“You are terrible with your gift because you have never trained.” Disgust echoed in his voice at the mere idea. “There is a difference.”
“I never trained because my grandmother warned me that my magic would draw you to me.”
“And is that the worst thing, then?”
“I’m trapped here in hell, aren’t I? With you. So yes. It is the worst thing.”
“You used your magic, though, didn’t you? Back in Guild City.”
I had. To help my friends—the rest of the Shadow Guild. I was paying the price now.
A faint knock sounded at the door, and he looked toward it, seeming almost reluctant to draw his gaze from me. “Enter.”
A maid pushed open the door and walked in, carrying a heavy tray. Silence filled the room as she approached the table and set a plate in front of me, along with a glass of wine. She put nothing in front of Hades, then turned and left. He never so much as looked at her.
I stared between my plate and the empty spot in front of Hades. “You aren’t eating?”
“No.”
“Do you eat?”
“Yes.”
“But not in front of me.” It was just too odd. Like he wouldn’t lower his guard even that much. Wouldn’t show anything human.
So much for getting him drunk.
“Eat, or you will grow weak.”
“Hell no.”
Something flashed in his gaze. “You fear being trapped here.”
“Of course I do.” I looked at the plate. “That’s what this dinner is about? Ensuring that I eat so I can never leave?”
“You need to eat.”
“Oh, don’t think you can avoid the question. That was an answer in itself.”
“Don’t eat, then.” He leaned back in the chair. “You’ll eventually starve, but if I’m quick, I can use you and be done with you before that happens.”
“Ugh.” I sat back. “You are a monster.”
“Remember that.”
This was going nowhere. Fighting would get me nowhere.
Even if I was willing to waste away here—which I wasn’t—I owed it to Mac to return with a cure.
I crossed my arms and leaned back. “You need my help.”
“I need you. Not your help.”
“Semantics.” I shrugged. “You’ve stalked me for years, hunting me. Which means you need me for something. You’re desperate for me.”
At the words, something flickered in his eyes. It was gone so soon I could have imagined it.
I seemed to always be imagining things with him.
I leaned forward. “Whatever your end goal is, I guarantee it’s going to be easier if I’m willing.”
“Unless it’s your death I require.”
Okay, that would be bad. “Unless? You don’t know if you need me dead? That seems like kind of a big deal.”
“The stars slowly reveal the path I must take. In two nights’ time, at the Temple of Shadows, the next phase will be revealed. Perhaps they will reveal that it is your death I require.”
He spoke of my death like a transaction. It sent a chill down my spine. “Do I need to go to this Temple of Shadows?”
“You do.” He tilted his head, studying me. “Are you attempting to bargain for something?”
He was so quick to read my motives. “Yeah. And it’d be easier for you if I go willingly.”
“I can make you.”
I remembered the way he’d forced me to follow him when we’d first arrived. The way he’d forced me to leave this room earlier today. Anger bubbled up inside me, fueled by helplessness. “No, you can’t.”
His brows rose. “Really?”
“Really.” I surged to my feet and stepped back slowly, rage hot in my blood. It was probably stupid of me. I probably couldn’t resist him. But damn it, I was going to try.
I might not have control of my magic, but I wasn’t going to let him control me.
“Stop me.” I stepped back again. “Just try.”
Battle lit his eyes, the first emotion I’d seen there, and he rose slowly to his feet. His magic surged, the scent of firelight filling the air. I braced myself, feeling it reach out to me.
When it gripped my legs, I fought back, calling upon every ounce of magic inside me. Instinct propelled me, rage at my circumstance and fear for Mac fueling the fire.
“You can’t fight me.” His voice was a soft, low rumble that lit my soul. “You can’t fight yourself.”
My gaze flashed up to his. “Myself?”
“There is darkness within you. I can feel it.” The intensity of his gaze burned into me. “You can feel it.”
“Don’t tell me what I feel.” Anger surged through me, followed swiftly by terror.
He couldn’t be right about me. I wouldn't let him.
The anger gave me the strength I needed to break his hold. I forced away the shackles of his magic, tearing my feet off the ground and stepping backward to the door.
“You can’t make me go with you to the Temple of Shadows.” I stretched my arms out, and surprise flickered in his eyes, gone in an instant. “See? Your power has no hold on me.”
“My strength does.” He was in front of me in a flash, looming over me. His brilliant blue eyes burned into mine.
Suddenly, he was all tightly leashed passion, no longer the ice god but one with a molten core. Yet tightly bound. Hidden.
“What are you going to do?” I demanded, fear chilling me to the bone.
He gripped my biceps, almost hard enough to hurt. The air sparked between us as he pulled me toward him, so close that my chest nearly brushed his. We touched only where he held my arms, but the contact with him burned through me.
My head spun.
Worse, his magic moved around me like a caress.
No.
It was impossible for his magic to feel like this.
He was the king of hell, for fates’ sake. His other signatures were terrible, horrible things. The scent of fire and the sound of crashing waves.
But this . . .
It pulled at me, a wire strung tight between us.
Connecting us.
His gaze, dark with desire, dropped to my lips. My heart raced. No, he couldn’t possibly feel desire.
He was too cold.
But he wasn’t. Not now. I swallowed hard, refusing to look away.
“What are you?” he murmured.
I didn’t even know that myself.
He said I was the goddess Persephone.
I knew I didn’t have such strong magic.
But maybe what he meant was, what are you to me?
Because there was a lot more than cold rage in his eyes. A lot more coming alive, maybe for the first time ever.
As soon as I thought it, he seemed to snap out of it. The barrier fell over his eyes, and he shoved me away from him. Still, he didn’t let go of my arms.
“I can make you go with me.” Hades’ voice was cold. Such a contrast to the burn of his eyes. “The city is rife with blacksmiths who will make you the perfect set of chains.”
“Sure it is. But that won’t do it because you’re going to need my help. My willing help.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know it’s not going to be as easy as tossing me in a volcano or something. You sought me specifically. Hunted me for years. There’s something I have that you need. We don’t know exactly what it is yet, but you’re only getting it if you agree to my terms.”