promise you won’t let him.”
She tilted her head to the side. “And I’m supposed to stop him…how exactly?”
I took a deep breath, wishing I could stand. It was getting uncomfortable crouching down like this. But Persephone was just starting to sound like herself again, and I didn’t want to risk any sudden movements. “If it looks like nothing else will work, and you can’t kill Zeus—”
“It’s not like I haven’t been fighting back! If I could kill him—”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” I waved a dismissive hand. “If there’s nothing else to try, then you need to take yourself out of the equation.”
She blinked, processing that. Her eyebrows drew together like she was turning my words over in her mind to make sense of them. Understanding dawned in her expression. Her mouth dropped open. “That’s your plan? You want me to die?”
“No! Like I said, last resort.”
“Absolutely not!” She sprang to her feet, glowering at me. “Are you sure you’re not Zeus?”
“I’m not Zeus.” I stood, slow, holding my hands up in a placating gesture.
“Then are you working for him? Because seriously, Aphrodite, this is screwed up even for you.”
I tossed my hair back and rolled my eyes. “Look, there is no threat if you don’t exist. I don’t know why you’re so offended. I said last resort, and self-sacrifice is kind of your MO.”
“What are you talking about?” The sun sparkled in through the window, bathing Persephone in bright light. It glistened off her skin and hair, making her look like some kind of avenging angel.
“Boreas, Thanatos, Zeus. You shouldn’t have gone up against any of them because you had no hope of winning. Just because I thought of it first doesn’t make it any less noble or whatever. Bonus, you’d be saving all the realms, not just your annoying friend.”
“Get out.” Her fists, clenched to her side, didn’t hide the fact she was shaking with indignation.
“Persephone—”
“Get out, Aphrodite!”
I sighed. “Are you aware that I have to obey direct commands from you or anyone else in Zeus’ bloodline who outranks me?”
She blinked. “No, I thought it was just Zeus. Fine.” She gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. “Please get the hell out!”
“I’ll leave. But take this.” I shoved a small pearl at her. “If you change your mind just break it, and I’ll put you out of your misery. Don’t worry,” I said, cutting off her objections. “It won’t break unless you want it to. I’ll know.”
She ignored my outstretched hand, and I let out an impatient huff. “Look, sometimes death can be a mercy. I don’t want you to die. And I really hope you’re right about Hades, but he’s not thinking clearly—”
“And you think me committing suicide will make him more rational?” She rolled her eyes to show how little she thought of that idea.
“No, it will drive him nuts. But he’s not going to risk the world if there’s no saving you. Plus—” I fell silent long enough to make sure I had her full attention “—if Hades makes it easier to kill gods, who do you think the rest of the gods are going to come for first?”
I let her chew on that for a minute, then grabbed her hand and pressed the pearl into it. “Don’t let it come to this.”
“Aphrodite…” Persephone didn’t look angry anymore, she looked small and frightened. “If I take that, I’ll use it.”
“No.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll wait until there’s absolutely no other chance left. You’re strong. You never stop fighting.”
Her green eyes locked with mine, and I was startled at the glint of iron in them. She might believe she was broken, but Persephone was far stronger than she knew.
“Aphrodite, I won’t stop you from swearing over to me and throwing all your power my way, putting an end to this miserable existence. But I sure as hell don’t have to help you justify it. Don’t come here asking me to be all strong and noble when in reality you’re just too weak to make the decision yourself. I’ve made enough hard choices.”
“Persephone—”
“No! I’m telling you that if you give me that thing I. Will. Use. It. When he’s hurting me, all I can think of is making the pain stop. I’m in no position to judge when we’ve reached the ‘last resort,’” she put the words in air quotes, “so don’t delude yourself into thinking you’re washing your hands of this by making me pull the trigger. If you give me that, you’re