Hades should have known the dog would be too frightening for someone who had never been to the Underworld before. He found he didn’t care that Kore was frightened of the creature, though. He was more embarrassed that he’d put Cerberus through another situation where someone didn’t see the kindness in his gaze.
Hades sighed and walked around her shield. “Even the animals here aren’t like above, goddess.” He gestured toward Cerberus. “You’ll have to get used to it.”
She eyed his dog like it was going to attack her. “Are they all like this?”
Cerberus wasn’t the greatest example of those who were sent to live in the Underworld. He couldn’t help that his parents were just as monstrous as he was. All that mattered was that the dog was well behaved, well trained, and he was probably the best person who guarded the Underworld. And that included the other gods who lived here.
Hades scrubbed his hands over his face and tried to remind himself that he knew this would happen. No one ever came into the Underworld and thought, “Wow, I’d love to live here for the rest of my life. Where’s my new house?”
People feared the creatures here. They feared the monsters that lurked in the shadows, and they certainly didn’t fall in love with them.
If he gave her more time, she would enjoy this place just as much as he did. He hoped.
Hades turned around and pointed to the massive castle that rose out of the mist. “Welcome home, goddess.”
She stared up at the monolithic palace, the one he’d modeled after Olympus itself. He wished he could see it through her eyes for the first time. The circular walls that had inspired the Colosseum. The six levels rose into the darkness of the sky and were cast in stunning blue light. The walkways that were protected from the rain showers and mist by black columns carved to look like mortals holding up the ceilings. It was his haven. His home. The most beautiful place he’d ever seen or had built.
And suddenly, he was terrified to turn around and see her expression. What if she wasn’t impressed? What if she thought this place was horrible and regretted coming here?
Hades didn’t have a choice. He had to turn around. He had to see her reaction because this place was also going to be her home.
Cerberus let out a little whine and sat down on his foot. He glanced over his shoulder, knowing that even if she was afraid, that didn’t take away from his own thoughts of this place.
Thankfully, she didn’t wear an expression of disgust.
Though there was still a level of fear in her features, she looked up at the castle with awe. “This is where you live?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.
“Yes.” The word was reverent on his tongue. “This is my home.”
Had anyone else ever looked at the castle of the Underworld with such a gaze? There was heat in her eyes, more than just the curiosity of a person who was seeing something impossible, but a gaze that meant she might actually fall in love with this building. Perhaps this place.
He couldn’t hope that she would fall in love with him. Love was for mortal men and women. The gods had to be satisfied with being content with each other.
At least, that was what he had always thought. Now, he stared at her standing barefoot in the black sand and wondered if he might be wrong.
Blue light created a halo around her body, accentuating the strength of her arms and the sturdy set of her shoulders. The white fabric of her robe shifted in the subtle wind. The long curls of her chestnut hair that touched her waist caught his attention, and he had to fist his hands at his side so he didn’t wrap a fistful around his wrist.
Then his gaze caught on her berry red lips. He knew it wasn’t just the color that called to him, but the raspberry flavor of her tongue.
She was a glimmering light in the darkness of this realm. A glowing beacon, even though he knew he had to remain here. In the darkness.
Perhaps her light could guide him.
Hades held out his hand for her to take again. He offered her peace after all the anger she felt and the rage that had left poisonous footsteps on his land. “Come with me,” he murmured. “Let me show you to your room.”