A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(77)

She stood by her original statement that Hades should offer help in a different manner, but acknowledged that The Halcyon Project was, in fact, a direct result of a conversation they’d had adding, “When other gods might retaliate for my candid review of their character, Lord Hades asked questions, listened, and changed. What more could we want from our gods than that?”

Persephone laughed to herself. Never in her lifetime would she have thought she’d suggest that Hades was the standard by which all other gods should be measured, but the more she learned about him, the more she felt that might be the case. Not that Hades was perfect—in fact, it was his imperfection—and willingness to acknowledge it—that made him a god unlike any other.

You’re still in a contract with him, she reminded herself before she put the Lord of the Underworld on too high a pedestal.

After her visit to Elysium and her conversation with Thanatos, she’d wanted to ask Hades so many questions yesterday—why me? What did you see when you looked at me? What weakness did you wish to challenge within me? What part of me were you hoping to save? What destiny had the Fates forged for her that Hades wished to challenge?

But she hadn’t gotten the chance.

When Hades had returned to the Underworld, he’d gathered her into his arms and taken her to bed, shattering all rational thoughts.

Coming home had been exactly what she needed—it had given her the distance to reminder herself that if she wanted…whatever was between her and Hades to work…the contract had to end.

After a couple hours of sleep, Persephone got ready for the day. She had to put in a few hours at her internship and then head to class. While she was in the kitchen making coffee, Lexa came home.

Persephone poured her a cup and slid it across the counter.

“How was your weekend?”

Lexa beamed. “Magical.”

Persephone snorted, but she could relate—she wondered if she and her best friend had similar experiences.

“I’m happy for you, Lex.” She’d said it before, and she’d say it many times after.

“Thanks for the coffee,” Lexa said, and started toward her room, but paused. “Oh, I meant to ask…how was the Underworld?”

Persephone froze. “What do you mean?”

“Persephone. I know you left with Hades Saturday night. It’s all anyone could talk about—the girl in red, stolen to the Underworld.”

She paled. “Did anyone—no one knew it was me, right?”

Lexa looked a little sympathetic. “I mean, Hades had just announced The Halcyon Project, which was inspired by you, so people came to their own conclusions.”’

Persephone groaned. That’s all she needed, more press on her supposed relationship with Hades.

A very dark and very loud part of her mind suddenly wondered if Hades behavior at the gala had been intentional. Was he looking for a way to divert attention from his antics by shining a spotlight on a relationship? And if that were the case, was she just a pawn?

“I know you’d rather not acknowledge whatever’s going on between you and Hades….but I’m your best friend. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

“I know, I know. I really didn’t intend to leave with him. I was going to call a cab and then…” Her voice trailed away.

“He swept you off your feet?” Lexa waggled her brows, and Persephone couldn’t help but laugh. “Just tell me one thing…did he kiss you?”

Persephone blushed and admitted, “Yes.”

Lexa squealed. “Oh my gods, Persephone! You have to tell me everything!”

Persephone looked at the clock. “I have to go—lunch with Sybil?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she answered.

Despite leaving her apartment late, Persephone took her time walking to work, reveling in the feel of life around her. She was still in disbelief. Her magic had surfaced, and it had awakened in the Underworld. She still had no idea what to do with it—she didn’t know how to harness what she felt, or use it to create illusions, but she planned to meet Hecate this evening for lessons.

When she arrived at the Acropolis, Demetri asked to see her. He offered a few edits to her article and before she sat down to work on them, she went into the break room to get some coffee.

“Hey, Persephone,” Adonis said as he joined her. He put on his most charming smile, as if it could erase the past and build a whole new future.

She glanced at him.

“I don’t really feel like talking to you.”

She didn’t need to look at him to know he had stopped grinning. He was probably shocked his smile hadn’t worked its usual magic.

“You’re really just gonna stop talking to me? You know that’s impossible. We work together.”

“I will still be professional,” she said.

“You aren’t being very professional right now.”

“Actually, I don’t have to make small talk with you to be professional,” she argued. “I just have to get my job done.”

“Or you could forgive me,” Adonis said. “I was drunk and I barely touched you.”

Barely touched?

He had pulled her hair and attempted to force her mouth open. Besides that, his touch—no matter light or aggressive—was completely unwanted.