“This isn’t right,” he mumbled to himself. “This can’t be real.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
His gaze shifted to me, and I could see his jaw tense.
“You paid your price, and I will meet your requirements.” He lifted his hand, and his fingers twitched again. A few seconds later, the vague impression of a scroll appeared on the table beside him. It was like that soul I’d watched Megan shove through the door. Transparent and not really there.
A blue light flared into existence at the end of his fingers and names started appearing on the scroll faster than I could read them. Tiny writing in small, neat columns.
I glanced at the racks of scrolls and could only stare as I realized just how many names were in this place. I would have never found my uncle by randomly checking rooms.
The scroll beside Hades moved, rolling up as the paper filled with names. As it rolled, it became more substantial. I didn’t feel like it took long for him to reach the end. Yet he had to have recorded a few thousand names. While I was impressed with the work, he gave a frustrated growl and gripped the arm rests like he wanted to strangle something.
“Is something wrong?” I asked carefully.
His gaze whipped to me.
“The records are off. There are billions of unrecorded souls in Hell. What did you do?”
The menace in his voice made me feel sick. It took two tries to speak as he waited for a response.
“I’m not her,” I managed.
He fisted his hands, and the stone under my feet started to tremble. The wooden scroll spindles rattled in their cradles.
“Does this mean you can’t find my uncle?” I asked, desperately wondering how else I could prove I was telling the truth if that was the case.
All the shaking stopped, and Hades glared at me.
“A test? Of course.” He chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. “Do you think postponing our union will delay the outcome? I will have you, Goddess. What is another day or seven?”
He stood and stalked me until I backed myself against the wall. Caging me in with his arms, he leaned close.
“I will sink into your glorious body and take what little pleasure you allow me,” he whispered against my ear, sending a shiver through me before he pushed away from me abruptly. “Then I will gratefully free myself of your torment for eight months.”
He held out his hand to me, a challenging light in his eyes. It wasn’t easy taking his hand after that, but I managed. That glowing red light flickered in his eyes before they settled to their typically warm brown. His fingers tightened fractionally around mine, and he reeled me in, closer and closer until we stood toe to toe.
“Test me from now till the end of time. I will be worthy of you. I will always be worthy of you.”
“But will I be worthy of you?” I asked.
His expression softened, and he caressed my cheek with his free hand.
“Always.”
Poor tormented Hades. For all that he raged and yelled and terrified me, I still felt immense pity for him. He obviously loved Persephone very much, and facing her death would likely shatter what was left of his fragmented mind. The only question was if I would survive the fallout after my uncle confirmed who I really was.
“Come, Goddess. This is not the place for you.”
With a gentle hold on my hand, Hades led me from the Hall of Records, continuing in the opposite direction than the way we’d arrived. The end of the hall opened into another vast area. Only a few torches lit the space, hiding its distant walls if they even existed. Shadowed stalactites hung from the ceiling, and it smelled musty and echoed with the distant drip of water.
I tightened my hold on him and moved closer.
Our barefooted steps rasped against the stone as we progressed toward the darkness.
“Can we take a torch?” I asked before we reached the end of the light.
Hades glanced down at me.
