A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone, #2)

by Scarlett St. Clair

You have forbidden the use of my queen and my lady.” “Titles make me uncomfortable,” she said.

Girlfriend?” Hades supplied. She couldn’t suppress the laugh that tore from her throat. “What’s wrong with girlfriend?” he asked, glowering. “Nothing,” she said quickly. “It just seems so insignificant.”

Nothing is ever insignificant when it comes to you,” he said.

Whatever you order is fine,” she replied through the door. “So, pineapple and anchovies. Got it.”

Are you afraid to be caught with your boyfriend?” Persephone rolled her eyes. “I think I preferred lover.” His laugh was a deep rumble. “You are not easy to please.”

“I’m afraid seconds will not do,” she said. “I’m owed pleasure—hours of it.”

an ancient tale about forbidden love retold in modern times.

“Apollo fired me and took my gift of prophecy away,” she explained. She laughed humorlessly, wiping her eyes as more tears slid down her cheeks. “Turns out you can’t continue to reject a god without consequences.”

Daphne, Cassandra, Hyakinthos…”

This … god-child got a little pissy because you wouldn’t date him and took away your power?”

He’d been named Delphi Divine’s God of the Year seven years in a row, only losing the title once after Zeus struck the magazine’s building with lightning in protest.

“Right, wrong, fair, unfair—it’s not really the world we live in, Persephone. The gods punish.”

“Protests?” Persephone asked. “It’s the Impious,” he said. “Protesting the upcoming Panhellenic Games.” “Oh.”

Persephone didn’t respond. The problem was, she was asking for a promise, and when a god promised, it was binding, unbreakable. It didn’t matter that Sybil didn’t know of Persephone’s Divinity. She couldn’t do it.

“I don’t make promises, Sybil.” Sybil frowned. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

“That look,” she said, as if it explained everything. “The one you have now. Your eyes are dark but there’s something … alive behind them. Sometimes I think it’s passion, sometimes I think it’s violence. Sometimes I think it’s all of your lifetimes.”

“Tell me why the name of my nephew is upon your lips?” “He’s my next project.”

He left the bed completely naked. For a moment, she watched him walk away—well-muscled ass and all.

“Then you should not have told me your plans,” he said. She guessed his next thought: You shouldn’t have mentioned Apollo in my bedchamber, either.

I cannot protect you from another god. It is a fight you would have to win on your own.”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t fight for me?” Hades sighed and brushed his finger along her cheek. “Darling, I would burn this world for you.”

“I am begging you—do not write about the God of Music.”

“You cannot save everyone, my darling.” “I’m not trying to save everyone, just the ones who are wronged by the gods.”

Everyone deserves compassion, Hades. Even in death.”

“Speak another’s name in this bed again and know you have assigned their soul to Tartarus.”

Did the God of the Underworld, Rich One, Receiver of Many, fear Apollo?

The Yellow Daffodil,

“Are all the Divine wired for revenge?”

“You all want to punish. Apollo wants to punish his lovers so you want to punish him, and he will probably punish you for that. It’s insanity.”

“Can I get a picture?” The girl asked as she fluffed her hair and smoothed it over her shoulder. “Sorry, no,” Persephone said. “I’m having lunch.” “It’ll just take a second,” She leaned in to take a selfie, her camera on. Persephone shifted away, holding out her hands to stop the girl. “I said no.” “Just one,” the girl attempted to bargain. “What about no don’t you understand?” Persephone asked.

“You don’t have to be a bitch. It’s just a picture.” The girl lifted her phone and snapped a photo. Her outburst had drawn attention, and as Persephone watched her storm off, she noticed several customers had their phones pointed in her direction. She covered her face with her hand.

gods what a bitch

“If I want you, I will find you.” “And what if I want you?” “Then you have only to say my name,” he said.

“Some things can be brought up casually, Hades. At dinner, for instance—hi, honey. How was your day? Mine was good, the billion-dollar charities I own help kids and dogs and humanity!”

If you wish for me to be seen as more than a lover, then I need more from you. A … history … an inventory of your life. Something.”

“Hades, you were never alone, and you certainly aren’t alone now.”

“I did not know you wanted pictures of me.” She scoffed. “Of course I want pictures of you.” “I may be able to oblige. What kind of pictures do you want?”

“I’ve wanted to pleasure you in this room, on this desk, since I met you. It will be the most productive thing that happens here.” His words were flames, and they ignited her. She swallowed thickly. “You have glass walls, Hades.” “Are you trying to deter me?” She narrowed her eyes and teased. “Exhibitionist?”

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.

Almost all the stories about Apollo and his relationships ended tragically for the other person involved. Of all his lovers, the stories of Daphne and Cassandra seemed to best illustrate his heinous behavior.

Left with no other options and fearing Apollo, she asked her father, the river god Peneus, to free her from Apollo’s relentless pursuit. Her father granted her request and turned her into a laurel tree. Laurel was one of Apollo’s symbols and now Persephone realized why. Gross.

Cassandra, a Princess of Troy, was given the power to see the future by Apollo, who hoped the gift would persuade her to fall in love with him, but Cassandra wasn’t interested. Enraged, Apollo cursed her, allowing her to retain the power to see the future, but making it so that no one would believe her predictions. Later, Cassandra would foresee the fall of her people, but no one would listen.

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.”

“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.”

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

“Why do I have to get the dolly? I’m carrying the wine.”

“You’re just as regimented as Apollo.” Persephone didn’t like being compared to the god.

“I’m organized, Hermes, not neurotic.”

“Because Apollo takes pride in his routine—in the things he can create and execute, which means when he loses control, it’s personal.” Hermes glanced at Sybil. “Same goes for how he handles humans.”

“I’ll give you ten points if you hit someone,” Hermes offered. “Is that supposed to entice me?” Lexa asked. “Uh yeah, they’re Divine points.”

“What do Divine points get me?” Lexa asked, as if she were seriously considering his offer. “A chance to be a goat,” he answered.