Hades turned his attention to Kal and stalked toward him. The mortal began defending himself, still frozen beneath the white light. His hands dug into the arms of the chair, his body rigid as the snakes hissed and slithered over his body.
“I-I was following your rules! She summoned me!”
“My rules? Are you insinuating I would approve of a contract between you and my lover?”
“That would be making an exception,” Kal replied. “There are no exceptions in Iniquity.”
“Let me be clear,” Hades said, and black spikes sprouted from his fingertips. He grasped Kal’s face. The man cried out as blood bubbled beneath the spears digging into his skin. “Anyone who belongs to me is an exception to the rules of this club.”
Hades lifted Kal out of the chair and tossed him to the ground. He landed with a loud thud, and the snakes went with him. They lashed out, their fangs sinking deep into his skin. Kal screamed and Persephone watched, unflinching, as the man who had threatened her was tortured by her lover.
“You bastard!” he groaned, lying in a fetal position, his hands shook as he attempted to cover his wounds.
“C
areful, mortal,” Hades moved like smoke and came to stand beside Kal.
“I followed the rules,” the man groaned. “I followed your rules.”
Persephone looked at Hades’ face—it was shadowed, his cheekbones, eyes, and forehead alight.
“I know the rules well, mortal. You don’t fuck with me or my lover, understand?”
Kal rolled onto his hands and knees. He struggled to lift his head, but when he did, he met Persephone’s gaze.
“Help me,” he shouted.
“Do not speak to her, mortal.”
Hades placed his boot against the man’s side and pushed him to the ground. He landed on one of the snakes, who retaliated by biting into his flesh again. Kal screamed.
Persephone didn’t even flinch.
What was wrong with her? She should stop this. Except that a part of her believed Kal actually deserved it.
Hades turned to Persephone. She met his gaze, unable to discern his thoughts from his expression.
“Shall I continue to punish him?” Hades asked.
Persephone stared at Hades and her eyes dropped to Kal. She strolled toward him and knelt. His bloodied face was now streaked with tears.
“Will his face scar?” she asked Hades.
“It will if you wish it.”
“I wish it.”
Kal whined.
“Shh,” Persephone crooned. “It could be worse. I am tempted to send you to Tartarus.”
He quieted at her statement and then she continued. “Tomorrow, I want you to call Demetri and tell him you made a mistake. You don’t want the exclusive and you will never, ever tell me what to write again. Do we have an agreement?”
Shaking, he nodded his head. Persephone smiled. “Good.”
She straightened and turned to Hades. “He can live,” she said.
The god held her gaze for a long moment and then looked at Kal.