They were funneled into a reception hall with a ceiling made of glass-blown flowers. Persephone spent several minutes with her neck craned, staring at the display, but she was soon interrupted by numerous people who approached to greet her. Some were strangers, some were high ranking criminals and members of Iniquity, but a few were Persephone’s friends.

“Sybil!”

She hadn’t seen her friend and ex-roommate since they’d moved out of their apartment a week ago. She hugged the oracle tight. The blonde wore a sparkling, champagne-colored gown.

“You look beautiful!”

“Thank you—as do you,” Sybil said. “How are you doing?”

“Good. Great,” Persephone said. She couldn’t stop smiling. “How’s Aro?”

Sybil blushed. “Good. We’re...good.”

Persephone let out a small yelp when Hermes appeared, scooping her up into a tight hug. When he set her on her feet, it was in front of Apollo, who smirked when he saw her.

“So, Sephy,” Hermes said, wagging his brows. “I hear Hades put a ring on it.”

She laughed. “Well, not...literally.”

The God of Trickery gasped. “What the fuck? You can’t be engaged without a ring, Sephy.”

“That’s not true at all, Hermes.”

“Says who? I wouldn’t have said yes until I saw the rock.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Congrats, Seph,” Apollo said, and Persephone grinned at him.

They were directed into the dining room shortly after, and Persephone sat at a table at the front of the room between Hades and Sybil. Despite the excitement of the evening and seeing her friends again, Persephone couldn’t help thinking about Lexa. She could see her in parts of the event—in the wine lists, the music, the decor. Everything was glamorous and dramatic, just the way she liked it.

She felt her absence acutely.

Well into dinner, Katerina, the director of The Cypress Foundation, stood and welcomed the crowd. She offered and overview of The Halcyon Project, and then turned over the remainder of the presentation to Sybil.

“I am new to The Cypress Foundation,” she said. “But I fill a very special position, one that was once occupied by my friend, Lexa Sideris. Lexa was a beautiful person, a bright spirit, a light to all. She lived the values of The Halcyon Project, which is why we at The Cypress Foundation have decided to immortalize her. Introducing...the Lexa Sideris Memorial Garden.”

Persephone gasped, and Hades gripped her hand beneath the table.

On the screen behind Sybil were sketches of the garden—a beautifully landscaped oasis.

“The Lexa Sideris Memorial Garden will be a therapy garden for residents of Halcyon,” Sybil explained, jumping into an overview of the meaning behind each part of the garden, explaining that the nightshades paid homage to her love of Hecate, and the gorgeous glass-like sculpture at the garden’s center represented Lexa’s soul—a bright and burning torch that kept everyone going.

Persephone’s heart was so full.