“Look,” he said when we entered. “It doesn’t come back.”
His gaze shifted from the hair to me, and his excitement slowly faded.
“Your punishment has ended by her will.”
The man bowed his head.
“By your mercy, Goddess, your beauty and benevolence will not be forgotten.” Bitterness dripped from every word, and I was very glad I held Hades’ hand just then. It was obvious the guy hated Persephone. How many of these freed creatures would now aim that hate at me?
“I am not Persephone. I look like her, but I’m human and under Hades’ protection.” I didn’t know if it would keep me safe or make me more of a target, but I couldn’t let them all keep thinking I was Persephone.
The man’s gaze shifted to Hades, and he frowned, obviously confused.
“She would like to be called Ashlyn. Treat her with more reverence than you would treat me,” Hades said.
The man bowed his head.
A second later, Hades released my hand and opened his arms. With one more glance at me, the man hurried to embrace the King of Hell.
“Goreus. Eldest son. I have missed you greatly,” Hades said softly.
The man closed his eyes and hugged Hades tightly.
“As I have missed you, Father. Am I truly free?”
“You are. Do not repeat past mistakes.”
“Never.”
Uncomfortable with the moment, I looked around the room. Shackles like I’d seen so many others wear dangled open from the hook on the wall. A heap of hair already lay on the table. The man’s beard was half cut, and hunks of hair were cut close to his head.
The pair pulled apart, and Goreus held out the shears to Hades.
“Will you help me, Father?”
Hades took the shears and continued clipping away chunks of hair, revealing the handsome man beneath.
“Go,” Hades said, finishing. “Soak in the baths, and have Jacinta trim the rest. You will feel like a new man.”
Goreus nodded, looked at me, then left the room.
“He hates Persephone,” I said.
“Do not doubt him.” The words were filled with angry denial. “He will not wrong you again.”
“He never wronged me in the first place. But when he looks at me, he sees her, just like you do. How long has he been unfairly punished? How much resentment do you think he rightfully has because of that?”
Hades scowled at me, and the ground vibrated under my feet. I surprised us both by rushing at him and throwing my arms around his waist.
“No. Don’t make things shake. Please.” My hands smoothed down his back. “It’s okay. We’re okay. It’s nothing.”
His arms slowly closed around me, and it took a moment to realize the floor wasn’t shaking. It had stopped the second I ran at him.
“I didn’t say that to make you mad,” I said against his chest. “I’m just scared.”
“No one will harm you. I gave you, Ashlyn, my word.”
And he had. The contract that we’d made would keep me safe. A shaky exhale escaped me, and I tipped my head back.
