Persephone left the ICU in a daze. She felt like she had the day she found out Lexa was in the accident. She was a ghost, frozen in time, watching the world continue. Ungrounded, she made her way to the elevator. She was so lost in her own thoughts; she almost didn’t notice Thanatos leaning against a wall in the waiting room. Beneath the fluorescent lights, his blond hair looked colorless, and his black wings were very much out of place amid the sterile walls and stiff chairs.

Persephone knew he hadn’t expected to see her here because when he caught her gaze, his striking blue ones widened in surprise.

She tried to control the beating of her heart. There are any number of reasons he might be at the hospital. Lexa’s not the only one in the ICU, she told herself. He might be here for someone else.

She approached him and managed a smile.

“Thanatos, what are you doing here?”

“Lady Persephone,” he said, and bowed. “I am...working.”

Persephone tried not to cringe. Thanatos couldn’t help that he was the God of Death, but somehow, it was different talking to him in the Underworld. There, she hadn’t really thought too long on his purpose. Here, in the Upperworld, with her friend on life support, it was crystal clear. He severed the connection between the souls and their bodies. He left families devastated. He would leave her devastated.

“You mean you are reaping?”

“Not just yet,” he said, his half smile was charming, and it made her want to vomit. “You look—”

“Tired?” she offered. It wouldn’t be the first she’d heard it today.

“I was going to say well.”

She could feel Thanatos’ magic on the edges of her skin, coaxing her to calmness. Normally, she would take that as a sign of his caring nature, but not today. Today it felt like a distraction.

“I don’t want your magic, Thanatos.” Her words were harsh. She was frustrated, she was scared, and his presence was making her uncomfortable.

She didn’t think the god could look any paler, but even more color drained from his face. It took her a moment to realize that the sparkle in his eyes was gone. She had hurt his feelings. She pushed past the guilt and asked, “What are really doing here, Thanatos?”

“I told you—”

“You’re working. I want to know who you’re here to take.” Her voice shook as she asked the question.

The god pressed his lips together, a mark of defiance and answered, “I can’t tell you that.”

There was silence, and then Persephone said the words she knew Thanatos would be compelled to obey because Hades had ordered it. “I command you.”

Thanatos eyes glistened, as if this whole thing caused him physical pain. His brows drew together over desperate eyes, and he whispered her name, voice cracking as he spoke.

“Persephone.”