Persephone closed her eyes, feigning sleep. She tensed as she felt Hades’ presence hovering over her, but Hades merely placed a kiss on her forehead and tucked a stray curl of hair behind her ear.

The door opened and closed, but she waited a few more moments before opening her eyes.

She was alone for the first time since their consummation. She tossed back the covers and ran across the room, grabbing the dressing table and dragging it over to bar the door. It would not stop a determined person from entering, but it would buy her some time.

The smashed pottery from the night before had been removed, and a new jug stood in its place. Persephone washed herself again before dressing in a pale green chiton with crocuses embroidered around the hem. She looked at herself in the mirror and touched the dark bruise on her neck, her lip curling in distaste. All her other bruises had healed, but that one remained stubbornly defiant.

The legs of the dressing table squeaked and Persephone jumped. The door swung ajar, hitting the edge of the table.

“Good morning,” Xenia said, peeping through the crack. “May I come in? I brought breakfast.”

“Is it just you?”

“Yes, mistress.”

Persephone hesitated for a moment, but then her stomach rumbled. She moved the table.

Xenia brought in a tray of food and set it down near the window. Persephone touched each item in turn, determining their safety before eating.

She saved the seeds from a cut tomato, then opened the window and scattered them outside. The ghost of a raven watched her from the branches of an elm.

Persephone closed her eyes and stretched her hand through the window, hovering over the seeds. She felt them moving, splitting, but no more.

“Stupid,” she muttered, her hand clenching into a fist. The raven squawked and flew away.

Xenia cleared her throat. She’d been so quiet Persephone had thought she’d left.

Persephone pulled herself back from the window and wiped the tomato juice from her fingers with a cloth. “What is it?”

“I have your directives for the day, mistress.”

Directives. As in... chores? “Has the underworld never heard of a honeymoon?” Persephone asked, her eyes narrowed. Not that she ought to be surprised. It was a farce of a marriage; how could she expect the day after to be anything more?

Xenia fumbled uncomfortably with her braid. “Queen Hades simply wants you to become more familiar with your new subjects and to receive their wedding gifts—”

“If Hades wants me to do something, she can tell me herself,” Persephone said. She stood up so quickly that her seat toppled over. “And no one here is my subject, for this is not my home.”

Xenia winced, stepping aside in a hurry as Persephone flounced past her. “Mistress... where are you going?”

“For a walk,” Persephone said.