Demetri grimaced. “In the future, I want you to come to me when you feel wronged, Persephone. Your satisfaction in this job is important to me.”
“I…appreciate that.”
“And I will understand if you want to cease writing articles about Hades.”
She stared at him, surprised. “You would? But why?”
“I won’t pretend that I’m not aware of the frustration and stress it has caused you,” he said, and she had to admit, she was a little surprised he had noticed. “You became famous overnight and you’re not even finished with college yet.”
She let her eyes fall to her hands, she twisted her fingers nervously.
“But what about the readership?”
Demetri shrugged. “That’s the thing about news. There’s always something new.”
Persephone managed a small laugh, and considered things. If she stopped writing now, she didn’t feel she would have done Hades’ story justice. She’d started out with such a harsh critique of him, and, maybe selfishly, she wanted to explore other facets of his character. She realized she didn’t have to write an article to do that, but a part of her wanted to show Hades in the light. She wanted others to him as she had come to—as kind and caring.
“No,” she told Demetri. “It’s okay. I want to continue with the series…for now.”
Demetri smiled, but said, “Alright, but if you wish to end it, I want you to let me know.”
She agreed and went back to her desk.
When she was finished with her work, she headed to campus. During class, she found it harder to concentrate. Her sleepless night was catching up to her, and though she took notes, at the end of class, when she tried to read what she had written, it was just scribbles.
She really needed some rest.
A tap on the shoulder made her jump. She turned and looked into the face of a girl with small, fairy-like features and a dust of pretty freckles. Her eyes were large and round.
“You’re Persephone Rossi, right?”
She was getting used to that question, and learning to dread it.
“I am,” she said hesitantly. “Can’t I…help you?”
The girl picked up a magazine that rested on top of the books she cradled against her chest. It was the Delphi Divine. The cover was a picture of Hades. The headline read God of the Underworld Credits Journalist for The Halcyon Project.
She took it, flipping to the full spread and started reading, rolling her eyes.
Probably the worst part—aside from the article suggesting that the reason for the project was because Hades had fallen for the ‘beautiful, blond mortal’—was that they’d sourced a picture of her. It was the headshot they’d taken for her internship at New Athens News.
“Is it true?” The girl asked. “Are you really dating Lord Hades?”
Persephone looked at her and stood, shouldering her backpack. She didn’t think there was a word to describe what was happening between her and the God of the Dead. Hades had called her his lover, but Persephone would still describe herself as a prisoner—and that would be the case until the contract was removed.
Instead of answering the girl, Persephone asked, “You do know the Divine is a gossip magazine?”
“Yes but…he created The Halcyon Project just for you.”
“It isn’t for me,” she said starting past the girl. “It’s for mortals in need.”
“Still, don’t you think that’s romantic?”
Persephone paused and turned to face the girl.
“He listened. There’s nothing romantic about that.”
The girl looked confused, but Persephone wasn’t interested in romanticizing Hades for doing something all men should be doing and she told the girl as much.
“So you don’t think he likes you?” she asked.
“I’d much rather he respect me,” she answered.
Respect could build an empire. Trust could make it unbreakable. Love could make it last forever.
And she would know Hades respected her when he removed this stupid mark on her skin.
“Excuse me,” she said, and left. It was close to lunch and she had a date with Lexa and Sybil. After La Rose, she and Lexa had kept their distance from Adonis, but they’d grown attached to Sybil and the twins, Aro and Xeres.
Persephone left Hestia Hall and crossed campus, cutting through the Garden of the Gods. The scent of Hades’ magic was the only warning she had before she was teleported. She appeared in a different part of the garden where narcissus bloomed, standing face-to-face with Hades. He reached forward, gripped the back of her neck, and brought his lips to hers. She kissed him eagerly, but she was distracted by the article and her thoughts around the contract.