stood up again.

“What are you doing?” His face was shrouded in darkness, occasionally illuminated by the fire as he leaned over, trying to see what she was doing.

She didn’t answer.

When he tried to lean over farther, she threw the small rock she had managed to find at his smirking face.

He shook his head down at her, tsking. “I’ve been very gentle with you, and how do repay my generosity? By throwing stones at me.” Hades scooted to the edge then effortlessly lowered himself to stand next to her. “Do you know where we are?”

“I’m not an idiot. You put me in Tartarus.”

“My dungeon.”

Giving her a hard push, she went flying backward, screaming all the way down and seeing him watch her as she fell.

Expecting to feel the scorching heat of the fire, she found herself sprawled on the dirt floor of his dungeon.

She jumped to her feet, looking for a way out, as he effortlessly lowered himself to stand in front of her.

“Save yourself the trouble. There is no escape.”

Defiantly, she turned around to face him when she found no door. He had cast her in a dirt pit. There wasn’t even a place to sit, other than the dirt floor. With the fire gone, she no longer heard crackling and popping. Instead, there were moans of pain and suffering from the neighboring cells.

She held her fear at bay, knowing that was what he wanted. She was a Moirai; they didn’t fear. Others feared them.

“Let me go. So far, you haven’t done anything that you won’t have to ask forgiveness for.”

“Then I need to rectify that oversight.” With a wave of his hand, she felt her clothes disappear.

It took sheer determination and stubbornness not to cover her body with her hands, standing proudly before him.

“You looked hot. Do you feel more comfortable now?”

“You know I don’t,” she said from between clenched teeth.

He took a step nearer, brushing his knuckles against the creamy skin on her cheek. “Beautiful Zerina, I am not a cruel master. Apologize to me, and I will return you to your room.”

“I will not apologize.”

At her answer, he dropped his hand to his side as she felt heat erupted in her loins. The passion was so sudden she dropped to her knees.

“When you’re ready to apologize, call out. I will hear.”

“Can you hear me say I hate you!” She glanced away regally, unable to bear the sight of him while her body begged her to crawl toward him, beg him to assuage the lust that was making her squirm to alleviate the desire he had created as her punishment.

Hades went to his haunches as he studied her. “Do you smell that?”

Zerina knew the sweet fragrance was coming from between her thighs. Tensing, she squeezed her thighs together tighter, embarrassed when his nostrils flared and he caught another whiff of her arousal.

When he stood, she could see the huge outline of his cock behind his black trousers that was level with her mouth. She clenched her fingers to keep herself from reaching out and unbuttoning his slacks, from lowering the zipper to get to what she instinctively knew was the only thing that would relieve the ache that was escalating to a fever pitch.

“You look uncomfortable.” With a commanding wave of his hand, a majestic bed appeared, taking up most of the room. “Make yourself at home. You’ll be here until I hear your apology.”

“Then leave me in peace. You want revenge, you got it. You don’t have to stand here and gloat.”

“Your wish is my command.” Angered sparks flew from his eyes. “Every day you remain stubborn, your desire will increase tenfold. I’ll see you soon.”

She was left with his mocking smile as he disappeared from her sight.

Zerina managed to rise from her knees and stumble to the bed, sinking down on the cool covering. Dry-eyed, she thought of anything and everything to cool the fire in her body, thirstily licking her lips.

A bottle of water landed by her side. She looked up at the opening of the pit. All she could see was darkness. Had Hades dropped the bottle of water down to her, or had someone else taken pity on her?

The hours passing seemed interminable. Without her window, she had no sense of time. It was only when the ache in her groin increased did she realize she had been there for twenty-four hours.

Writhing on the bed, her body throbbed, needing release. She was soaked in sweat at the battle she was going through, not giving herself relief. Hades expected her to, and she was determined not to give him that satisfaction.

She made herself get off the bed and walk around the small area available, hoping to give her a small respite from the torture. She realized her mistake when her thighs brushed together as she walked. It was a match to the fuse that Hades had started the moment she had seen him.

When she returned to the bed, she moaned when sitting down. Tremors rolled through her core, sending pulses that she instinctively knew was her first orgasm.

She cried at the brief respite she had been given, but before she could manage to lie down, the ache was already beginning again.

Zerina lay still, curling her hands into the soft sheets, afraid to move again and bring another release.

She started counting the souls’ births she had witnessed, one by one, trying to remove herself from the turmoil that was taking place in her body. It didn’t help, but it did make the time pass.

When she turned on the mattress, she saw a small table had appeared with a candle, showing food and a pitcher of water. To reach the tempting food and water, though, would involve her having to get off the bed. She had made that mistake before. Then her stomach growled, adding insult to the humiliation she was suffering.

As a Moirai, she could go without food and water. They ate and drank to give themselves pleasure, but human bodies needed it to survive.

By the third day, she stopped counting souls, switching to cursing Morgana and Hades. She cursed the fiery depths she was suffering and cursed Hades with her mother’s and father’s wraths. Her insults filled the pit, mingling with the other moans and cries of Hades’ other prisoners.

“You’ll never know a woman’s loving touch again. My father will make sure the only women who want you are the sluts and whores that have no choice but to let you have them! Persephone is lucky you divorced her! I bet she isn’t missing your tiny dick in Zeus’ bed!”