Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
That name sounded so familiar, and it was then I realized where I’d heard it. Judge Wilcox.
The man who’d signed my care over to Hades even though I was a legal adult. I knew there was more to that story.
And here I was, staring at his son. What were the odds?
“Yeah, my dad is Judge Wilcox.” I saw the way Trevor’s throat worked as he swallowed. “And you’re Hades Cronus.” He didn’t state it like a question.
I looked over my shoulder and up at Hades. He had his focus trained on Trevor, his expression giving nothing away.
He slowly glanced down and looked at me, and the small curl of his lips, that arrogance on his face, had certain parts of my body clenching.
“I was just telling Persephone I’d be happy to show her around school.”
“Is that right?” Hades murmured while still looking at me.
“Yes. Of course.”
Hades turned his attention toward Trevor then. “Yes, what?”
For a second, everyone was silent, and I could see the confusion move across Trevor’s face until whatever realization he came to slammed into his mind.
“Yes… Sir?”
Hades made a noncommittal sound and just stared at Trevor. It was such a long, tense glare I shifted on my feet, feeling even more uncomfortable.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Hades finally murmured. “It’s time to go home.”
I don’t know why, but I blushed at hearing Hades call me that nickname in front of people and state we had to go home.
He curled his hand around my waist and turned me so we could walk in the car’s direction. The touch shouldn’t have felt as intimate as it did.
“Oh,” Hades said in a conversational tone as we stopped and looked back at Trevor. “Keep your fucking hands to yourself next time.” Trevor’s eyes widened. “If I see you touch Persephone again, I’ll break your fingers.”
He didn’t wait for a response, just ushered me forward and into the waiting car.
And I sat wondering, once again, what in the hell just happened and why did it make me feel so good?
Chapter 9
Persephone
I found myself wide awake at two in the morning. I tossed and turned for half an hour before finally realizing I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep.
I got out of bed and slipped on an oversized sweatshirt over my sleep shorts and tank, and put on a thick pair of socks before leaving the room.
Everything was dark and quiet, with the sound of a clock ticking in the distance breaking up the stillness. I enjoyed this. With no one around. Not having to pass any of the staff, who always averted their gazes when they saw me. I was uncomfortable enough here without that added stress.
I headed down one hallway first, the house so big that a deeper chill settled in the old bones of the structure.
I wrapped my hands around my waist and became nosy, peeking in open doorways. But everything was too dark for me to see much more than a couple of feet within the rooms.
There was one room I passed, one that looked like a sitting area with a couple of couches, a few bookcases, and a massive vase with fresh flowers sitting atop a table in the center of the room.
And then I passed the actual library.
With built-in shelves, three of the walls were filled with nothing but books. There was a deep-colored leather couch in the center of the room and a small table with a reading lamp beside that. An open book flipped over sat beside that.
Maybe Hades sat here and schemed on how to destroy people’s lives and torment them for sport?
I shook my head because I was demonizing a man I truly didn’t know. I could only go off from the hatred my father had for him and the rumors I’d heard. Surely he’d been awful for everyone to dislike him. Right?
I enjoyed the solace and calm of the house at this time of night. I felt like I was the only person here.
But as I descended the stairs and started exploring the lower level, walking down hallways I’d never been before, turning corners I didn’t even know were there, I heard a deep thump thump thump the farther I ventured.
I stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway, hearing muted, heavy music coming through.
I probably shouldn’t have reached out and turned the knob and pulled the door open, but I stood at the top of a flight of stairs that descended into the basement.
Before I was even down the stairs, I saw another closed door. By now, the music was growing louder as I moved down the steps and stood at the bottom landing. Curiosity was an accelerant as I opened the second door.
I involuntarily took a step back at the sight before me. Music blasted out of the large gymnasium, and the scent of sweat and something deeper, dark and spicy, filled my nose.