Hades had walked into the room with the greatest intentions of telling her she was his wife and she must get over anything that would get in the way but when he saw the poisonous plants practically forming a cocoon around her, his heart sank. His fear multiplied when he realized that mandrake was growing out of her mouth. He hastily ripped apart the plants, pulled out the mandrake, and tried to shake her awake.

"Persephone, Persephone," he shouted as he tried to wake her up.

Her head lolled from side to side but she didn't respond. She wasn't dead; immortals cannot die. She was in a coma.

He tenderly laid her head back on the pillow and went out to find Hecate. She was where he expected, at the Gates. She stood a matronly, faded, not-quite-here yet visible woman, petting the ferocious Cerberus. He never desires to see the mysterious witch goddess but this time he had no choice.

"Witch! You must help my wife," he said to her.

She lifted a brow but nevertheless bowed, "My King, you are married?"

"I am. She is in a coma because of your plants. You must help her," Hades demanded.

"As you command," she said, following Hades through the dark halls.

They reached the still sleeping Persephone and his heart seized at the pain he felt. She was beautiful with her long blonde tendrils arranged around her and snow-white skin. But he wanted to see her blue eyes.

Hecate pressed her hand to Persephone's forehead for a few minutes before she turned to Hades and said, "She will be like this for a few more days, most likely three, but she will awaken eventually. Had she been anyone else, she would have delightful delusions by now. It seems she only ate a flower but being an Earth goddess, the flower was able to grow inside of her. I assume when you pulled them out, the roots stayed in her body. It is the abundant roots that have done this to her."

"You are sure?" he asked.

"I am."

"Go."

"By your leave, my King," she bowed once more and melted into the shadows.

His fingers ghosted over her cheek, afraid he would break her in this delicate state. He kissed her lips briefly and left to find a guard for her. He had a good idea of who to choose.

Persephone awoke with a smile on her warm lips. She had never felt so rested in her life. But when she opened her eyes and saw a giant, savage man with a crown and tail, she screamed bloody murder.

"Who are you?" she cried out, scurrying in the opposite direction.

"I am Minos, Judger of the Damned. Hades has demeaned me temporarily to guard duty but I suppose I am notoriously vicious so I am the best."

"Why would Hades post a guard for one night?" she asked.

Minos gave her a pitied look. "You have been asleep for four days."

"What?" she felt faint.

"I don't know how it happened. Hades simply told me to ensure your safety until you woke up or he 'would punish me in the most unimaginably painful way'. Can you believe it? I am a former king and powerful Judge and this is how he treats me."

"Who fulfills your duty then?"

"He does. I caught a glimpse of his judging and I loath to admit this but he is a harsher judge than I am. Don't tell anyone or I'll eat your firstborn," he boisterously laughed, making her cringe. "Honestly though, I don't think I have ever seen him angry. I would have told him so, but I feared the consequences. I should go tell him his wife has awoken."

As the giant left, she took note of her surroundings: trampled deadly nightshade and mandrake. The pomegranates also seem to have been a causality of what must have been Hades' rage. She sighed.

The sound of the door flinging open made her jump. Relief was crystal in his eyes and he quickly crossed the room to give her a bruising kiss. He held her to his chest.

He said in a broken tone, "I thought I was afraid of nothing. I was wrong."

She wanted to laugh. It sounded like a paradox: Hades, scared? Impossible. Implausible. Actual?

He wretched her away and fervently said, "If you ever scare me again, I will find a way to strip you of your powers and keep you in this room for eternity. Do not take me lightly."

In contrast to his words, she teared up with sentiment. "I can't believe I worried you so much."

"Persephone, I told you I love you."

"How could I sleep for four days?"

"Ask Hecate," he replied, too busy disrobing to explain.

Instead of simply destroying her dress, this time, he took the time to pull it off from the bottom, his rough hands running down the full length of her body. He went back to kiss her, his kisses spanning from her neck to her stomach and back. She shivered at the sensations. He lifted her legs to his shoulders, pinned her arms down, and thrust into her at the new angle. A sharp moan escaped her. His rhythm was slower as he took his time taking her.

"Open your eyes, Persephone," he commanded.

Obeying, she looked into his eyes and was lost to the world, breathy cries leaving her. He continued to push her until she reached her second blistering pleasure and he joined her, groaning deeply. His fingers left her arms sore but she didn't mind.

They only made love twice more when he told her, "I need to sleep. I haven't slept in five days."

She asked him in an absurd tone, "Why?"

"The first night I went to judge souls and I couldn't sleep since then so I continued my duties."

"I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble," she stroked his cheek.

But her words fell on deaf ears because her husband was fast asleep. He really was so ruggedly handsome, she could almost forget who is was. Persephone snuggled into him, knowing the fear he felt for her would never be forgotten.