Page 194 of A Touch of Chaos

He settled against her, his head resting on her chest, and she held him tight.

He did not disappear, and she refused to cry.

CHAPTER XXXVI

PERSEPHONE

A knock woke Persephone from sleep.

Hades was on his feet before she had even opened her eyes, making his way across the room, his magic cloaking him in robes as he went.

“Hades!”

It was Ilias. The sound of his frantic voice made Persephone’s heart race.

The doors opened, and the satyr rushed in, his eyes wide with panic.

“Theseus has struck. Artemis sent word. He is raiding Athena’s temple as we speak!”

Persephone rose from bed.

“He wasn’t supposed to act until morning,” Persephone said, using her glamour to dress.

“He must have gotten word that we emptied the temples,” said Ilias.

Or someone had betrayed them. Either way, the battle was happening sooner than any of them had anticipated.

Hades turned to Persephone. There was a haunted look in his gaze, and she knew that he did not want her to come, that he did not want her to be part of this battle.

“I have just as much need to watch him die as you do, Hades,” she said.

He held out his hand, and she thought that he meant for her to take it, but instead, a ribbon of shadow came from his palm and wound around her body, turning into leather-like armor.

“Come,” he said, and this time, she took his hand.

They teleported together.

Persephone did not know what to expect when they arrived, but she certainly did not think it would be sobright. It was supposed to benight.

“Helios,” Hades growled.

Persephone blinked, eyes watering, and as her vision adjusted, the true horror of what was about to unfold became clear.

Hades had appeared beside Artemis, Hephaestus, and Hecate. Opposite them were four familiar demigods. Each one held a blade to the throat of a priestess. The women had their eyes closed, their mouths moving in silent prayer. In the distance, she could hear screams from inside the temple where the other mortals were locked inside.

“It’s good that you could join us,” said Theseus.

“Why are you doing this?” Persephone demanded. “None of these people have harmed you.”

“If I am to make a new world, there can be no one left who believes in the old gods.”

“We are not old gods yet,” said Hades.

“But you have old weaknesses,” said Theseus. He glanced up at the sky. “How is the sun treating you, Hecate?”

Persephone looked at the goddess, who offered a small smile. “It is kind of you to ask, Theseus, but I am well.”

She did not understand the exchange. Did the sun weaken Hecate’s magic?

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