A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone 1)

“You must be very lucky,” she said instead of answering him. “You’re on the VIP list at two clubs owned by gods.”

Adonis’s eyes dulled, but he didn’t miss a beat. “You should know I’m lucky, Persephone. I set your career in motion.”

She glared at him, and he smirked, then crossed the room to stand beside Lexa who hadn’t heard their exchange over the music. Lexa leaned into him and Adonis placed his hand on the small of her back. Persephone stared at them for a moment, feeling conflicted over her anger at Adonis and Lexa’s infatuation with the man. She wondered how Adonis made Lexa feel. Did her heart feel like it wanted to leave her chest? Did he make her whole body feel electric when he touched her? Did her thoughts scatter when he entered the room?

A waitress came to take their order. She was mortal, and dressed in a tight, iridescent dress. It reminded Persephone of the inside of a shell.

“A cab, please.” Persephone told the girl.

Shortly after their drinks came, Sybil, Aro, and Xeres arrived. Sybil wore a short black leather skirt and a lacy top. The twins matched tonight, choosing dark jeans, black shirts, and leather jackets. They took a seat opposite Persephone and placed their orders with the waitress. After she left, Sybil stood and looked around the suite.

“My, my, my, Adonis. Looks like Favor has its perks.”

The air in the room changed. Persephone sought Lexa’s gaze, but she wasn’t looking at her—or anyone. She had turned her attention to the dance floor. This is what Persephone had feared. If Adonis did have a god’s favor, it meant that any mortal he set his sights on was possibly in danger. Lexa knew that, and she wasn’t going to risk the wrath of a god.

“Don’t believe everything you hear, Sybil,” he said.

“You expect us to believe you get all these passes because you work for New Athens News?” asked Xeres.

Adonis sighed, rolling his eyes.

“Persephone,” Aro said. “You work for the News, do you get passes to popular clubs?”

She hesitated, “No—”

“Persephone here was invited to Nevernight by Hades himself.”

She glared at Adonis for opening his mouth. She knew what he was doing, trying to take the attention off himself. Luckily, no one took the bait.

“Keep denying it. I know a charmed one when I see one,” said Sybil.

“And we all know you’re fucking Apollo, but we don’t say anything,” said Adonis.

“Whoa, that was out of line, man,” said Aro, but Sybil raised her hand to silence her friend’s defense.

“At least I’m honest about my favor,” she said.

The longer this went on, the more Persephone knew she had to get her friend out of this suite. Lexa was going to need air and some time to get over the disappointment of getting her hopes up about Adonis.

Persephone stood and crossed the room.

“Lexa, let’s dance.” Persephone took her hand and led her out of the suite. Once they were downstairs, Persephone turned to Lexa.

“I’m okay, Persephone,” she said quickly.

“I’m sorry, Lexa.”

She was quiet a moment and nibbled on her lip. “Do you think Sybil is right?”

The girl was an Oracle which meant she was probably more in tune with the truth than anyone in the party, but still, all Persephone could say was, “Maybe?”

“Who do you think it is?”

It could be anyone, but there were a few goddesses and gods who were notorious for taking mortal lovers—Aphrodite, Hera, and Apollo just to name a few.

“Don’t think about it. We came here to have fun, remember?”

A waitress approached them and handed them two drinks.