Grimm withdrew from the shadows above, walking through the underground chambers that led toward the palace above.

He nodded toward Tartarus, who opened the door to Hades’ office. The god was sitting behind his desk with serious eyes, watching six television screens that were suspended in mid-air.

Grimm sat down on the edge of his desk, studying the screens in front of them. “Why do you watch these?”

“So I can watch the human’s reactions.” Hades pointed to one lanky young man sitting without remorse as a victim’s relative cried about how her death had changed their lives. “If the families are forgiving, sometimes it will ease my punishments. Usually it doesn’t, but it makes more fun when they don’t.”

Grimm picked up a glass ball, seeing the transparent glass swirl with a mist that parted to reveal a man trapped inside. His face was a mask of horror when he saw him staring down at him. Grimm couldn’t hear his yells of help, but he could read his lips as he begged to be released. “Are you having fun watching Zerina?”

Hades took the ball away from him. “No.”

“You don’t think you’re making a mistake by punishing her?”

“I am king in my domain; I don’t make mistakes.”

Hades aloofly regarded his servant, who he also considered a friend. His presumptuous attitude could be excused because of Grimm’s responsibility for Zerina being brought to his domain.

“I brought her so you could help her.”

“Don’t lie,” Hades said. “You brought her here because you were pissed off, because Cara and Jericho angered you.”

“I was,” Grimm admitted. “But I thought you would return her home, not keep her.”

“Then you underestimated me. I’m not ready to let her go.”

“You have many beautiful women down here at your disposal. Persephone would come back if you will her to.”

“I do not want her back. I warned her when she left to visit her mother again that, if she fucked Zeus again, I was done. Like you said, I can have any whore down here as my concubine; why should I cater to her whims and desires when she prefers to share Zeus’ bed?”

“Because he can give her what you cannot.”

“Children.”

Having a confidant had its disadvantages. One was having them pry into matters that didn’t concern them.

“A heart.” Grimm shook his head pointing at one of the screens that showed a man crying about his wife’s tragic death. “You watch these, not to decide on punishments, but to watch the emotions you no longer have.”

Hades’ face grew impassive. “Don’t believe that our friendship allows you to disrespect me. If you’re here to make me feel guilty about Zerina’s punishment, you can leave.”

Grimm bowed his head respectfully, getting off the desk to bow to the god. “I did not mean to offend you. My apologies. Her screams are getting to me.”

“Do you think I cannot hear them?” Hades’ jaw clenched. “I hear every sound my prisoners make … even in my sleep. Hers have kept me awake, but I won’t relent until she apologizes. She’s too stubborn to find the relief that she could give herself. She’s been cursing me for the last four hours.

“Zerina’s family and Mother have spoiled her. She would already have been home if she had given me the respect I deserved. She threw my hospitality in my face. What do you think Zeus would have done if she had struck him? Even Poseidon would have fed her to his pet sharks.”

“She’s a little higher strung than I anticipated,” Grimm agreed.

“You think? What was the first clue? When you tried to explain that you were trying to help her? Or when she bit me?”

“I should have explained before I took her life. She was frightened.”

“Do not excuse her!” Hades crashed his hand down on his desk, making the glass balls roll. He waved his hand, settling them back into place. “Fate should have taught her the protocol for meeting a god. She will apologize to me, or she can stay in the pit,” he snarled unrepentantly.

Wisely, Grimm decided to leave. “I’ll go check if Morgana is ready to confess who helped her.”

“I’ll handle Morgana. I want you to make sure Cerberus doesn’t let anyone get by him. I don’t trust Jinx or Zerina’s aunt Destiny. Both are rebellious enough to try to sneak inside if they can find the entrance.”

“They are both near. Would you like me to distract them?”

“No, if Jinx manages to get inside, no one will be upset when she becomes my prisoner, and she’ll keep Zerina company.”

“How about Destiny?”

“Rocque has claimed her. Everyone knows, but Destiny and Fate refuse to acknowledge it. I don’t want to start a war with the lord, but I have faith Rocque will prevent her from interfering between me and Zerina.”

Hades stared at the television screens as his friend made his leave. When the door shut, he lowered his head into his hands. The ceaseless screams in his mind forced him to suffer along with his prisoners. Usually, he could turn down the volume of their screams like a human could turn down the volume on their television sets, though he could never entirely mute them, nor did he want to. As warden of the souls that inhabited his prison, he could even identify who was crying out. None gave him satisfaction.

They had reaped what they had sowed. It was pure and simple justice. His justice. Sometimes he would let the judges he had appointed take care of the mundane punishments. The more grave the offense, he dealt with them.

He swung his chair to stare out the window, seeing the fake bright sunlight slip into darkness, hearing Zerina’s screams escalate. He wanted to transport himself to her side and spank her ass for suffering needlessly.

Remaining in his chair, he picked up one of the balls and shook it. The man inside was so tiny that the moustache on his lip was barely visible.

Hades shook the ball again. Adolf was one of his prisoners he didn’t mind tormenting.

He was about to toss it in the air again when her heard Zerina’s apology.

“Hades, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

The apology wasn’t heartfelt. Taking what he could get, though, he transported himself to her bedroom, appearing at the same time she did.

She stood in front of him, fully clothed, running a hand over the gossamer thin gown the Moirai preferred, giving tantalizing glimpses of her breasts and the V between her thighs.

“You have something to say to me?” He expected her to recant her apology, watching as she struggled to compose her expression. It failed. He could easily see the hatred shining from her eyes.

“I’m sorry that I struck out at you.” Her regal pride had taken a hit, but the proud beauty had finally managed to sound sincere.

“Are you hungry?” he asked solicitously, waving a hand to a small table that appeared by her side.

“Thank you.”

Sitting down at the table with the small feast laid before her, Zerina filled a goblet with the chilled wine, drinking it in one gulp, then pouring herself another.

“Allow me.” Hades gave her a small serving from each of the dishes, then sat down across from her, taking one of the rolls. Buttering it, he glanced at her to see her staring at him with flushed cheeks.

“What?”

“Did you watch me?”

“No,” he answered her truthfully, taking a bite of his roll. “I’m afraid it would have been too tempting for me.”

Zerina’s blush deepened. “I would have thought that temptation would be one of your vices.”

Hades raised an inquiring brow. Was she flirting with him?

“I’m afraid that, while I enjoy tempting others, I do not like the same methods used on me,” he warned. “Despite your belief, I have never taken one of my female prisoners against their will, nor one incapable of making the decision of sharing my bed.”

“If you tell me you have never had sex with any of the women down here, I wouldn’t believe it.”

“I didn’t say that. I am a god, and the gods are notorious for their voracious appetites. Even your father grew bored with Fate and took a mistress, and he was a saint. I’m no saint.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“I appreciate beautiful women. I’m not embarrassed to admit it. Do some of the women who beg for my favor have ulterior motives? Possibly. But I don’t hold it against them. I can be very magnanimous when I get what I want.”

He read her thoughts with a wry twist of his lips.

“Call me bastard as much as you want, but I prefer opportunist.” Before he could be angered by further thoughts, Hades finished his bread as she ate, pouring himself a glass of the wine. He didn’t seek punishments for thoughts unspoken out loud. Those that were stupidly spoken were what he retaliated against.

“When you’re done, would you like me to show you my home? That way you won’t have to be trapped in your room. I can show you the areas to which you will be given access.”

“Will Grimm guard me?” She continued eating unenthusiastically.

Hades almost grinned. Her inability to hide her emotions was refreshing.

“No, you will be given your freedom as long as you stay in the designated areas. Grimm or myself will only appear if you try to breach those boundaries.”

She dropped her fork onto her plate. “Then I’m done. Can we go now?”

“Zerina, do not make me regret giving you the freedom of the castle. I can make what you suffered in the pit feel like a pat on your hand.”

“That experience wasn’t a pat on the hand. It was a—”

“I would be careful about what you’re about to say. I will never punish you for your thoughts, but I won’t be berated for what you deserved. You and your family have no respect for authority. Mother may think it’s cute how you all behave. I do not.”

Hades arose, holding the door open for her and allowing her to go first. He saw her hands curl into fists, knowing she wanted to strike out at him again.

“You would do well to remember your lesson and hope it won’t be repeated. Let’s put this behind us, say it was a learning experience, and start over.”

With amusement, he read her furious thoughts, seeing his advice had been in vain.

Hades lead her down the long hallway, explaining as they walked, “These rooms on this floor are private. Don’t worry; each of the doors are locked, so you won’t be able to enter another room by mistake.” The doors were not locked by a key, but by him not allowing entry to anyone other than the occupant of the room, himself, Grimm, or his servants.

Hades stopped at the stairway that led downstairs, motioning to the hallway that continued to the left.

“Those are my private rooms. Feel free to enter any time you want company.”

“It’s not that cold down here,” she snapped, going down the stairs next to him.

Hades laughed. “So, it has to be a cold day in hell for you to seek me out?”

“Yes.”

Hades paused when they reached the bottom of the stairs. “Do you know how many women have said that to me?”

“I don’t want to know. And I’m not most women.”

“How so? You’re flesh and blood now. I have Morgana to thank for that.” He provocatively touched a fingertip to the swell of her breast. “What was special about you is gone. Don’t delude yourself; you’re no less or more than any other prisoner within my domain. When you get to know me better, maybe my company won’t be so repugnant to you.”

“You’re not repugnant.”

“Ah, now I know you’re trying to play me.” Hades bent his head so his lips hovered over hers. Her mouth tempted him as no other woman’s had. He would have to watch her carefully to make sure she didn’t slip under his guard. “Play away, sweet Zerina. I enjoy a good game of cat and mouse.”