A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(91)

“You just had to let the world know we were here, didn’t you?”

He grinned. “How else is Hades supposed to know about the dress?”

She elbowed the god again.

“Ouch! You’re violent tonight, Sephy. I’m only trying to help.”

They barely made it inside the club, when their way was blocked by Apollo. The god glared at Hermes. “What are you doing here?”

“I was invited,” the God of Trickery said.

Apollo’s gaze moved to Zofie. “An Amazon?”

Zofie glared at him, and Persephone had a feeling the Amazon hadn’t forgiven him for abducting Persephone.

“She’s my Aegis,” Persephone said. “Her name is Zofie.” He frowned, and Persephone smirked as she said, “You never said I couldn’t bring a friend.”

He rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Come, I have a booth.”

Apollo twisted and the three followed. Persephone noted that the God of Music had chosen black leather pants and a mesh shirt as his club attire. Beneath the mesh, the contours of his muscles were visible. He was chiseled and athletic. She found herself comparing him to Hades again. Hades, whose body seemed to be built to destroy with broad shoulders and large muscles.

Apollo’s table was more like a lounge. White couches faced each other, and sheer, white curtains provided a small amount of privacy.

The God of Music collapsed dramatically on one of the couches, his arms draping over the back, one leg resting on a cushion.

Persephone, Hermes, and Zofie all sat beside each other. The goddess felt uncomfortable in her revealing dress, and sat with her back straight, hands on her knees.

“So, how long have you known each other?” Apollo raised a pale brow, looking between her and his brother. He sounded frustrated.

“Oh, we’ve been friends forever,” said Hermes, then he downed a shot of whatever was on the table. “Yum, you should try this.”

He tried giving Zofie one of the drinks, but the Amazon’s glare caused him to reconsider.

“Never mind,” he said, and took another shot.

“He means six months,” Persephone said. “Hermes and I have known each other for six months.”

“Seven,” the God of Trickery corrected. “I pulled her out of a river and got thrown across the Underworld for my trouble.” He looked at Persephone. “That’s when I knew Hades was in love with you, by the way.”

Persephone looked away, and an awkward silence descended between them, or maybe Persephone was just feeling out of place because Hermes began to chuckle beside her.

“Remember when you served mortals, Apollo?” he asked.

Apollo did not look amused. “Well who taught Pandora to be curious, Hermes?”

The God of Trickery glared. “Why does everyone always bring that up?”

“One could argue you are responsible for all the world’s evil.” A smile pulled at Apollo’s lips. It was actually...charming.

“Who put evil in a box, anyway?” Persephone asked. “That seems stupid.”

The brothers exchange a look. “Our father.”

Persephone rolled her eyes.

Power wasn’t a replacement for intelligence.

After a couple shots, Hermes dragged Persephone and Zofie to the dance floor. The music had an electronic beat and vibrated through her. For a while, they all danced together—even Zofie who had been on edge, loosened up, letting herself get swept into the fold of bodies.

Persephone continued to move. She shook and shimmied, matching Hermes movements until his attention was taken by a handsome man who sidled up behind him.

Persephone cheered him on but found herself face to face with Apollo. He wasn’t dancing, just standing in the center of the crowd, staring at her.

“So, you were afraid to be alone with me?” Apollo asked.

“I am not afraid to be alone with you, I just didn’t want to be alone with you.”

“Why?”

“Why?” she asked, dumbfounded by the question. “Do you not understand what you put me through the other night? You almost killed a kid!”

“He spoke slander—”

“This isn’t the ancient world, Apollo. People are going to disagree with you and you’re going to have to deal with it. For fucks sake, I don’t even like your music.”

Persephone’s eyes widened. Had she just said that out loud?

Apollo pressed his lips together tightly, and after a moment, he said, “Wanna shot?”

“Are you going to poison it?”

Again, he offered that crooked smile.

They left the dance floor and headed for the bar, ordering a round.

Apollo downed his shot, slamming his glass on the counter and looked at Persephone.

“So, how did your lover take the news of our bargain?”

Persephone stared at the empty glass. “Not well. I guess I can’t blame him.”

She’d promised Hades a lot and had let him down.

“I think he hates me,” she said, so quietly she didn’t think Apollo could hear.

“Hades doesn’t hate you,” Apollo almost scoffed. “He doesn’t have it in him.”

“You didn’t see the way he looked at me.”

“You mean all broken?” Apollo asked. “I think I get it, Persephone.”