speed of ten horses. Sand blasted away from his feet and into the air in wild clumps.
Laughing, she fell onto her knees and held her arms out for him.
The great beast of the Underworld plowed into her, all three tongues lolling as he knocked her to the ground so he could frantically lick her face.
“I missed you too, buddy,” she said, giggling the entire time. “How are you back here already?”
“I picked him up.” Hermes stepped through the portal next and joined them, a wry grin on his face. “I see he’s already found his favorite person in the Underworld.”
“Please,” she muttered, shoving Cerberus off her and forcing him to sit still in the sand. “Heracles is finished then?”
“Hera released her hold on him, if that’s what you’re asking.” Hermes rolled his eyes. “Yet another son of Zeus who gets his way.”
Persephone wasn’t sure that was an accurate way to describe it. Heracles was at the whim of the gods, and he could do nothing more than try to make amends for his cruelty. It wasn’t right what Hera had done to him. It wasn’t right what they’d done to any of the heroes in the Elysian Fields.
Frowning, she glared at Hermes and stood up. “I’m glad Cerberus could help him. And when it’s his time, we’ll welcome him into the Underworld to take his place with the other heroes.”
Hermes waved a hand in the air. “Yes, yes. You can say all you want, my dear Kore.”
“It’s Persephone now, actually.”
He looked her up and down. “Interesting name choice. Who gave you that one?”
It didn’t feel right for her to say that Hades had named her. He hadn’t, really. Sure, he’d come up with the name, but she was the one who accepted that it was hers. If she hadn’t liked it, they would have thought of another name.
How dare Hermes taint that memory!
She sniffed and put her hand on Cerberus’s nearest head. “I don’t know what mischief you think you’re starting Hermes, but you’ve delivered my dog. You can go now.”
“Why would I go when things were just getting interesting?” Hermes had an air about him that made him untrustworthy.
Persephone couldn’t put her finger on it. Maybe it was the way he carried himself. His shifty eyes that always looked in different directions, the fingers twitching at his side, the sly tone of his voice that was clearly looking for gossip.
Whatever it was, she trusted her gut. Hermes needed to leave the Underworld. Now.
“I don’t know why they’d be interesting to you, of all people.” She narrowed her eyes and gave him a cool smile. “Hermes, I’m sure you know I don’t have to ask you to leave the Underworld. I could make you.”
“How would you do that, little queen?” His own narrowed eyes suggested he would love to fight with her.
Let him try.
She tightened her fingers on the back of Cerberus’s neck and he let out a long growl.
Hermes focused on the beast who favored Persephone above most. He held up his hands. “Fine then, I’ll go. No need to set the dogs on me, I know when I’m not wanted.”
She highly doubted that considering he’d argued with her about leaving. Persephone’s gut twisted. His eyes still held a glint of mischief, as though he had something up his sleeve she didn’t know about. Another secret. Another ploy to make her angry or upset.
Persephone squeezed Cerberus again and said a sharp, “Come on, boy.” She turned away from the messenger of the gods and tried not to look back.
At least, not until he called out after her with a laugh, “Have you met Minthe yet?”
She told herself to keep going. There was no reason for her to entertain whatever story he was about to tell her. Hecate had set her nerves to rest. There was nothing between Hades and Minthe anymore, otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to Persephone’s bed.
Right?
Cerberus whined even as she turned around, as though the beast of Underworld was warning her not to entertain Hermes’ drama. And she should have listened to him. She was screaming in her own head not to look at him. Not to ask what he meant.
“I’ve met Minthe,” she replied. “She’s a nymph. I’m a goddess and the Queen of the Underworld. I know what you’re implying, but I won’t fall for your venomous words.”
Hermes shrugged. “I just wanted to know if you’d met her, that’s all. Whatever connection you made was in your own head, your highness.”