A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone 2)

She sighed and closed her browser, opening a blank document. She had another week to write the exclusive Demetri and Kal had ordered. This was probably not the best time to begin, because every word she thought of to describe Hades was something angry and unkind.

Frustrating, thoughtless, jerk.

After a moment, she sighed and checked her mug. She needed more coffee if she was going to attempt this article. She left her desk and went into the break room. As her coffee brewed, Helen found her.

“Persephone...there’s a woman here to see you. She says her name is Leuce.”

Persephone froze and looked at Helen.

“Did you just say Leuce?”

The girl nodded; her blue eyes wide. Persephone’s frustration burned, and she clenched her fists to keep a handle on her magic. All she needed was to sprout vines in front of her co-worker. What was Hade

s’ ex-lover doing here?

“Should I tell her you’re busy?” Helen asked. “I’ll tell her you’re busy.”

Helen started to leave.

“No,” Persephone stopped her. “I’ll see her. Show her to an interview room.”

Helen nodded and returned shortly after she disappeared.

“She’s in three.”

“Thank you, Helen.”

The girl hovered and Persephone took a breath.

“Yes, Helen?”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Just peachy,” she answered.

What else was there to say? She was being forced to write about her love life—a love life that was being threatened by a woman who just showed up at her job.

Things were complicated.

Persephone kept Leuce waiting. It was the woman’s fault for showing up unannounced. When she finally entered the interview room, Leuce was standing by the window and when she turned to face Persephone, the goddess was surprised to see that she looked worse than when she’d seen her yesterday.

Yesterday she’d been exhausted.

Today she looked filthy. Her string-straight hair was matted, and she was wearing the same clothes that she’d had on at Nevernight. Persephone also noted the tear stains on her cheeks, visible because of the dirt on her face.

“What are you doing here?” Persephone asked.

“I came to apologize,” she said.

Persephone startled. That was the last thing she expected Leuce to say. “Excuse me?”

“I shouldn’t have introduced myself the way I did,” the words poured out of Leuce’s mouth quickly, almost like she was berating herself. “I was angry with Hades. I mean, I am sure you understand—”

“Leuce,” Persephone interrupted her. “You will forgive me if I don’t wish to be reminded about how well you know Hades. Why are you here?”

The nymph pressed her lips together tightly. “Hades kicked me out and fired me last night.”

Persephone just stared.