A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone #2) - Scarlett St. Clair Page 0,74

control the beating of her heart. There are any number of reasons he might be at the hospital. Lexa’s not the only one in the ICU, she told herself. He might be here for someone else.

She approached him and managed a smile.

“Thanatos, what are you doing here?”

“Lady Persephone,” he said, and bowed. “I am...working.”

Persephone tried not to cringe. Thanatos couldn’t help that he was the God of Death, but somehow, it was different talking to him in the Underworld. There, she hadn’t really thought too long on his purpose. Here, in the Upperworld, with her friend on life support, it was crystal clear. He severed the connection between the souls and their bodies. He left families devastated. He would leave her devastated.

“You mean you are reaping?”

“Not just yet,” he said, his half smile was charming, and it made her want to vomit. “You look—”

“Tired?” she offered. It wouldn’t be the first she’d heard it today.

“I was going to say well.”

She could feel Thanatos’ magic on the edges of her skin, coaxing her to calmness. Normally, she would take that as a sign of his caring nature, but not today. Today it felt like a distraction.

“I don’t want your magic, Thanatos.” Her words were harsh. She was frustrated, she was scared, and his presence was making her uncomfortable.

She didn’t think the god could look any paler, but even more color drained from his face. It took her a moment to realize that the sparkle in his eyes was gone. She had hurt his feelings. She pushed past the guilt and asked, “What are really doing here, Thanatos?”

“I told you—”

“You’re working. I want to know who you’re here to take.” Her voice shook as she asked the question.

The god pressed his lips together, a mark of defiance and answered, “I can’t tell you that.”

There was silence, and then Persephone said the words she knew Thanatos would be compelled to obey because Hades had ordered it. “I command you.”

Thanatos eyes glistened, as if this whole thing caused him physical pain. His brows drew together over desperate eyes, and he whispered her name, voice cracking as he spoke.

“Persephone.”

“I won’t let you take her.”

“If there were another way—”

“There is another way and it involves you leaving.” She pushed him a little. “Get out.”

She spoke quietly at first, not wanting to draw attention, but when he didn’t move, she said it again—firm this time, the words slipping through her teeth.

“I said get out!”

She pushed him harder and he held up his hands, backing away.

“This isn’t something you can prevent, Persephone. My work is tied to the Fates. Once they cut her thread…I have to collect.”

She hated those words, and they set her off in a way she never imagined.

“Get out!” she yelled. “Get out! Get out! Get out!”

Thanatos vanished, and Persephone was suddenly surrounded by nurses and a security guard. They were questioning and directing, and the words filled her head to bursting.

“Ma’am, is everything alright?”

“Maybe you should have a seat.”

“I’ll get some water.”

Pain formed at the front of her head. Despite the nurse trying to direct her to a chair, she broke free.

“I need to check on Lexa,” she said, but when she tried to return to the ICU area, the security guard blocked her.

“You need to listen to the nurses,” he said.

“But my friend—”

“I’ll get an update on your friend,” he said.

Persephone wanted to protest. There was no time. What if Thanatos had teleported to her room and taken her to the Underworld? Suddenly, the doors opened from the inside, and Persephone leapt at the chance, pushing past the guard, she took off at run for Lexa’s room and promptly vanished.

Being teleported to another realm without warning felt like being in a vacuum. Suddenly, it was harder to breath, her body felt void of moisture, and her ears popped painfully. The symptoms lasted a few seconds before she was overpowered by the scent of Hades’ magic, burning her nose like frost.

As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized she’d been deposited in Hades’ throne room. It was always dark despite the hazy light that filtered in through slanted windows overhead. Hades sat upon his throne—a glassy piece of obsidian that was both artistic and monstrous. She could see nothing of the god but a slash of his beautiful face, illuminated by red light.

She could guess why Hades had brought her here—to prevent her from interfering with Thanatos’ work, to lecture her once again about how they could not interfere in Lexa’s life, but