“Thanks for everything, Lex. I’m sorry you couldn’t give me the tour yourself.”

“I won’t lie. It was weird seeing people fall all over themselves in your presence.”

The two laughed together at that. It was strange, even to Persephone, but then Lexa said something that made Persephone’s blood run cold.

“Imagine when they find out you’re a goddess.”

Persephone walked back to the Acropolis. This time she begrudgingly made her way to the entrance between screaming fans who were kept at bay by a makeshift barrier security had put in place.

“Persephone! Persephone look over here!”

“How long have you been dating Hades?”

“Will you write about other gods?”

She kept her head down and didn’t answer any questions. By the time she made it inside, her body was vibrating, her magic awakened from the surge of anxiety she’d felt being at the center of the crowd. She made a beeline for the elevators, all the while thinking about Lexa’s last words before they’d parted at Alexandria Tower.

Imagine when they find out you’re a goddess.

She knew what that really meant:

Imagine when you can no longer exist as you once did.

Suddenly, the elevator seemed too small and just when she thought she couldn’t take another breath, the doors opened. Helen popped up from behind her desk, smiling, oblivious to Persephone’s internal battle.

“Welcome back, Persephone.”

“Thanks, Helen,” she said without much of a look in her direction. Despite this, Helen followed Persephone to her desk. As she stored her things, she found a white rose sitting on her laptop. Persephone picked it up, careful to avoid the thorns.

“Where did this come from?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Helen said, frowning. “I didn’t accept anything for you this morning.”

Persephone’s brows knitted together. A red ribbon was tied around the stem but there was no card attached. Maybe Hades had left it for her, she reasoned, and set it aside.

“Do I have any messages?”

Persephone assumed that was why Helen had escorted her back to her desk.

“No,” Helen said.

That was unlikely. Persephone waited.

“They can wait,” Helen added. “Besides, they’re all leads for other stories, and I know you’re working on that exclusive—”

Persephone’s eyes must have flashed because Helen stopped speaking.

“How do you know about that?” Persephone’s mood dampened.

“I…”

She’d never seen Helen stumble over her words before, but all of a sudden, the girl couldn’t speak, and she looked close to tears.

“Who else knows?” Persephone asked.

“N-no one,” Helen finally managed. “I overheard. I’m sorry. I thought it was exciting. I didn’t realize—”

“If you overheard, you’d know it wasn’t exciting. Not for me.”

There was silence, and Persephone looked at Helen. “I’m sorry, Persephone.”