his chest. I ignored the electrifying feel of his skin on my hands and put on my fiercest face.
'I am not taking anymore of this 'I can't' bullshit. I don't know if you noticed, but I killed a demon today. I have stopped asking you about my past, as you requested, and am doing everything I can to embrace my future. With you. As Queen of the god-damned Underworld. Do not fucking tell me that I do not need to know or you can't tell me, or I swear I'll lose that damned Trial tomorrow on purpose.'
I was expecting anger or rebuttal from him, but relief washed over his face, the tense anger softening and making him irresistibly beautiful. Before I could stop myself I stood up on tiptoes and kissed him. He kissed me back, softly, and too briefly.
'You are right, and we should talk. Now. If we keep kissing, then there will be very little talking.' Desire flashed through his eyes and I stepped backwards, nodding. He was right. If his lips were on mine a second longer I would be tearing off his toga with my teeth.
We sat down together in his living room, and he took a long breath. I didn't know if I was supposed to, but I felt nervous. I mean, what could he tell me that was worse than Cronos wanting to use me to destroy Olympus? Was he going to tell me what I did before, to get sent away? A weird mix of desperation to know and fear that once I found out I wouldn't want to, skittered through me and I wrung my hands together.
'If you win the Trial tomorrow, you will become my Queen. And when you ruled beside me before, I shared everything with you. It would be folly not to share what I know with you now.'
'I'm glad you're seeing sense,' I said tersely. He gave me a look that said 'don't push it,' and continued.
'You have seen the darkness in me,' he said. It wasn't a question. 'That darkness comes from the souls who pass through here who have sinned. I began to lose my faith in life, and the darkness took root. Each year, the number of terrible things I pass judgment on increases. The number of sinners increases. The crimes worsen. The greed and hatred of mortals appears boundless and infinite.' The look on his face caused a lump to swell in my throat. The strain he carried... Infinite. His endless future was to be exposed to the very worst of people. 'I am worried, Persephone, and I can not tell my Olympian brethren the true consequences of my concerns. The world they rule celebrates greed, exemplifies selfishness, encourages hatred. Eventually the darkness will win and the Underworld will claim me.'
My heart was hammering in my chest as I listened to him. What was he telling me?
'If Zeus knew how strong the beast inside me was, he would find a new ruler of the Underworld, rather than risking me lose control. And he is beginning to suspect. But even if he does that, I will not be able to leave. Too much of myself is in the very rock around us, and too much of the essence of Virgo lives within me. My bond to this place is final and unbreakable.'
'What would you become then?'
'The thing you saw when you came back from New York. Forever. And I would be far too powerful to be free. Zeus would have to imprison me in Tartarus.'
'No,' I said, aghast. 'No, you couldn't live there!'
'It wouldn't be me anymore.'
'We can't let this happen. We'll make them understand, make them change how they rule Olympus!'
'Persephone, I have been asking them for centuries. It is too late. You can't just make the world nicer.'
'Then my magic will save you!' Tears were spilling down my cheeks now, memories of the mindless violence I had felt from him when the monster had taken over twisting through me.
'Yes. Your ability to nurture life, to share your light... It heals me. Only you can keep my soul safe.'
'Hades, even if I lose and you have to marry that witch, I will do anything to keep you safe,' I whispered.
'But Zeus was right about you living here. Eventually the darkness will put out your light. You are made to thrive in nature, not under the ground, encased in rock.' Pain filled his voice.
I stared at him.
'So... If I stay here and keep you alive,