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

by Scarlett St. Clair

“If you are wondering if I regret introducing them to each other, the answer is yes.”

“You’re leaving us?” Hermes asked. “What happened to sisters before misters?” Persephone rolled her eyes. “Hermes, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re a mister.” “I can be a sister!”

“Sorry, Hermes, but I’ve had one too many gods try to sleep with me.”

“So long ago that you forgot and introduced yourself as Hades’ lover?” Persephone asked. “Honest mistake.”

“Is Lord Hades in trouble?” Euryale asked. There was amusement in her voice but also a hint of excitement as the goddess approached. “More than you could ever know,” Persephone answered.

“You have seconds to explain before I turn her into a weed.” She knew Hades would have laughed if he believed she were any less serious.

“What is a long time?” He stared at her for a moment, and there was something behind his eyes—a living thing full of rage and ruin and strife. “A millennia, Persephone.” “Then why did she introduce herself to me as your lover today?” “Because to her, I was her lover up until Sunday.” Persephone’s fists clenched, and suddenly, vines erupted from the floor and covered the walls. Hades didn’t even flinch. “And why is that?” “Because she’s been a poplar tree for over two thousand years.”

“Why was she a poplar tree?” Hades’ hands rested on the tabletop, and they curled into fists as he answered, “She betrayed me.” “You turned her into a tree?” Persephone gasped, stunned by the revelation.

they shared power over the earthly realm, which meant there was the potential that she and Hades had similar powers.

Apparently, one was turning people into plants.

“I just want to be prepared in case they start coming out of the woodwork.”

woodwork....literally lmao

I deserved to know about her, Hades!” “Do you doubt my loyalty?” “You’re supposed to say you’re sorry,” she snapped. “You’re supposed to trust me.” “And you’re supposed to communicate with me.”

That’s what he had asked of her. Why shouldn’t he be held to the same standard?

She was starting to feel like she truly knew nothing about him.

“Hades, I am serious. I want to know your greatest weakness, your deepest fear, your most treasured possession.” His expression grew serious then, and he stared at her with an intensity that made her insides shudder. “You,” he answered, his fingers teased her kiss-swollen lips.

“Actions speak louder than words, Hades.” She vanished from the lounge.

No one would want to believe that the god who gave them sports was also an abusive asshole.

Hades is an idiot. He’s probably thinking you want space, and the more he gives you the better.”

“When I was … alive,” Leuce said, “in ancient times, the gods were feared and revered. Their worshippers were serious about honoring their gods. It wasn’t this … false obsession.”

“My worth is equal to the desire a god had for me. It has been since my powers manifested. Now I don’t even have those.”

Which begs the question, how noble can Apollo truly be when he fought on the side of Troy, yet compromised their victory, all because he was given the cold shoulder?”

Apollo was the literal God of Light. He was a God of Music and Poetry. He represented all the things in life mortals wanted. Including the darkness they never wanted to acknowledge.

“You think they could at least use my name?” “You might not want them to,” he said. “It’s probably best they remember who you belong to.” Persephone glared at her boss. “I don’t belong to anyone.”

The vengeance of the gods is a real and feared thing.”

He’s not supposed to be an asshole.” “Well, he is!” “You don’t have to convince me, Persephone. You have to convince the world.”

She thought he was a fighter, but when the going got tough, he rolled over.

They often don’t,” he commented. “I don’t understand.” He shrugged. “Men just don’t think.”

All you can do is keep fighting for what you want. If he wants you, he will work to understand you.”

Have you talked to Sybil? Persephone asked. No. I am betting she’ll lay low. If she was still Apollo’s oracle, you know she’d be dealing with this mess. If she was still his oracle, he wouldn’t be in this mess.

I know how history treats women.”

You are avoiding me,” he said. “I’m avoiding you?” she scoffed. “It’s a two-way street, Hades. You’ve been just as absent.” “I gave you space,” he said, and she rolled her eyes. “Clearly that was a bad idea.” “You know what you should have given me?” she said. “An apology.”

“I told you I loved you.” “That’s not an apology.” “Are you telling me those words mean nothing to you?”

“I can take care of this, Hades.” She didn’t know how, but she would. Demetri had given her two options—apologizing or interviewing a recent victim. Those might be shit options, but maybe the other seven would be willing to talk to her. Hades shut her down. “You can’t and you won’t.”

As he went to close the door behind him, she called out in a cracked voice, “You will regret this!”

“I already do,” he said, and there was a note to his voice that sounded like grief.

The Upperworld raged against her and Hades was hurt.

I knew she was back and advised him to tell you. What he chose to do or not isn’t my fault.”

“As I am sure your mother hoped you would be.” “My mother?” Persephone hadn’t heard or spoken to Demeter since she’d destroyed her greenhouse, and she had to admit, she didn’t really miss her. “Oh yes, this reeks of Demeter,” Hecate said, wrinkling her nose. “Who else has the power to turn a tree back into a nymph?”

Demeter attempted to defy the Fates to keep you from Hades. She will try anything to pry you away from him. You know that.”

“The first rule of men, Persephone, is that they’re all idiots.”

“And don’t start thinking that just because Hades is ancient and wise in other matters of life means he’s above idiocy. He’s not. Trust me. I have existed alongside him to see it all.”

“Hurt,” Hecate said. “Hades hurt you, too. You hurt each other. The answer is simple. You apologize.” “It doesn’t seem like enough.” “It is enough. It’s enough because you love each other.”

Let me coax the darkness from you—I will help you shape it.

One day, she would turn her mother into a carrion flower for keeping her magic from manifesting.

“At some point, I will instruct you in the art of poison,” Hecate said. “It’s a useful skill for any lady to possess.”

“How can you say you wish for me to be your queen when, given the opportunity to treat me as your equal, you fuck it up completely? Does your word mean nothing?”

“Magic is balance—a little control, a little passion. It is the way of the world.”

“We do not make up for hurt with hurt, Persephone. That is a god’s game—we are lovers.” “Then how do we make up for hurt?” she asked. “With time,” he answered. “If we can be comfortable being angry with one another for a little while.”

Don’t put me on a pedestal because you feel guilty for your decisions. Just … forgive yourself so you can forgive me. Please.”

“I will forever regret my anger. How could I ever question your love? Your trust? Your word? When you have my heart.”