Demetri shook his head. “You don’t quit New Athens News without consequences, Persephone.”

“I didn’t know you were such a coward.”

“Not everyone has a god to defend them.”

Persephone flinched, but recovered quickly. She was really starting to hate that people assumed she would ask Hades to fight for her.

“I fight my own battles, Demetri. Trust me, this will not end well. People like Kal, they have secrets and I’ll dismantle him from the inside out.”

A glimmer of admiration sparked within Demetri’s eyes, but the words he spoke next were a threat to her foundation.

“I admire your determination, but there are some powers journalism cannot fight and one of those is money.”

CHAPTER VI - LOVER’S QUARREL

CHAPTER VI - LOVER’S QUARREL

On Friday, Persephone and Lexa found themselves standing outside an upscale Penthouse in the Crysos District of New Athens. They’d rented a giant moving truck that Lexa had managed to park crookedly on the sidewalk and street.

“This isn’t what I had in mind when I said I wanted to party, Persephone,” Hermes pouted beside them. The god dazzled in gold, looking very much out of place beside Lexa and Persephone who wore yoga pants and sweatshirts.

Persephone had penciled him in for Friday after he’d helped her get into the Acropolis, but that was before Apollo had fired Sybil and took away her powers.

“No one said you had to come,” Persephone countered.

The God of Trickery had shown up at her apartment just as they were heading out to get the moving truck. He tried to argue that they had an agreement—a contract—and she couldn’t back out, but Persephone shut that down.

“One of my best friends was in an abusive relationship. She’s getting out and I’m going to be there for her. Now, you can either come with us or you can leave. Your choice.”

Hermes had chosen to come.

“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your brother,” Lexa said. “Blame him.”

“I’m not responsible for Apollo’s choices,” Hermes argued. “And don’t pretend like this wouldn’t be more fun with alcohol.”

“Your right,” Lexa said. “Good thing I brought this.”

She withdrew a bottle of wine from inside a backpack she’d brought.

“Give me that,” Hermes snatched the bottle from her hands.

Persephone’s eyes widened. “Excuse me, aren’t you driving tonight?”

“Well yeah, but that’s for after.”

Except that somehow, Hermes had already managed to open the bottle.

“I hope you have more in that bag,” the god replied. “Because this one’s for the present.”

Lexa snorted, and the door in front of them finally clicked. Sybil’s voice echoed through the intercom.

“It’s open, come on up.”

Hermes started forward, but Persephone put her hand out to stop him. “You can get the dolly.”