Inescapably Hellbound

by Cassandra Lawson

  That did it. Psyche’s eyes narrowed, and her face flushed with rage. “Hag? You are going to die.”

  Psyche launched herself at me, her hands outstretched as if to claw at my face. I caught one of her arms and used her own momentum to toss her to the ground. When she tried to grab at one of my legs, I quickly stepped back. She wasn’t much of a fighter, and a quick glance at Athena proved she was already getting bored.

  One of the newly arrived fallen angels shouted. “Kill the blonde bitch!”

  “Kill the redhead!” another shouted.

  “Stop this at once!” Athena thundered as she came to stand between me and Psyche. Her sword of red flames was in her hand, and she looked ready to kill. Her anger turned to Psyche. “I’ll kill you myself if you interfere with my plans.”

  Psyche hesitated, her glare moving to me. She wanted to ignore Athena’s command, but surprisingly, she was smart enough to realize Athena wasn’t joking about killing her, so she stepped back with a pout.

  Athena stood in front of me, her eyes blazing with rage. “You have one minute to retrieve your phone and call Azrael. If you don’t, I’m going to let these escaped prisoners play with you until you’re ready to cooperate. Many of them have suffered at Hades’s hands, and they’d love the chance to take their anger out on you.”

  I nodded, trying to keep my fear from showing as I walked toward where I’d dropped my phone. After picking it up off the ground, I looked up at the sky and saw that the cavalry was on its way. Not much of a cavalry, just Hades, Ares, and my mom, but it was better than nothing. With any luck, others would be right behind them.

  Quickly entering the code into my phone, I sent one message.

  Persephone: I need help. I’ve been told I’m on the hilltop closest to Heaven.

  With any luck, Azrael would come to help even up the odds.

  Chapter 99

  Hades

  “We’re a little outnumbered.” Ares sounded thrilled by that realization.

  I wasn’t too worried since back-up would arrive soon. We just needed to keep Persephone and Demira alive.

  “It looks like there’s a traitor in the prisons,” I growled when I noticed the escaped fallen angel prisoners. The only way that many had escaped without notice was with the help of one or more guards.

  “You’re too late, Hades,” Athena called out when we landed several feet away from her.

  “You’ll never defeat us!” Hera added.

  Ares chuckled. “That’s a little cliché, don’t you think, Hera?”

  “Grab the witch!” Athena shouted at the prisoners.

  “I don’t think so,” Demira said with a snarl before racing toward Persephone.

  The prisoners weren’t great at taking orders. Some went after Persephone, while others headed in my direction. Most hated me and wanted the chance to kill me. As much as I wanted to race toward Persephone, I had to trust that she and Demira could take care of themselves until I dealt with Athena and the others close by.

  Athena laughed. “You’re a fool if you think you can win, Hades. I’ll give you one chance to join us. If you refuse, your little witch will pay the price.”

  There was no time to play games or pretend to negotiate with Athena, so I drew on my power to draw my sword of black flames. Ares took his place at my side with his own sword of black and gold flames.

  I thrust my sword at Athena, but she blocked it with her own. She’d definitely been practicing more than she let on.

  Ares launched himself at the prisoners approaching us. I wasn’t worried about him dealing with them. He was outnumbered, and he might die. It was the kind of fight Ares lived for.

  My focus remained on Athena until Hera drew on her own magic to produce her lotus scepter. The end glowed red before she sent a bolt of power toward me. I jumped out of the way, dodging the bolt, while deflecting the blow from Athena’s sword.

  Hera’s next blow caught me in the back, and I hissed. The feathers on my left wing sizzled under the heat of her magic.

  “Focus on his wings!” Athena shouted as she came at me with her sword again.

  If I brought in my wings, my fallen angel power would be limited—a fact Athena planned to exploit. I dropped to sweep Athena’s legs out from under her while avoiding another jolt of Hera’s magic.

  Hera screeched in pain just before I heard Lucy’s voice. “It seems you could use a little help, Hades.”

  “Help Persephone,” I shouted as I swung my sword at Athena.

  “She’s got plenty of help,” Lucy assured me.

  Glancing around, I saw Lucy was right. Lucifer, Azrael, Eros, and three trusted fallen angel guards from the prisons were with Demira and Persephone. Xavier and Rainer were helping Ares deal with the other escaped prisoners. That left Lucy to deal with Hera while I handled Athena.

  “It looks like you’re going to lose,” I told Athena.

  “Not today,” she snarled before taking flight and landing close to Persephone.

  Chapter 100

  Persephone

  I was relieved when reinforcements showed up. Azrael arrived right before the others. I didn’t recognize some of the fallen angels with Lucifer, but he seemed to trust them. Psyche was feeling brave and caught me by the hair as she tried to cast a spell to stun me. I only felt a slight zap run along my skin.

  “Pathetic,” I muttered before turning to punch her in the throat. She immediately released me and stepped back, gasping for air. I followed that up with a kick that sent her to the ground. “This is how you cast the spell,” I announced before sending my magic toward her. She immediately froze on the ground.

  “Good job,” my mom praised. When I looked around, I saw that the others were dealing with the escaped prisoners. Azrael was in a rage, something I hoped to never see again. He ripped the wings off a fallen angel before a scythe appeared in his hand. He used the scythe to decapitate a fallen angel.

  “Persephone.”

  When I turned at the sound of my name, Athena was right behind me. My mom was at my side, looking ready to kill.

  “I’m not your enemy,” Athena insisted. “If they win, Hades will take you away. I meant what I said about protecting you from him.”

  “It’s a spell,” my mom told me. “Don’t listen to her.”

  “It’s a spell,” I reminded myself. Even knowing it was a spell, I was still angry that Hades would force me to be with him. “He has no right to force me to live in Hell.”

  “He won’t,” my mom argued. “He had every opportunity to kidnap you before, but he didn’t.”

  “I’d never force you to be with me,” Hades added as he landed close to Athena.

  “Lies!” Athena shouted. “Tell Azrael to stop fighting my people, and we can keep you safe. I’m only looking out for you.”

  “Stay away from her!” Hades snarled before swinging his sword at Athena.

  Fear raced through my body. “It’s only a spell,” my mom soothed. “Don’t listen to her.”

  “He’s going to make me go back with him,” I argued. “I don’t love him anymore.”

  As I struggled with the voice in my head that knew the spell was impacting my thinking, Hades and Athena fought. I closed my eyes, trying to block out everything around me, when I felt the arrow slam into my thigh.

  I screamed in pain, distracting Hades. My eyes locked with his as he raced toward me. Athena used his distraction to slice through his left wing. When Hades dropped to his knees, I screamed with rage. The arrow magically faded from my leg, and the pain eased.

  “You bitch!” I screeched as I gathered my power and sent a jolt of it toward Athena. I wasn’t completely sure what I was doing, but my power was enough to send Athena reeling.

  She quickly recovered and lunged at me with her sword drawn. Hades was on his feet and blocked her blow before she could get to me. He kicked her back, and when she went to her knees, he sliced off one of her wings. Her sword flickered as she got to her feet.

  “No!” she scr
eamed, lunging at him again. Azrael caught her from behind, ripping off her other wing and tossing her at Hades’s feet.

  Hades’s eyes were red with rage as he glared at Athena. “I want to kill you.”

  “Do it,” Athena said in a weak voice.

  Hades shook his head. “That would be too kind. I’d much rather see you and the other traitors in prison for the rest of eternity.”

  “Eros!” Psyche shouted when one of the fallen angel guards pulled her to her feet. “You can’t let them do this to me.”

  A fallen angel I assumed to be Eros approached. He had short blond hair and a bow.

  “You shot me with an arrow!” I accused.

  He gave me a sad smile. “It was the easiest way to break the spell.” His focus moved to Psyche. “I used to think you were beautiful, but I was mistaken. You’ve always been a horrible, selfish woman. Enjoy your eternity in prison.”

  On those words, he sprang into the sky and flew away, ignoring Psyche’s shrieks.

  Hades approached me cautiously, stopping when he was still a few feet away. “Is the spell really broken?”

  Rather than answer him, I threw myself into his arms and kissed him.

  Chapter 101

  Hades

  It took forever to get Persephone back to my home, thanks to my damaged wing. I couldn’t fly, nor could I stand the thought of anyone else flying with her for long. Azrael took us to a portal to the human realm close to one of Lucifer’s elevators. From there, it was easy getting home. It was a miracle that we didn’t run into anyone between the two portals. While I’d been able to bring my wings in, my back was torn up.

  “Does it hurt?” Persephone asked as she came up behind me in the bedroom.

  “A little,” I lied. It hurt a lot, but the pain would quickly fade.

  “We should get it cleaned up so it doesn’t get infected,” she told me as she reached out a hand.

  When I placed my hand in hers, she led me to the bathroom. I liked the idea of getting naked with her in my shower, but I decided to be totally honest with her. “I can’t get infections.”

  She flashed me a mischievous smile over her shoulder. “I know. It’s just an excuse to get into the shower with you.”

  “You don’t ever need to come up with an excuse for that,” I assured her.

  Once we were in the bathroom, I reached in to turn on the water before cupping Persephone’s cheek and kissing her. A shudder—part desire and part relief—moved through my body. I’d been terrified of losing her.

  She worked at the fastenings on my jeans and shoved them and my underwear down as I toed off my boots. When I reached for the bottom of her sweater, she broke the kiss and took two steps back.

  “Get in the shower,” she told me.

  “I thought you were joining me,” I remarked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I am,” she assured me. “Why don’t you start cleaning up while I undress?”

  With a nod, I stepped into the warm water and watched as she stripped out of her sweater. I reached for the soap as her fingers toyed with the front clasp of her bra before freeing her breasts. The bra fell to the floor as I began soaping my body. My dick was hard and aching as I enjoyed her striptease. Persephone was definitely teasing me as her finger moved around the button on her pants.

  “If you don’t want me to drag you in here with your clothes on, I suggest you hurry,” I warned.

  “Patience,” she crooned.

  “Patience my ass,” I muttered. “Get in here now, or I’m coming out to get you.”

  “I’m not sure which I prefer.” Her voice was breathy as she made that admission.

  “Neither am I.” It was the truth. I loved the idea of her coming to me as much as I liked the idea of tearing the remainder of her clothes off and fucking her hard against the wall of the shower.

  She made her decision and quickly stripped out of the rest of her clothes before joining me in the shower. Tugging her against me, I kissed her again. My tongue stroked hers as I drank in her needy little whimpers.

  When her back touched the cool tiles on the wall, she let out a gasp, breaking our kiss.

  “I almost lost you,” I growled against her lips. “Bond with me. Please.”

  Her eyes widened at my request. I worried she’d turn me down. Instead, she nodded. “Yes. Now. I want that now.”

  Chapter 102

  Persephone

  All the reasons I’d had for waiting longer to bind our power no longer made any sense. When I thought about the short time I’d been under that wretched spell, I ached. I’d lost Hades. At least, that’s how it had felt. One minute, I’d been head-over-heels in love with him, and the next, I’d been alternating between indifference and hatred. I could only imagine how horrible it had been for Hades.

  No more words were spoken as he cradled my face in his hands and stared into my eyes. His golden eyes glowed as his power wrapped around me, caressing me.

  “Yes,” I said with a moan.

  “Don’t hold back,” he growled. “Let your magic flow along mine.”

  I tentatively reached out with my power, and he groaned. “That’s it,” he praised before his lips brushed against mine.

  I felt his hot magic flowing along mine, coaxing a response. I’d never experienced anything like it. It was as if my magic was winding around his, testing it at first. All the while, Hades murmured words of encouragement against my mouth. His power was moving everywhere, gliding along my fevered skin, and increasing my arousal. I was so turned on, my legs were shaking. Thankfully, Hades put an arm around my lower back to offer me support. I pressed closer, writhing against him.

  When my power finally rushed out to fully meet his, Hades kissed me hard as his hands moved to my ass to lift me. My legs wrapped around his hips, and I reached between us to position him at my entrance. I needed him in me, and I needed more of his magic. He thrust hard into me. Our power continued to weave together, forming a complex knot. Each loop brought me closer to orgasm. It was having the same effect on Hades, if his groans and frenzied movements were any indication.

  “Mine,” he ground out.

  I clutched his shoulders tightly as the pressure built between us. My eyes widened when I suddenly felt Hades’s arousal along with my own. It was intense, almost too much. When the last loop of the binding completed, I screamed with my release.

  Hades’s dick jerked inside of me as he shouted with his own release.

  When we had both recovered, Hades rested his forehead against mine and smiled. “You’re finally mine.”

  “And you’re mine,” I replied.

  “Always,” he promised.

  Chapter 103

  Hades

  “What did I get myself into?”

  My grumbled question was rhetorical, but Rainer still answered me. “I’ve read that it’s normal for a man to be nervous on his wedding day. Should we have the talk so you understand what your husbandly duties are tonight?”

  I glared at him. That glare frightened most, but not Rainer. “You’re an ass. How did I get stuck with you as my best man?”

  “You asked, and I said yes,” Rainer replied in a dry tone.

  “I’m insane,” I muttered.

  I loved Persephone enough to want her to have everything. After we’d set a date for our wedding, I’d set out to make it perfect for her. That included wearing a suit. Rainer looked perfectly at ease in his black suit, while I felt like someone was trying to strangle me with the fucking tie. Rainer had already told me it was too loose, so I figured I shouldn’t loosen it more.

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this for Persephone,” Rainer admitted. “I guess love will make a man do crazy things.”

  Looking at myself in the mirror, I didn’t look like the dangerous fallen angel Persephone had fallen in love with. I looked like a civilized warlock.

  “Fuck this,” I grumbled before freeing my hair and running my fingers through it.

  “What are you doing?” Rainer a
sked with a grin as I stripped out of my jacket and tie.

  “Getting ready for my wedding,” I replied. The last to go was the shirt. Once it was off, I let my wings spread out behind me and looked in the mirror again. “That’s much better.”

  “What happened to looking civilized for your witch?” Rainer asked as we made our way to the grassy area where the ceremony was being held.

  There were several gasps as we walked by the already seated guests.

  “Persephone doesn’t like civilized,” I told him.

  He chuckled in response. Lucifer was waiting at the front. He merely raised an eyebrow when he saw me. The bastard was still preening because Persephone had asked him to officiate. He hadn’t figured out that she was amused by the idea of having the devil marry us.

  When the music started, Persephone emerged from the tent at the end of the grassy area. She was breathtaking in a green dress that flowed around her. Her eyes landed on me, and she raised an eyebrow. In response, I shrugged and gave her a sheepish smile.

  When Leland handed her off to me, I pulled her close and kissed her.

  Lucifer cleared his throat. “We’ve already discussed this, Hades. That part comes at the end.”

  “I like it this way,” Persephone argued before looking me up and down. “Nice outfit.”

  “That suit was choking me,” I grumbled.

  “I like you better this way,” she assured me before dropping her voice so the others wouldn’t hear. “You look best when you’re a little wild. You look fucking amazing.”

  I growled low in my throat. “Are you using that language to tease me?”

  “Is it working?” she asked.

  “It always does,” I murmured. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she replied before turning her attention to Lucifer. “Can we do the quick version of the ceremony?”