nothing about her daughter or the powers she held within her.
Every deer and bear stood up and shook death off like they had fallen asleep. The doe who still lay beside her heaved a great sigh and rested its head in her lap. Almost as though the beast was thanking her for bringing it back to life.
Hades took the helm off his head and shimmered into view. “The powers of the dead are mine and mine alone,” he said. “How is what you just did possible?”
Kore looked up at him as though she’d known he was there the entire time. Not a single spark of surprise heated her gaze. “You were the one who said I had no limitations. I didn’t want them dead.”
And so they lived.
Goddess, indeed. He’d never seen someone who was as much his equal as this woman. Hades was thrilled. For the first time in a millennium, he wasn’t alone.
He crouched beside her and placed his hand on the deer. “How did you do it?”
“I traded for them,” she replied. The anger cleared from her eyes and was replaced with grief. She looked down at the deer in her lap and stroked its soft fur. “I shouldn’t have done it. Death is not a fitting punishment for death. All those men...”
No, no, he couldn’t have her spiraling like this when she had just performed the most magical spell he’d ever seen in his life.
Hades reached forward and caught her hands in his own again. “My dear, this is why you have friends in high places. Or, I suppose in my case, friends in low places.”
She squeezed his fingers and allowed the deer to stand. Those enormous eyes bored into his very soul. She wiggled her way underneath his skin and if she kept looking at him like that, he would do anything she asked.
“What do you mean?” Her words were filled with hope. “What do you mean friends in low places?”
“I mean, I am the Lord of the Underworld. Their souls are now under my watch, and I will ensure they are taken care of.”
“Really?” Those tears welled again.
“I will not punish them for their actions, as you’ve already done that for me.” He touched a hand to her cheek and felt something in his own soul shift back into place. “You aren’t alone, Kore. I can help you.”
It was almost as though those words were magic. She softened underneath his hand, then cupped his knuckles with her palm. “Thank you. Thank you, I’m so tired of being alone.”
They were two souls reaching out for each other, he supposed. And he could only be satisfied if he could bask in her sunshine forever.
But Demeter would search for her daughter. Or worse, Artemis would return and see what Kore had done. He couldn’t have Demeter finding out anything about her daughter’s power or Hades’ interest in her.
No one hated Hades more than Demeter. Not even Zeus himself.
“No one can know what you did today,” he said, stroking his thumb along her jaw. “Do you understand?”
“Did I do something bad?” she asked.
“No, of course not. But very few will understand why you did what you did. Let’s keep this a secret between the two of us for a little while.”
At her nod, he let an icy chill spread from his fingers through her cheek. He watched as the paleness spread throughout her body. She would likely feel nothing. Few did when the chill touch urged them to sleep.
Kore fell into his waiting arms without complaint or worry. She drifted into the dreaming realm that was so close to the Underworld. He only hoped Morpheus kept her safer than Artemis.
Hades stood with her in his arms and headed back to her home. He’d put her in bed and then he’d leave. Back to the Underworld and the darkness awaiting him.
A plan formed in his mind, however. A plan that would let them be together for more than just a few stolen moments. A plan that was crazy, but just might work.
Chapter 9
Kore stretched her arms over her head and yawned. She cracked the bones in her spine and felt a smile spread over her face. She hadn’t felt this good in... well. Ever.
Her entire body felt like it was stretched out, loosened, every muscle ready to race for whatever next spell she wanted to cast. Normally she was exhausted after working long days with her mother in the fields, but right now, she felt more powerful than when she’d