"Scared?" questioned Persephone playfully.

"In your dreams, honey," retorted Hades.

Persephone had too much fun teasing him. "You're doing a lot more than being just scared in my dream, darling," she remarked.

Hades lifted a brow. "You'll have to tell me later what I'm doing in those dreams of yours," he said. "But for now, don't even think that that'll distract me from winning this race." He swiftly jumped on top of Nyctaeus and positioned himself on the golden saddle with ease and authority.

Persephone couldn't help but admire her husband. His jet-black hair was glossy under the burning bright sun. He had a frown that made him look very dangerous and strict, which she knew it wasn't because he was upset or angry, the sun was simply shining too much for his comfort.

She appreciated Hades broad shoulders and tough hands that expertly held onto the Nyctaeus' reins. His shirt's sleeves were rolled up exposing his rugged forearms that looked sturdy, his wrists were thick and his beautiful hands that had showed her more pleasures than anything in this world looked reliable. He wore dark leather pants that were clinging to his muscular thighs and long legs, which helped him leap on top of such a massive horse without even a stepladder. And those mesmerizing crimson eyes were devilishly hypnotic; she could get lost in those pools of dark rubies.

Persephone bit back a smile when she realized that she was blushing over Hades. For years, she'd see him at parties, annual gatherings and whenever Zeus summoned him; he was always stern and composed, his eyes held no emotion. But Persephone always recognized that flame of passion underneath the sheet of ice and that no one matched for her, she wondered where he learned to wield such magic that enchanted her. Every smile or glance had her yearning for one more. The raw power that clung to Hades could never be duplicated or faked. He was a king worthy of all that he has and much more.

"The race is from here to the other end of the track," said Beowulf. "I have sent a boy to the finish line, so you'll know when you've reached it."

"Thank you, Beowulf," said Persephone.

Beowulf smiled and waved off to join the other spectators that had gathered to watch their king and queen race against each other.

"Ready?" asked Beowulf.

"Ready," answered Persephone.

Hades shot her a grin. "Ready."

A thunderous shot fired and cut through the air. Alastor and Nyctaeus heard the gunfire and kicked through the wind with agility and speed.

Persephone secured her hands on Alastor's reins, she lifted her butt off the saddle and leaned forward so she could faster. But Nyctaeus was no easy opponent especially was such a skilled rider as Hades, they made a formidable pair together. This was the first time Alastor was riding with her, and she knew that would affect their partnership. But this would only worry her if she wasn't so good with animals.

She purposely lagged behind Hades for the last sprint that would decide the winner of this race. "Εκτελέστε, Alastor, τρέξτε," Persephone whispered 'Run, Alastor, run' to the immortal horse and the beast fired alive with more strength in his muscular legs. Alastor passed his younger brother and his master with fire in his flaming red eyes.

Persephone leaned forward and the last sprint was all it took to push through and beat Hades. Nyctaeus was just barely a step behind Alastor, but that one step was what allowed Persephone to win the race. Alastor tore through the flimsy ribbon that was the finish line and stopped right after it was over. The small boy ran away with his arms in the air to the spectators to let them know that the queen had beat the king.

Persephone patted Alastor's neck. She noticed the blazing eyes that were fired up with excitement and happiness. "You did good, my boy," she praised him and kissed his head.

Hades circled towards her with Nyctaeus. "You cheated," he accused with a scowl.

"No, I didn't," she grinned at him. "I just told Alastor to run faster than his master."

Hades guided Nyctaeus to come closer to Persephone. "I never expected you to cheat," he said. "And here I thought that my wife was innocent."

Persephone tilted her head. "I married the king of hell," she said, "in what way did you think I was innocent."

Hades finally laughed. "I'll keep that in mind next time." He put his hand around her nape and his fingers combed through her tousled wind-blown hair. He drew her in towards him and he laid an intense kiss that burned through her body and unravelled her right in his arms like he always does. Kissing him was a penetrating force that always swept her off of her feet. To her, this moment could last a lifetime and she would happily stay right here, in Hades arms, with his lips and taste consuming her soul.

He pulled away and gazed into her dazed eyes. "It was a pleasure racing with you, my queen," he whispered softly, but it sent shivers down her back that were dangerously alarming. It was too late before she figured out that he was teasing her. He knew what his kisses did to her and how much they drove her crazy.

Persephone punched his chest but he didn't waver at all. "At least pretend like it hurt you," she reprimanded him.

Hades held his chest where she tried to hurt him with a dramatic grunt. "You wound me, my love," he groaned.

"You're such a tease," she muttered and crossed her arms. "I still beat you though."

Hades raked his hair. "We'll have a rematch soon," he promised and they rode back to the crowd.

"It's seems our king is getting rusty," Aeacus said with a chuckle.

Hades rolled his eyes.

"Persephone left you in the dust back there, buddy," said Minos.

"I've never seen someone command Alastor like that before," praised Beowulf. "That was truly admirable, Persephone."

"Thank you, Beowulf," said Persephone. "Would you perhaps like to join us for lunch?"

Beowulf's honey gold eyes softened. "Er-" he looked towards Hades and the three judges. "Would that be alright?"

"Of course," said Hades. "Join us."

"Then it would be my pleasure," Beowulf said.

"Get the lunch table prepared. We'll put the horses in their stables," said Hades and the four gladly followed his instructions. They sauntered off whilst gossiping about the fantastic race and that they should do that more often- Persephone agreed with them wholeheartedly.

Hades jumped off Nyctaeus and landed on his nimble feet. "Those guys talk way too much," he grumbled. "I should be more careful with what I tell them." Hades came around and offered his strength to help Persephone off Alastor.

"I think they're sweet," she said. "And they tell me everything about you."

Persephone swung her leg over Alastor and accepted Hades help. She fell into his arms and he brought her to the ground safely. He anchored her in his arms and against his heat that seeped into her clothes and torched her skin alive. Her boots skimmed the grass below her feet and she used his shoulders for support, his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and his gaze held her eyes.

"You looked gorgeous riding Alastor," he said with adoration glinting in his red eyes. "Your flaming red hair blowing in the wind makes any man want to run their fingers through it all night," Hades leaned down and kissed her nose. "And that beautiful smile takes my breath away every single time."

Persephone linked her arms around his neck. "You're not so bad yourself."

Hades rested his forehead against hers like he sought her strength and warmth. "I don't know how I lived without you," he said. "For the first time in my entire life I'm thankful that I'm immortal."

Persephone lifted her head and frowned. "You had a beautiful life here, long before I came."

Hades shook his head. "No," he said. "I tried to make this hell my home for a long time, I may have made great friends and my people are loyal to me. But that emptiness in my heart, you filled when you loved me."

"Oh Hades," she hugged him close to her and felt the need to protect him.

Hades kissed the crown of her head before he let her down on her feet. "Let's get going," he said with a sigh. "Otherwise, they'll come looking for us and there goes my peace of mind."

Persephone laughed and grabbed Alastor's reins along with Nyctaeus and Hades. They put the horses in their stables and sauntered towards the table that had been arranged with a wide spread of fruit tarts, sandwiches and hot tea. Everyone gathered around the table, and she was quite surprised how famished she actually was when she got the whiff of the hot food. She devoured the tarts and pastries, the whipping cream melted in her mouth and she was in love. Hot rose tea went perfectly with the berry and lime pie that was cooked to golden excellence.

Beowulf, Hades and the three judges were close friends and they weren't discriminating towards his ability, which she was grateful for because if they had a problem with the bear-shifter she would make sure that they had thought otherwise after this lunch.

Beowulf was a sweet man with great manners, she was glad that he was taking care of the animals in their kingdom. Persephone has seen many cruel people punish animals and leave them to survive in brutal conditions, but Beowulf was responsible and expressed to her multiple times that he wouldn't dream to have another job than this one.

"Do you have any family, Beowulf?" asked Persephone. They all grew quiet and looked at Beowulf with disconcert. She wondered if she asked such an immoral question from their reaction.

"I had six brothers and three sisters," he answered grimly but he kept a smile on his face for her.

"A large family," she said carefully. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to them?"

"It was the games, wasn't it?" asked Aeacus as he looked at Beowulf.

"Games?" puzzled Persephone.

"Yes," said Beowulf. "My family and I were taken from our home to participate in shifter tournaments. We were used as sport for others enjoyment, and when they knew we couldn't take it anymore, they'd kill us."

Persephone's gut sank and she had to put down the last bite of her pie. "I'm so sorry," that's all she found herself saying.

"All my siblings passed away," he said. "I was the last one remaining when-" his honey gold eyes lifted and looked at Hades. "When he came and rescued me."

Persephone looked at Hades who was attentively watching Beowulf. "You rescued him?" she asked her husband.

"We all knew about the shifter games," said Rhadamanthys. "A lot of spirits passed our river and told us tales."

"I think it was after your oldest brother Thor when we took action," said Minos. "He told us all the horrors of what happens down at those games."

Persephone swallowed the tightness in her throat. "That's sick," she said. "I can't believe people would do such a thing. So, then what happened?"

"Hades took Alastor and paid these games a visit," said Minos with a hint of amusement creeping in his eyes. "And he had a good talk with the guy who ran those games." They all chuckled but Persephone didn't understand.

"He killed him," said Rhadamanthys after he caught onto Persephone's puzzled expression.

"Oh," she said and looked at Hades. "Good job. Was that when you met Beowulf?"

Hades nodded as he sipped his tea. "He was wrestling a bull shifter," he answered. "I saw him in a few fights and thought how impressive he was. But what else I noticed was that he never went for the kill, like how the other shifters would."

"I got a lot of beatings for not following that rule," said Beowulf and amusement was in his eyes too, although Persephone didn't understand how he could find it amusing that he had gotten beaten. "I never gave the spectators the satisfaction of a kill. The very thing they paid for to see."

"But, wouldn't a guard position work best for someone of your skills," said Persephone. "Why did you assign him the stables?" she looked at her husband.

"I couldn't just hire anyone to take care of my horses, honey," said Hades with a chuckle.

"Those horses are a moody bunch," Aeacus said. "They would scare the living hell out anyone that would come near them."

"I figured I needed someone strong like Beowulf," said Hades. "He was the only one that could get those horses to do what he wanted."

"I see," Persephone smiled over the rim of her tea cup.

"Enough about me," said Beowulf. "What I want to know is, how did you two meet each other? It's quite unusual for the goddess of spring to wind up with the god of hell."

Minos, Aeacus and Rhadamanthys all looked at Hades amused because they already knew that story quite well.

"At my garden," said Persephone.

"No," said Hades.

Persephone tilted her head and glanced at him. "We met before that day?" she asked.

"He only approached you in that garden because he was already smitten with you," said Aeacus.

Minos and Rhadamanthys laughed. "Only we remember what he looked like every time he would come back from your garden in hopes to talk to you again," said Minos.

"One more word for you, Minos," glowered Hades.

Minos held his hands up in defeat.

"I always thought it was actually kind of sweet," Rhadamanthys said.

"No," Persephone protested. "I want to know. When did we meet before that?"

"It was at Zeus's new year's party," said Hades.

"It was after that party did he have the courage to talk to you," added Rhadamanthys.

Persephone eyes widened. "We danced!" she exclaimed as the memories rushed back to her. "I totally forgot about that."

"Seems like our king didn't," chuckled Beowulf.

Persephone reminisced that night and a smile crept up her lips when she remembered how she danced with Hades for the first time under the new moon of the new year. How could she forget? she wondered. It was the night that she took a chance for love with someone completely unexpected.