A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(99)

Still, she had expected something from her mother—even an angry text.

Nothing was a stab in the heart.

Her phone beeped and she found a message from Lexa.

Ready for tonight?

It was Lexa’s birthday weekend and they were going out tonight to celebrate with Jaison, Sybil, Aro, and Xeres. Persephone was exited. It was another distraction.

She texted back, You know it! Have you made a decision?

She hadn’t decided where to celebrate yet. They’d both agreed Nevernight and La Rose were out of the question.

I’m thinking Bakkheia or The Raven. Lexa said. Bakkheia was a bar owned by Dionysus and The Raven was owned by Apollo. What do you think?

Hmm. Definitely The Raven.

But you hate Apollo’s music.

It was true. Persephone dreaded every album the God of the Sun released. She wasn’t sure why—something about the way he pronounced his words irritated her, and it was the only music that played at this club.

But it’s your birthday. Persephone reminded her. And, The Raven is more your style.

It’s settled. The Raven it is! Thanks, Persephone!

Despite seeing less of Lexa, Persephone was happy for her. Lexa was thriving with Jaison and she would forever be indebted to the two mortals for their service to her—especially Lexa who had stayed with her for a whole week while she reeled from her breakup with Hades, and had managed to keep Minthe the Mint Plant alive after Persephone had promptly forgotten her existence in the kitchen window.

She’d had plans to return the nymph to the Underworld and offer her to Hades, but she didn’t have the courage to face him.

She texted Lexa that she was heading out and started to pack her things when a shadow fell over her. She looked up into a familiar pair of dark, gentle eyes.

“Hecate!” Persephone stood and threw her arms around the goddess’s neck. “I miss you.”

Hecate returned her embraced, and she heard the woman inhale, as if she were relieved. “I miss you, too, my dear.” She pulled away and studied Persephone's face, her brows knitted together over her caring eyes. “We all do.”

Guilt slammed into her, and she swallowed. She’d essentially been avoiding everyone. “Sit with me?”

“Of course.”

The Goddess of Witchcraft took a seat beside Persephone. “I hope I'm not interrupting.”

“No, just...working,” Persephone said.

The goddess nodded. The two were quiet for a moment. She hated the awkwardness between them.

“How is everyone?” she hedged.

“Sad,” Hecate said, and Persephone's heart hurt.

“You're really not one to beat around the bush, are you, Hecate?”

“Come back,” she said.

The Goddess of Spring couldn't look at Hecate. Her eyes burned.

“You know I can't,” Persephone said quietly.

“What does it matter that you found each other through this contract?” Hecate asked.

Persephone’s eyes widened, and she looked at the Goddess of Witchcraft. “Did he tell you?”

“I asked.”

“Then you know he deceived me.”

“Did he? As I recall, he told you your contract had nothing to do with Aphrodite’s wager.”

“You cannot tell me that he didn't consider I might help him fulfill his contract with Aphrodite.”

“I am sure he considered it, but only because he was already in love with you. Was it so wrong for him to hope?”

Persephone sat, stewing in her silence. Was Hecate only here to attempt to convince her to return to Hades?

She knew the answer—but it was more complicated than a yes.

She was here to convince her to return to the Underworld, to a kingdom of people who had treated her like a queen, to her friends.

She knew Hecate was right. Did it really matter that they had found love for each other because of a contract? People found love in all sorts of ways.

The hardest thing though, was when she’d told Hades she loved him, he hadn’t said it in return. He hadn’t said anything at all.

She felt Hecate watching her, and the goddess asked, “How do you think you fulfilled the terms of your contract?”

Persephone looked at her, confused. “I...grew something.”

It wasn’t beautiful. She wasn’t even sure it could be called a plant, but it was alive and that’s what mattered.

The goddess shook her head. “No. You fulfilled the contract because you created life within Hades. Because you brought life to the Underworld.” Persephone looked away, closing her eyes against the words. She couldn’t hear this. Then Hecate whispered, “It is bleak without you.”

Hecate took Persephone's hand. “Do you love him?”

The question brought tears to her eyes, and she wiped at them furiously before uttering a breathless, “Yes,” she sniffed. “Yes. I think I have loved him since the beginning. That’s why this hurts.”

Hades had challenged her to look at the whole picture, to not be blinded by her passion—except when it came to her passion for him.

“So, go to him. Tell him why you hurt, tell him how to fix it. Isn't that what you're good at?”

Persephone couldn't help laughing at that and then groaned, rubbing her eyes. “Oh, Hecate. He doesn't want to see me.”