Chapter 84 Seeing things

Chapter 84 Seeing things
“You were spying on me.” Persephone’s voice cuts through the air, loud enough to echo off the marble walls. 

I push myself up from the floor slowly, my palms stinging, my heart hammering against my ribs. “I wasn’t,” I snap back, lieing immediately. “I didn’t even know you were in there.”

She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “You just happened to stumble into a private room where I was speaking? Do you really think I’m that stupid, Aria?”

I straighten fully, brushing my hands down my dress even though they’re shaking. “I came out of the bathroom next door. I heard voices. I followed the sound. That’s it. I didn’t see anything.”

Her eyes narrow. “I think you heard enough.”

She steps closer, the air around her shifting, thick with something heavy and green. “Let me make one thing very clear to you,” she says slowly. “Just because you succeeded once doesn’t mean you’ll succeed again.”

I feel heat crawl up my spine. “Succeeded at what?”

Her lips curl. “Surviving, humans have accidents all the time, overcome by greed, money even love” her smirk deepens

My breath catches.

“I could turn you into a plant right here,” she continues calmly. “Root you into the marble. Let you rot where you stand.”

Anger flares hot and fast in my chest, she wouldn't dare. “You won’t.” I say back t her sharply 

She tilts her head. “And why is that?”

“Because Hades wouldn’t forgive you,” I shoot back. “That’s the only reason you’re holding back.” I blink, Hades is her weakness no matter how it looks

Her jaw tightens. “Don’t mistake restraint for weakness Aria, I could kill you and have Hades to myself easily.”

That does it. I step forward without thinking to grab her angrily. “Keep your grubby hands to yourself and stay away from my husband.”

The words come out harsher than I intend, but I don’t take them back. Her eyes flash green.

The gold glow spreads over her skin, creeping up her arms, pulsing like a living thing. The ground beneath us hums.

“Careful,” she warns, power rolling off her in waves. “You’re still human enough to break.”

“Stop.”

Hades’ voice booms through the corridor.

He’s suddenly there, stepping between us, his presence slamming into the space like a wall. “Both of you. Stop it. Now.”

Persephone turns on him, her eyes still glowing. “I’m doing this because I care about you,” she says sharply. “Because I still love you Hades.”

My chest tightens painfully, how dare she?

“That’s the only reason I’m letting this silly human walk away,” she adds, flicking a dismissive glance at me.

I clench my fists. “Who were you talking to?”

She freezes mid-turn.

“You think I didn’t notice?” I press. “I saw you the first time. At the first event. Talking in the shadows. And now again. Who is it? What’s your obsession with me?”

She laughs coldly and looks at Hades instead of me. “You should put your wife on a leash,” she says. “She’s seeing things now.”

My throat burns.

“Maybe too much godly energy isn’t good for her,” Persephone continues. “You should have her mind checked.”

She turns and walks away without another word.

“Wait–” I start, stepping after her.

Hades’ hand clamps around my wrist. “Enough.”

I spin toward him. “I’m not imagining things.”

“You’re acting silly,” he says firmly. “Chasing Persephone around like this.”

“Silly?” My voice cracks. “She threatened me.”

“She didn’t hurt you,” he says. “And you won. You married me. You don’t need to chase her.”

I stare at him, stunned. “Won?”

The word feels wrong in my mouth. “I wasn’t trying to win anything.”

His expression tightens.

“You forced me into this marriage,” I continue, my voice shaking despite my effort to keep it steady. “I never wanted it. And now she gets hurt and you immediately take her side.”

“That’s not what happened,” he snaps.

“It feels like it is.” I lift a brow at him, my eyes already shining with tears

Anger flashes across his face, sharp and sudden. “Are you jealous?”

I blink. “What? No I am not Hades, I am not interested in you or your drama with Persephone.” I say angrily 

“I thought we were building something,” he says bitterly. “But every time there’s an argument, you throw it back in my face that you were forced.”

He steps closer. “You begged Nicholas for years. Years. And he left you for dead like a cheap whore–”

“Stop,” I whisper.

But it’s too late, the words land like a slap on my face, I cant believe he just said that.

His face changes instantly, regret flashing across his features. “Aria, I didn’t mean–”

Tears blur my vision. I wipe them away quickly, refusing to let them fall in front of him.

“I’ll see you later,” I say coldly.

Before he can stop me, I open a portal and step through it, leaving him standing alone in the room.