Captured (Shadow Guild Hades & Persephone #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,39

before her.

Her lips parted as she looked me up and down, her tongue escaping to lick her bottom lip. She reached for me, her hand trembling. “Come here.”

Gratification surged through me, and I climbed onto the bed. She pulled me down on top of her, the heat of her skin burning me.

“I need you inside me,” she gasped, moving until we were aligned. “Don’t worry, I’m clean and on birth control.”

The idea of her with my babe made something deep inside me clutch with desire.

My body found hers and I sank deep, the pleasure nearly tearing me apart. She wrapped her legs around my waist, and I gripped her hips with one hand, holding her still as I found a rhythm that made her cry out.

She leaned up and kissed me, her lips so soft and sweet. I lost every thought in my head as I became nothing but feeling.

Pleasure coiled tight at my spine, threatening to overwhelm me.

Not yet.

I wanted her to join me.

I slipped a hand between us, finding the center of her pleasure. Within moments, she was shuddering around me, gripping my shoulders as she cried out against my ear. The feel of her made light explode behind my eyes, and I followed her over, falling into a well of pleasure.

When it faded, I looked down at her, my mind slowly clearing.

“Thank you,” I said.

She gave a shuddery sigh. “No, thank you.”

I pulled her against my side, and she cuddled close, her warmth wrapped around me. “I can’t lose you, Seraphia.”

She yawned and said nothing, but her silence spoke volumes. She wanted something different than I, and I had no idea how to make both our desires a reality.

14

Seraphia

When I woke, Hades had already left the bed. I wondered briefly if I’d imagined our night together. No, there was no way I could have invented that in my head.

I rose and dressed quickly, finding him in the main room already attired in his armor and cloak. How long had he been awake? Had he slept at all?

“Is it time to go?” I asked.

“Nearly.” He turned from the window and looked at me, his gaze a thousand meters deep. “Are you all right?”

“All right?” I raised my eyebrows. “I’m great. What about you? Are you okay?”

“Of course.” He strode to me and gripped me around the waist, pulling me in for a kiss. His lips seared mine before he stepped back and looked at me with dark eyes. “Thank you. Again.”

I blinked up at him. “Yeah.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile, and I wished I’d said something more eloquent. He didn’t seem to mind, though. He pulled back and said. “Are you ready to go meet the Astra Planeta?” He nodded toward the table that was laid out with breakfast. “There’s food there if you’re hungry before we leave.”

“I can eat on the run.”

He nodded. “Then we’ll go.”

I stopped by the table and made myself a little sandwich, then followed him from the room, eating as I walked. Echo was nowhere to be seen, but it was probably for the best.

“How do we get there?” I asked.

“There is a way to reach their realm in the basement of my castle.”

“Wait, what?” I frowned at him. “Isn’t that where the pit is?”

“Yes. But also the stars.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.” He reached the door that led to the base of the castle and pulled it open.

Together, we descended the spiral stairs into the cold depths of his fortress. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt the lack of Chronos’ presence. “He’s really gone, isn’t he?”

Hades nodded. “Ever since we released him.”

“Well, that’s good.” I winced. “Not good that he’s free, I mean. I’m glad he’s not here anymore.”

“So am I.”

I frowned at him. Had his voice sounded weird? “Really?”

He turned to me. “It is good he’s not here. I don’t want him here. But the fact that I never knew it was him…”

I nodded. “That wears on you, doesn’t it?”

“It does. Everything I thought I understood…I didn’t.”

“Maybe that means things are better than you imagined.”

He reached for my hand. “If you are at my side, then they are far better than I imagined.”

Warmth filled my chest. Yes. This was what I wanted. Him. Us. But… “I can only be at your side if you relinquish your pursuit of the crown.”

His gaze shadowed, and he turned. “I’ll do what is necessary.”

I frowned, not liking the sound of that. We were so close to being on