A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(81)

The woman raised her head, defiant. “I will do as Lord Hades commands.”

“Then I will speak with Lord Hades,” she replied, twisting on her heels.

“Please.”

Persephone was stopped by the shakiness in the Amazon’s voice. She faced the woman.

“I shouldn’t expect you to care, but I need this. I need this charge. I need this honor.”

“Why?”

Persephone was genuinely curious, but she didn’t like the change it inspired in the Amazon. The woman looked at her feet, her shoulders fell. Whatever her reasoning, it was a burden. Then she said, “I do not wish to expose my shame.”

A strained silence followed, and after a moment, Persephone asked, “What’s your name?”

The woman looked bewildered.

“You may call me Aegis, my lady.”

“I prefer to call you by your name,” Persephone answered. “Just as I prefer you call me Persephone.”

“Lord Hades—”

“I really wish Lord Hades’ staff would stop telling me what he dislikes or likes. Clearly, he hasn’t made that consideration for me.”

She regretted the outburst, because she was essentially, referring to the Aegis.

But the woman smiled. “It’s okay,” she paused. “I’m Zofie.”

“Zofie,” Persephone said her name. “If it is that important to you, I will not dismiss you.”

But she would have words with Hades…when she decided to talk to him again.

“Thank you...Persephone.”

“I’m running late,” she said, and began to back away, and then she pointed at what the woman was wearing. “We’ll talk about the armor later.”

Zofie advanced. “Lord Hades said not to let you out of my sight.”

Persephone rolled her eyes. “You’re a cat, Zofie. I can’t bring you into my office.”

“I’m content to wait for you outside,” she offered.

Persephone sighed. “Fine. We’ll talk about that later, too.”

Persephone left the alleyway, and her new Aegis followed. She had a lot of questions for the woman—namely, where was she from and why was it so important for her to keep this position? Persephone couldn’t refuse when she’d seen the look in her eyes because she had recognized it in herself. It was hopelessness.

She wondered if the God of the Dead had chosen her Aegis strategically, knowing Persephone wouldn’t be able to deprive someone of their dream.





CHAPTER XX - COMPETITION


Persephone decided to deal with Zofie’s armor quickly.

Upon leaving work, the Amazon trotted alongside her toward Hades’ Lexus and hopped inside.

“To The Pearl, Antoni.”

She wondered if Aphrodite would be in the boutique. Since Zofie was Hades’ employee, and she had been appointed to guard Persephone in the Upperworld, surely he wouldn’t mind if she charged clothing, shoes, and accessories to his account.

And if he did, well, it was his fault for undermining her.

Antoni glanced in the rearview mirror.

“I see you met Zofie,” he said.

“Don’t tell me you knew about this, Antoni.”

The cyclops ducked his head a little, as if to hide from her frustration. “I think it was inevitable, my lady.”

Persephone didn’t respond. She looked out the window as they passed marble-white buildings, stoic churches, and colorful apartments until they came to Aphrodite’s shop. Persephone picked Zofie up, who protested with a loud whine.

“Shh!” she commanded. “No one let’s their cat walk into a shop of their own freewill.”

She stepped out of the limo and into the shop.

“I didn’t know you liked pussies,” Aphrodite said, materializing as soon as Persephone sat the cat on the floor. The goddess was a little more covered than usual, wearing a silk champagne dress, embossed with flowers. It had thin straps, came to her mid-calf, and looked more like a nightgown than something to wear in public, but Persephone was discovering that was Aphrodite’s modus operandi.

“Shift,” Persephone ordered, and Zofie became human again.

Aphrodite’s eyes narrowed upon the Amazon. “A daughter of Ares,” she said. “I’m not surprised.”

Persephone’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?”

“Hades would only ever assign the best to protect you.”

Zofie bowed her head. “It is an honor for you to say, Lady Aphrodite.”

The Goddess of Love offered a half smile, but it was not kind.

“Of course. Everyone knows Amazons are brutal, aggressive, and full of bloodlust. You’re all just like your father.”

Zofie stiffened beside her, and Persephone wondered why the goddess felt the need to be so cruel.

“Aphrodite, I’m hoping to purchase a new wardrobe for my Aegis,” Persephone said quickly. “I need her to blend in if she’s going to...protect me.”

It was hard for Persephone to say the word. She didn’t want to need protection. She wanted to protect herself, but at this point, after what had happened a few days ago, it was likely she’d just rip herself apart.

“What’s the matter? War-time chic too flashy for you?”