“You’re learning control and strength comes with practice,” Hecate said. “Mark my words, Persephone, you will become one of the most powerful goddesses of our time.”

Persephone didn’t laugh.

They were quiet for a while after that, and soon, Hecate rose to depart.

“I must go, I promised Yuri we’d have tea. I didn’t think you’d be up for it.”

Persephone smiled. The goddess was right, she didn’t feel up for much. She was exhausted and still unsettled by the events that had unfolded last night.

Hecate leaned forward and kissed Persephone’s hair before departing.

Alone, her thoughts turned to Hades. She’d thought she’d manifested her greatest fear when she’d almost lost Lexa, never really considering that Hades’ betrayal could be just as horrific. She still felt unfathomable pain when she thought of him and Leuce together, despite Hecate’s explanation for what she saw in the Forest of Despair.

She sighed and rose to her feet, wandering through Hades’ garden, halting when the god walked into view from the opposite direction. He was in his Divine form, his strong frame draped in robes, and his long hair was pulled up into a messy bun. His horns were like black slashes, rising into the sky. He looked exhausted and pale and beautiful.

She held her breath in his presence, feeling as if there were oceans between them.

“Are you well?” he asked.

The question always warmed her, but this time it ignited her. She felt so much for him in a single moment, she could hardly make sense of it all, love and desire and compassion.

“I will be,” she answered.

Hades watched her for a moment, gaze searching.

“May I join you on your walk?” he asked.

“This is your realm,” she answered.

Hades frowned, but said nothing, and as she moved forward, he fell in step beside her. They didn’t hold hands or walk arm-in-arm, but now and then their fingers would brush, and the sensation was electric. Every inch of her skin felt like an exposed nerve. It was so strange, after everything they’d been through in the last few days, her body still responded to him as if none of that had happened.

She found herself wondering if Hades felt the same, then noticed his fists clench at his side.

She took that as confirmation.

They walked in silence until they came to the edge of the garden, where Persephone had found herself last night before venturing into the Forest of Despair. Finally, Hades turned toward her and spoke.

“Persephone. I...I don’t know what you saw but you must know—you must know—it wasn’t real.”

He sounded so broken, so desperate for her to understand.