“If I hear a whisper of what I have told you anywhere, Persephone, I will fire you. That’s a promise.”

Persephone pinched her lips together and stood, feeling dazed. She paused before leaving the office.

“You’re no better than Apollo.”

Demetri laughed, and it was cold and humorless. “I think that’s the first time anyone’s ever compared me to a god.”

“It’s not a compliment,” Persephone replied. She knew it wasn’t necessary to point it out. Demetri was well-aware of the gravity of her comparison. Apollo and Demetri had essentially made the same decisions when it came to the people they supposedly loved, and the results were devastating for the mortals who remained.

She left Demetri’s office and gathered her things.

“Oh...uh, Persephone?” Helen called as she walked past the desk to the elevator.

She didn’t stop.

“Persephone?”

Helen came up beside her.

“What, Helen?” she snapped.

“Are you—”

“Please don’t ask me if I’m okay.”

Helen’s lips thinned, and she hesitated, stumbling over her words. “Um, this came for you.”

She handed Persephone a white envelope.

“Who—?”

She started to ask when Helen turned on her heels and returned to her desk.

Persephone sighed. She didn’t blame the girl for practically running from her. Now she had two reasons to apologize to her, but she’d have to do that later because she really wanted to leave.

She stepped inside the elevator and opened the envelope.

Inside was a handwritten letter.

Dearest Persephone,

I see you did not like the rose. Perhaps you will find future gifts more acceptable.

-Your admirer

It was the first time she’d thought about the rose since it had arrived on her desk a few days ago. It was still there, wilted and forgotten after Lexa’s accident. While she had assumed Hades had given it to her, she now realized it wasn’t from him but another person. She was going to have to tell Helen to stop accepting unmarked gifts and envelopes.

Suddenly uneasy, Persephone crushed the letter between her hands, and as she stepped out of the elevator, threw it away.

She called a taxi and headed to the hospital to visit Lexa.

She would never get used to this place, just approaching made her anxious—a feeling that grew once she reached the second floor, making her way down the hall to Lexa’s room. Suddenly, she halted, spotting Eliska and Adam speaking to the doctor.

“At this point, it is something to consider,” the doctor was saying.

Lexa’s parents looked distraught.

Persephone ducked behind a computer stand, listening.

“How long does she have? Once the ventilator is removed?” she heard Adam ask.

“That’s really up to her. She could pass within seconds or days.”

Persephone felt sick to her stomach.