“Forgive this slight, and in exchange, I offer a favor.”
“A favor,” Apollo echoed. “That is very generous.”
“The offer is not for your benefit, though you will likely reap the rewards.”
“You must really care for this mortal.”
Hades said nothing. He did not have to. The offer of a favor spoke volumes.
“Fine,” Apollo said. “But she will never—”
The doors to the throne room slammed open, and Hades’s eyes lifted to Persephone, who stood barely dressed in her black robe. Though her exposed skin meant little to Apollo, Hades would have preferred he not see her at all. Every muscle in his body tightened as the God of Music turned to look at her.
“So,” he purred, “the mortal has come to play.”
Hades’s body vibrated with frustration, his eyes sliding to Hermes, who had just come to a stop behind Persephone, looking a little too impish to be completely innocent. Hades glared.
“What?” Hermes asked, defensive. “She guessed!”
“The deal is done. You will not touch her,” Hades said, both as a reminder and as a warning.
“What deal?” Persephone asked, taking a few more steps into the room.
He had not told her of his plans, and now that they were here in this room, he wished he had, even if there had been no time, and even though she wouldn’t have approved, at least she wouldn’t have had to find out this way.
He knew it looked bad.
“Your lover has struck a deal,” Apollo said, his disdain for Persephone evident in his tone. It was an insult, and Hades considered challenging the god, but it was a dangerous prospect now that he owed him a favor. “I have agreed not to punish you for your… slanderous article…and in turn, Hades has offered me a favor to be collected at a future time.”
Persephone’s eyes widened, which told him she understood perfectly the implications of his deal.
“Damn,” Hermes whistled, and Hades’s mood darkened. “He really does love you, Sephy.”
“I will not agree to this,” Persephone said.
Hades admired her words; they came out of a concern for him, no matter how futile.
“You don’t have a choice, mortal,” Apollo said.
“I’m the one who wrote the article. Your deal should be with me.”
“Persephone,” Hades warned. While he had accepted Hades’s offer, there was nothing to prevent Apollo from also taking Persephone up on hers.
But Apollo laughed, such was his arrogance. “What could you possibly offer me?”
Persephone’s eyes flashed, her fingers curled into her palms, and Hades allowed his magic to surface in response, hoping it would mask hers.
“You hurt my friend,” she seethed.
“Whatever your friend did must have warranted punishment or she would not be in the situation she is in.”
Apollo’s response did nothing to quell Persephone’s anger, but at least it illustrated who he was, something that could only be witnessed—an asshole.
“You mean to tell me her refusal to be your lover warrants punishment?”
Persephone asked.
Hades noted how rigid Apollo had gone, which told him he knew exactly who Persephone was talking about.
“You took away her livelihood because she declined to sleep with you.
That is insane and pathetic.”
As much as he enjoyed her insults, they were best kept between them. If Apollo wanted, he could take each word as a slight and ask for more in exchange.
“Persephone,” Hades warned.
“You be quiet! You chose not to include me in this conversation. I will speak my mind.” While he deserved her contempt, he’d have rather taken it without an audience. Hermes laughed, and to Hades’s chagrin, she continued. “I only wrote about your past lovers. I didn’t even touch on what you have done to Sybil. If you don’t undo her punishment, I will dismantle you.”
Hades assumed she meant she would do so with her words, and while he believed she was capable of writing something that hurt, she obviously had forgotten how poorly the public had taken her first article.
He expected Apollo to respond with aggression, but he chuckled, and that put Hades more on edge because it meant he was intrigued.
“You are a fiery little mortal. I could use someone like you.”
“Speak further, Nephew, and you will have no reason to fear her threat, because I will tear you to pieces.”
Apollo’s gaze narrowed, daring him to try.
“Well?” Persephone asked, raising her voice to regain Apollo’s attention.