She took a shortcut back to the Acropolis. She was getting used to avoiding the attention of journalists and rabid fans of the Divine, and that meant avoiding the main roads in favor of narrow alleyways. While they weren’t as pleasant as the well landscaped sidewalks of New Athens, she’d learned it was the easiest way to get where she needed in the least amount of time because there were fewer people, and those she did encounter didn’t seem to care that she was there. Which was probably why she noticed a snowy cat with large, green eyes following her.

She knew by its mannerisms—strangely human and attentive—that the creature was a shapeshifter. Shapeshifters didn’t use glamour to mask appearances, their biology allowed them to change forms, which meant Persephone couldn’t see what they were beneath their animal form.

Persephone continued walking for a while, pretending that she hadn’t noticed the cat wandering the allies with her. When she was sufficiently out of sight of any onlookers, she stopped. The cat seemed surprised and halted, too.

Then, as if remembering it was supposed to be a cat, the creature began to lick its paw.

Gross, Persephone thought. This stone is not clean.

“Shift,” she ordered.

If it was sent, as she suspected, by Hades, the shifter would have no choice but to expose itself. Despite this, the cat attempted to run away. Clearly, it hadn’t expected Persephone to confront it.

Mid-run, its body straightened and grew, transforming into a slender female woman. She was tall and dressed in gold armor. Her dark hair was braided and fell over her shoulder to her waist. Persephone noted several weapons attached to her body—a long sword at her hip, a set of knives crossed on her back, a dagger around her bare thigh.

She was an Aegis and an Amazon—a daughter of Ares bred for brutality and war.

She knelt on one knee, pressing a hand to her chest as she did and said, “My Lady.”

“Don’t,” Persephone’s voice was sharp, and the warrior met her gaze, standing. “Hades sent you?”

“It is an honor to serve you, my lady.”

“I didn’t ask for this,” Persephone said.

“Lord Hades worries for you. I will keep you safe.”

She really hated the way those words made hope bloom in her chest.

“I don’t need you to keep me safe. I can take care of myself. I’ve lived in the mortal world for years and trust me, if an Amazon comes to my rescue, it’ll only make things harder for me.”

The woman raised her head, defiant. “I will do as Lord Hades commands.”

“Then I will speak with Lord Hades,” she replied, twisting on her heels.

“Please.”

Persephone was stopped by the shakiness in the Amazon’s voice. She faced the woman.