Page 72 of A Touch of Chaos

“Hermes!” Persephone snapped.

“All right, fine,” Hermes grumbled.

Persephone squeezed between the god and Amphion, leaving her office. As she did, she heard Amphion speak.

“Lunch is covered, but if you are offering dinner, I’m free.”

“Oh mygods,” Lexa whined as they piled into the elevator.

“You’re just jealous because Thanatos isn’t putting out,” said Hermes.

“Shut up,” Lexa hissed, elbowing Hermes in the ribs.

“Ouch!”

Persephone laughed as she watched them from her place in the corner.

This is how things should have been, she thought and then frowned. Those words felt strange, and she could not figure out why they’d come to her in this moment when everything felt real and right.

This is how things are, she whispered as the doors opened on the first floor.

She was the last to step off the lift, but as she turned to follow the others out the door, her heart fell into her stomach.

“Zofie.”

The Amazon stood near the front desk dressed in black. Her long braid swung as she turned her head toward Persephone and then her whole body.

“Lady Persephone,” she said, bowing her head. “Ready to eat?”

Persephone took a quivering breath as a memory surfaced in her mind—one of Zofie lying on a pyre, skin white like marble, dead.

“You’re…alive,” she said.

“Seph,” Lexa said, almost breathless. “Why would you say that?”

Persephone opened her mouth and then frowned. She shook her head. “I don’t know. I…”

“Perhaps you’ve been having a bad dream,” Zofie suggested, and her smile was so sweet, Persephone had to agree.

“Yeah,” she said. “Maybe so.”

They left Alexandria Tower, choosing a restaurant a few blocks over called House of Greek. Persephone noticed how her friends surrounded her as they walked—Hermes was in front, Lexa and Amphion on either side, and Zofie followed behind.

It was a formation they maintained when they arrived and made their way to their table, though it did little to obscure her from curious onlookers, even after they were seated.

Lexa twisted in her chair. “Hey! Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to stare!”

“Lex!” Persephone whispered.

“Well,” Lexa said, turning to face Persephone. “People are…”

“Rude?” Zofie supplied.

“Yes!” Lexa said, picking up a fork and holding it in her fist.

“Whoa there,” said Hermes. “It’s not that serious.”

She glared at him.

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