A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(65)

She knew that because he had done it before.

“The cake isn’t finished,” she whispered her reply. It wasn’t because she wished to be quiet, it was that her voice wouldn’t go any higher as her exhaustion took over.

“I would never let it burn,” Hades replied.

After a moment, he shifted, and Persephone rested her head against his chest. Hades’ skin was warm, his scent as intoxicating as the vanilla in the air, and despite how much she wanted to see this all through to the end, she fell asleep in his arms on the floor of the kitchen.





CHAPTER XVI - BREAKING POINT


Persephone called Eliska to check on Lexa as she headed to work the next morning. In truth, she’d been avoiding Jaison since his hateful words after Lexa’s surgery and his comments about Hades. It was hard enough to reconcile that Hades couldn’t help, worse when Jaison questioned their love.

Lexa’s mother sounded exhausted on the phone as she communicated that there were no changes in her vitals. The whole thing felt like a nightmare, except that, the longer it went on, the more Persephone considered that she might have to live without Lexa.

After last night, that somehow seemed like more of a possibility.

“Good morning, Persephone!” Helen said as she stepped off the elevator. Her cheery expression faded quickly. “Is everything alright?”

Her question made Persephone feel strangely violent.

“No,” she snapped. Her stomach immediately filled with guilt as she headed to her desk. She would have to apologize to Helen later, but right now, she needed to calm down.

She barely got settled before Demetri stepped out of his office.

“Persephone, have a moment?”

Her anger rushed to the surface again, unbidden and senseless. She should say no, ask if she could have more time to get settled, but she found herself following her boss into his office.

“I have good news,” Demetri said, taking a seat behind his desk.

Persephone knew what he was going to tell her, but she waited, staring at him with more indifference than she had ever felt in her life. It was the first time since he’d given her the ultimatum that she realized how much this had affected her.

“Kal has decided against forcing the exclusive.”

When she didn’t react, Demetri frowned. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”

“You thought wrong,” she said. “The damage is already done.”

“Persephone.”

She hated the way her boss said her name, like he thought she was being unreasonable. “Don’t do this.”

“Don’t do what? Call you out on your bullshit?”

“If it was bullshit, you would have quit when I had to give you the ultimatum. As much as you want to pretend you don’t need this job, I know you do. It’s the only way you can distinguish yourself from Hades.”

She flinched. Those words stung.

Demetri sighed; his frustration palpable.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why not?” she laughed bitterly. “It’s the truth.”

“Just because it is the truth right now, doesn’t mean it will be the truth forever. If anyone can make a name for themselves in this business, it’s you, Persephone.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Demetri.”

He laughed humorlessly. “Will I ever earn your forgiveness?”

“Forgiveness, yes. Trust, no.”

“I suppose I deserve that.”

Demetri’s eyes fell to his hands as he twined his fingers together nervously.

“You know I did it because I had no choice.”

“I’m sure you had a choice like I had a choice.”

He nodded his head, but his eyes were distant, as if he were recalling something that happened long ago. After a moment, he began to speak. “Kal is no Hades but he is powerful. I…” he paused to clear his throat. “I sought his help.”

A realization settled upon her—Demetri knew Kal was a Magi.

“In what way?”

“A love potion.”

Persephone frowned. “I...don’t understand.”

Demetri raised his brows, and then met Persephone’s gaze. “In college, I met a man named Luca. He became my best friend and I was so in love with him. One night, I decided to tell him how I felt. My feelings weren’t reciprocated...but...I couldn’t imagine a life without him.”

“So you gave him a love potion?”

She was appalled that Demetri would resort to such measures. A love potion was serious business. There was a reason their creation and distribution was illegal. It took away an individual’s choice.

“It wasn’t my proudest moment,” Demetri admitted. “If I had to do it all over again, I would have let him go.”

“You have to undo it,” Persephone said. Demetri’s eyes went wide. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting her to say that.

“Undo it?”

“Or tell him what you did,” Persephone urged. “Demetri...you were wrong.”

“I didn’t tell you this so you would tell me how I should fix it,” he said, his face growing red. “I’m telling you this so you understand why I pushed you.”