A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone 1)

“Persephone. I know you left with Hades Saturday night. It’s all anyone could talk about—the girl in red, stolen to the Underworld.”

She paled. “Did anyone—no one knew it was me, right?”

Lexa looked a little sympathetic. “I mean, Hades had just announced The Halcyon Project, which was inspired by you, so people came to their own conclusions.”’

Persephone groaned. That’s all she needed, more press on her supposed relationship with Hades.

A very dark and very loud part of her mind suddenly wondered if Hades behavior at the gala had been intentional. Was he looking for a way to divert attention from his antics by shining a spotlight on a relationship? And if that were the case, was she just a pawn?

“I know you’d rather not acknowledge whatever’s going on between you and Hades…but I’m your best friend. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

“I know, I know. I really didn’t intend to leave with him. I was going to call a cab and then…” Her voice trailed away.

“He swept you off your feet?” Lexa waggled her brows, and Persephone couldn’t help but laugh. “Just tell me one thing…did he kiss you?”

Persephone blushed and admitted, “Yes.”

Lexa squealed. “Oh my gods, Persephone! You have to tell me everything!”

Persephone looked at the clock. “I have to go—lunch with Sybil?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she answered.

Despite leaving her apartment late, Persephone took her time walking to work, reveling in the feel of life around her. She was still in disbelief. Her magic had surfaced, and it had awakened in the Underworld. She still had no idea what to do with it—she didn’t know how to harness what she felt, or use it to create illusions, but she planned to meet Hecate this evening for lessons.

When she arrived at the Acropolis, Demetri asked to see her. He offered a few edits to her article and before she sat down to work on them, she went into the break room to get some coffee.

“Hey, Persephone,” Adonis said as he joined her. He put on his most charming smile, as if it could erase the past and build a whole new future.

She glanced at him.

“I don’t really feel like talking to you.”

She didn’t need to look at him to know he had stopped grinning. He was probably shocked his smile hadn’t worked its usual magic.

“You’re really just gonna stop talking to me? You know that’s impossible. We work together.”

“I will still be professional,” she said.

“You aren’t being very professional right now.”

“Actually, I don’t have to make small talk with you to be professional,” she argued. “I just have to get my job done.”

“Or you could forgive me,” Adonis said. “I was drunk, and I barely touched you.”

Barely touched?

He had pulled her hair and attempted to force her mouth open. Besides that, his touch—no matter light or aggressive—was completely unwanted.

Persephone ignored him, leaving the break room.

He followed.

“Is this about Hades?” he demanded. “Are you sleeping with him?”

“That is not an appropriate question, Adonis, and it is also none of your business.”

“He told you to stay away from me, didn’t he?”