“I would like for you to office here,” Hades said.
Persephone turned to look at him, eyes wide.
“Is this because of yesterday?”
“That is one reason,” Hades replied, and continued. “It will also be convenient. I’d like your input as we continue The Halcyon Project and I imagine your work with The Advocate will lead to other ideas.”
She lifted a brow. “Are you asking me to work with Katerina?”
Katerina was the director of The Cypress Foundation and worked on The Halcyon Project with Sybil, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center that would offer free care to mortals. Not long ago, they’d announced a therapy garden that would be dedicated to Lexa, who had worked on the plan before her death.
“Yes,” he said. “You are to be queen of my realm and empire. It’s only fitting that this foundation begins to benefit your passions as well.”
Persephone said nothing and turned in a circle, assessing the space from a new perspective. There were four doors—two on either side of the waiting area. One, was a conference room, the other three were smaller offices. They were bare, except for simple desks, but as she observed, she started to imagine operating in this place.
“You are opposed?” he asked.
“No,” she said. Her thoughts were just spiraling.
She thought of something Hades had said: It is only a matter of time before someone with a vendetta against me tries to harm you. They were words Persephone had hardly believed at the time, mostly because she hadn’t wanted to—but since then, she’d seen the truth over and over again, from Kal to Pirithous, to the angry woman who had poured coffee on her.
Now there was another potential threat—Adonis and Harmonia’s unknown attackers.
She would be insane not to take Hades up on his offer.
“Thank you. I can’t wait to tell Helen and Leuce.”
The corner of Hades’ lip lifted, and he reached to brush her cheek.
“Selfishly, I will be glad to have you close.”
“You rarely work here,” Persephone pointed out.
“As of today, this is my favorite office.”
She tried not to smile, narrowing her eyes upon the god, her future husband. “Lord Hades, I must inform you that I am here to work.”
“Of course,” he said. “But you will need breaks and lunch, and I look forward to filling that time.”
“Isn’t the point of a break not to do anything?”
“I didn’t say I’d make you work.”
His hands tightened on her waist. It was a familiar pressure, one that was usually followed by a kiss, but as he started to pull her forward, someone cleared their throat, and Persephone turned to find Katerina.
“My Lady Persephone!” she grinned, offering a cute curtsy. She was dressed in yellow silk and khaki slacks. Her tight curls created a halo around her head.
“Katerina,” Persephone smiled. “A pleasure.”
“I apologize for the intrusion,” she said. “As soon as I heard Hades had arrived, I knew I would have to catch him before he vanished.”
Persephone glanced up at Hades, who was now looking at Katerina. The expression on his face made her curious. He seemed calm enough on the surface, but there was a slight tightening of his lips that made her wonder just what Katerina had to share with The God of the Dead.
“I will be along shortly, Katerina.”
“Of course.” The mortal’s gaze slipped to Persephone. “We’re honored to have you here, my lady.”
She left after that, and Persephone peered up at Hades.
“What was that about?”
“I will tell you later,” he said.
She raised a challenging brow. “Just as you were going to tell me where you had been the other night?”
“I told you I was bargaining with monsters.”
“A non-answer if there ever was one,” she commented.
Hades frowned. “I do not wish to keep things from you. I just do not know what to burden you with in your grief.”
Persephone opened her mouth and then closed it. “I am not angry with you. I was joking, mostly.”
Hades offered a breathy laugh. “Mostly.”
He was stroking her cheek again, and his gaze was tender.
“We’ll talk tonight,” he promised.
She thought he would kiss her, but instead he withdrew his touch and left the floor. Persephone stood there for a second, lost in a haze of desire and suddenly all she wanted to do was follow him and challenge him to take her in his glass office before all of creation as he’d once promised. He wouldn’t hesitate—he was just as insatiable as she—and if she weren’t more careful with her thoughts and actions, there would be no talking tonight as he promised.
She sighed and withdrew her phone, sending a quick text to Leuce and Helen, letting them know to meet her at Alexandria Tower instead of their usual spot. Persephone had to admit, she was relieved that she would be able to work without the public watching her every move.
She roamed the room again, soaking in the reality that she had a new space for her business, mentally preparing for how she would arrange the space and her new office.
She ended up by the windows. Being on the third floor meant she had a stunning view of New Athens, shrouded in heavy clouds, mist, and snow. Plows and salt trucks were working to clear the roads, all the while, more snow and ice fell. Even the window was pebbled with ice. She thought of Hecate’s words. Your mother terrorizes the Upperworld with snow and ice. The sun is just what the mortal world needs.
She placed her hand upon the glass.
There was a part of her that knew she could combat her mother because she had before. She’d sent Demeter to her knees in Hades’ court and the Goddess of Harvest, ancient and powerful, had not risen against her power. Still, another part of her feared that had been a result of Demeter being less powerful in Hades’ realm.
You used Hades’ powers against him, she reminded herself, and it had been terrifying. Her insides shook in the aftermath and she had felt exhausted in the weeks following, sleeping when she wasn’t working. She knew it was a sign that she was not yet strong enough to wield that kind of power. She was going to have to build up endurance, and the only way to do that was to practice more.
She shifted her gaze as a droplet of water skidded down the windowpane. She moved her hand, and beneath it, the ice had begun to melt. She pressed her fingers together, trying to decide if it was her power or her touch that had heated the glass. Her skin was not any warmer than usual, but her magic was on guard and alert, she could feel it, like highly sensitive nerves reacting to her frustration.
But that was the problem.
She had to start using power intentionally.
Placing her hand upon the window once more, she focused on the energy in her palm, warm and electric. Soon, the ice began to melt again. She watched beads of water trail down the glass and all she could think was that this was a parlor trick. It was nothing compared to the magic she would need to bring down Demeter’s eternal winter.
She let her hand fall and as she did, the beads of water froze in place.
“Persephone?”
She turned to find Sybil standing in the door of the office.
“Sybil,” she said, smiling. They hugged.