A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone 2)

“You’re the one who made this difficult.”

“I hardly thought you were capable of...” he looked down at himself, narrowly missing having his face impaled by the massive thorn.

“Defeating you?” Persephone supplied.

“Restraining me,” he corrected, and that mischievous glint entered his eyes again. “Am I correct in guessing this is one of Hades’ favorite parts?”

“I’m not here to talk about Hades.”

“Of course. Because if you were, we’d have to address the elephant in the room. He doesn’t know you are here, does he?”

“Why does everyone keep asking that?” She complained. “I don’t have to ask for permission to be here.”

Apollo’s lips curled. “Perhaps not, but I am certain he will feel utterly betrayed when he discovers you came to me for aid. After all, he offered up a favor of his own to save you from me last time.”

Persephone ignored the guilt. “That was Hades’ choice. I have also made a choice. I propose a bargain, Apollo. You heal my friend and I’ll—I’ll—”

Well, she wasn’t exactly sure what she would do.

“You’ll do whatever I want.”

She hated how interested Apollo appeared at the prospect of an open request.

“Not whatever you want,” Persephone said. “I won’t do anything that will hurt Hades.”

“Oh, but you already are, little goddess,” he paused. “Fine. I’ll bargain with you, but only because this will entertain me.”

She waited. She wanted the terms of their agreement.

“I can’t think with this thorn in my face.”

She considered telling him to deal with it but decided she should be a little accommodating. She was at his mercy when it came to this bargain.

She dismissed her magic and Apollo stretched, still naked.

“Is it too much to ask for you to get dressed?” she asked.

“Yes. Now, what do I want from you?” he considered the question as he walked to the corner of the room and retrieved a floral robe. His back was to her as he slipped it on. He did nothing to secure it, however, and it hung open, exposing his nakedness. She rolled her eyes.

“I want you to hang out with me.”

“What?” Persephone thought he was joking but the look on Apollo’s face said otherwise.

“You’ll be my...friend. We’ll party together, we’ll attend events together, you’ll come to my penthouse.”

“You want me to hang out with you?” Something didn’t seem right about this. “For how long?”

“How much is your friend’s life worth?”

Persephone wasn’t going to answer that.

“What if we hate each other?” Because she was sure she would only hate him more by the end of this.

Apollo shrugged. “You’d be surprised by what I can handle.”

She had never wanted to roll her eyes so much at one person.

“What does hanging out with you entail?” She asked.