A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone #2) - Scarlett St. Clair Page 0,38

required the same grace.

After lunch, the day just got worse. Helen was dealing with an influx of angry phone calls and Persephone’s inbox continued to fill with hate mail. She couldn’t escape the judgement, even in her text messages.

I can’t believe you did it! Lexa texted.

She wasn’t sure if that was her best friend expressing her excitement or her frustration.

Have you talked to Sybil? Persephone asked.

No. I am betting she’ll lay low. If she was still Apollo’s oracle, you know she’d be dealing with this mess.

If she was still his oracle, he wouldn’t be in this mess.

Um, girl, I meant YOU. You’re the mess.

I just told the truth. So sue me.

I’m thinking Apollo will resort to more archaic means. Lexa paused and then text, Has Hades said anything yet?

Nope.

There had been no apology, no lecture, and her emotions were all over the place. She had never felt like this before, torn between anger, a desperate wish to be confronted by him, and fear of his disappointment.

When Persephone left the Acropolis, Antoni met her at the doors and walked her through the aggressive crowd. He waited until they were safely in the car to ask, “Are you okay, my lady?”

She wasn’t sure why, but the question made her eyes burn. All of a sudden, she was holding back tears. She would not cry over this—not yet. Apollo wasn’t worth her tears.

She took a deep breath.

“Is he angry?”

She knew she didn’t have to say Hades’ name. Antoni would know who she was talking about.

“I haven’t seen him,” the ogre admitted. “But I can imagine he won’t be happy.”

She knew that, which was why there was no way she was going to the Underworld tonight. She was thankful that the ogre didn’t elaborate or berate her for writing about Apollo. Most of the drive was spent in silence, except for when she asked Antoni to stop so she could grab takeout before heading home.

By the time she made it to the apartment, all she wanted to do was take a hot bath and go to sleep. She bid Antoni goodnight, and headed inside. Lexa had texted her to let her know she would be out with Jaison. Sybil was sitting at the bar working on a resume, but when Persephone walked through the door, left her seat and folded her into her arms.

Persephone dropped her purse and the takeout to the floor and hugged the oracle back.

“I’m sorry,” Persephone said. “I didn’t listen to you.”

“It’s okay,” Sybil said. “I don’t blame you for wanting to tell their stories, I just hate that no one believes you.”

“I know that’s why you told me not to do it,” Persephone said, and she smiled a little as she pulled away to look at Sybil. “Apollo might have taken away your powers, but your instincts are on point.”

She shrugged. “I know how history treats women.”

Sybil picked up Persephone’s purse and the food she’d brought, sitting it on the counter.

“It’s moussaka, if you want some,” Persephone said, nodding to the bag of food. “I also got baklava because…you know…it’s been a hard day.”

Sybil laughed softly. “Of course.”

“I think I’m going to take a bath.”

Sybil nodded. “I’ll be here if you wanna talk.”

“Thanks, Syl.”

Persephone navigated to her bedside table in the dark, familiar with the layout of her room, and turned on the lamp. She stepped into the bathroom, removed her jewelry, and started the bathwater. As it was running, she moved back into her room and began to undress when she noticed something shifting in the corner of her eye. She turned, startled by Hades’ presence in her room.

How had she not felt him?

Because he didn’t want you to, she thought immediately.

“Please continue,” he said, leaning casually against the wall in partial darkness. He looked at home, born of the shadow. His hands were in the pockets of his slacks, and he’d removed his jacket. The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up, and the top two buttons undone, exposing his well-muscled forearms and chest.

Her breath caught in her throat. Would she always think of how beautiful he looked every time she saw him?

His burning eyes ran the length of her, and she suddenly remembered she was angry with him for so many things. She pulled her dress back up, and Hades’ offered an unamused laugh.

“Come now, darling. We are beyond that, are we not? I have seen every inch of you—touched every part of you.”

She shivered because no matter how angry she was with him, she