Persephone kept Leuce waiting. It was the woman’s fault for showing up unannounced. When she finally entered the interview room, Leuce was standing by the window and when she turned to face Persephone, the goddess was surprised to see that she looked worse than when she’d seen her yesterday.

Yesterday she’d been exhausted.

Today she looked filthy. Her string-straight hair was matted, and she was wearing the same clothes that she’d had on at Nevernight. Persephone also noted the tear stains on her cheeks, visible because of the dirt on her face.

“What are you doing here?” Persephone asked.

“I came to apologize,” she said.

Persephone startled. That was the last thing she expected Leuce to say. “Excuse me?”

“I shouldn’t have introduced myself the way I did,” the words poured out of Leuce’s mouth quickly, almost like she was berating herself. “I was angry with Hades. I mean, I am sure you understand—”

“Leuce,” Persephone interrupted her. “You will forgive me if I don’t wish to be reminded about how well you know Hades. Why are you here?”

The nymph pressed her lips together tightly. “Hades kicked me out and fired me last night.”

Persephone just stared.

“I know I don’t deserve your kindness, but please. I have nowhere to go.”

Persephone shook her head. “What exactly are you asking of me?”

“Can’t you…talk to him…for me?” She seemed to struggle saying those words.

“Why aren’t you talking to him?”

“You don’t think I tried? He told me I had to go. He wasn’t going to risk losing you.”

“If he really meant that, he would apologize,” she muttered under her breath.

“Look, I know you don’t want to hear this but...Hades is an idiot. He’s probably thinking you want space and the more he gives you the better.”

“You’re just saying that because you want me to ask him for your job back.”

“And my home,” she said shamelessly.

Persephone lifted a brow. “Didn’t you call it a shithole last night?”

“It is a shithole, but it was my shithole and it had a bed,” she said. “Which was far better than the park bench I found last night.”

Hindsight is twenty-twenty, she thought.

The two stared at each other for a long moment before Persephone asked, “Why I should help you? You weren’t even thankful for what Hades gave you.”

Plus, you cheated on him.

“Because I’m an idiot, too. I guess I thought I had more...leverage. Turns out, I have nothing. I don’t even understand this world. I barely made it here because crossing your streets are almost impossible,” she paused, and looked away, and when she spoke again, her voice quivered. “Imagine waking up in a world that doesn’t even resemble the one you left. It’s...frightening. It’s...the worst punishment.”