And if he did, well, it was his fault for undermining her.
Antoni glanced in the rearview mirror.
“I see you met Zofie,” he said.
“Don’t tell me you knew about this, Antoni.”
The cyclops ducked his head a little, as if to hide from her frustration. “I think it was inevitable, my lady.”
Persephone didn’t respond. She looked out the window as they passed marble-white buildings, stoic churches, and colorful apartments until they came to Aphrodite’s shop. Persephone picked Zofie up, who protested with a loud whine.
“Shh!” she commanded. “No one let’s their cat walk into a shop of their own freewill.”
She stepped out of the limo and into the shop.
“I didn’t know you liked pussies,” Aphrodite said, materializing as soon as Persephone sat the cat on the floor. The goddess was a little more covered than usual, wearing a silk champagne dress, embossed with flowers. It had thin straps, came to her mid-calf, and looked more like a nightgown than something to wear in public, but Persephone was discovering that was Aphrodite’s modus operandi.
“Shift,” Persephone ordered, and Zofie became human again.
Aphrodite’s eyes narrowed upon the Amazon. “A daughter of Ares,” she said. “I’m not surprised.”
Persephone’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?”
“Hades would only ever assign the best to protect you.”
Zofie bowed her head. “It is an honor for you to say, Lady Aphrodite.”
The Goddess of Love offered a half smile, but it was not kind.
“Of course. Everyone knows Amazons are brutal, aggressive, and full of bloodlust. You’re all just like your father.”
Zofie stiffened beside her, and Persephone wondered why the goddess felt the need to be so cruel.
“Aphrodite, I’m hoping to purchase a new wardrobe for my Aegis,” Persephone said quickly. “I need her to blend in if she’s going to...protect me.”
It was hard for Persephone to say the word. She didn’t want to need protection. She wanted to protect herself, but at this point, after what had happened a few days ago, it was likely she’d just rip herself apart.
“What’s the matter? War-time chic too flashy for you?”
Persephone gave Aphrodite a dull look as she began pulling clothing off racks and handing it to the attendants.
“What colors do you like, Zofie?” Persephone asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve never thought about it.”
Persephone paused and looked at her. “Never thought about it?”
“We are warriors, Lady Persephone.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fashion,” Persephone remarked, and then laughed to herself. She sounded like Lexa.
When the attendant’s arms were piled high with clothes, Persephone ushered Zofie into one of the changing rooms and took a seat. Aphrodite lounge nearby.
“How’s the love life?” Aphrodite asked.
“Why do you always ask that?”
The question frustrated her for obvious reasons. She hadn’t seen Hades since their fight, and she’d agonized over the status of their relationship since.
“I’ve never asked it of you before. I can usually smell it.”
Persephone rolled her eyes, still repulsed by Aphrodite’s unusual skills.
“Then I guess you have your answer.”
Persephone didn’t look at Aphrodite, she stared at the curtain that Zofie had disappeared behind.
“You might not be having sex, but you still love him,” Aphrodite said.
“Of course I love Hades.”
No one needed magic to see that.
“Have you told him?”
“I tried,” she said.
Don’t say you love me.
Aphrodite was quiet for a long moment, and then said, “I have never told anyone I loved them and meant it.”
“What about Hephaestus?”
“I have never told him that I loved him.”
There was an uncomfortable pause and then Persephone asked, “Is that because you really do love him?”
Aphrodite didn’t answer, and Zofie picked that moment to leave the changing room in a tailored blue dress that made her look remarkably tan and accentuated her athleticism.
“Oh, Zofie! You look beautiful.”
The Amazon flushed crimson and stood in front of the mirror, smoothing her hands over the fabric.
“It’s not very conducive to fighting,” she commented, attempting to kick out her feet and squat.
“Oh, darling. If you cannot fight in heels and a tailored dress in this age, how can you call yourself a warrior?”
Persephone couldn’t tell if Aphrodite was being serious or not. It was easy for an immortal to say something like that. Gods were virtually invincible.
“Let’s hope you won’t have a reason to fight anyone while you’re guarding me,” Persephone said.
Zofie disappeared behind the curtain again. She tried on several outfits, preferring pant suits over skirts and dresses. Persephone did manage to convince the Amazon to buy one dress, a floor length gown in the same color blue as the first one she’d tried on, arguing that if the warrior was going to be her Aegis, she would have to attend formal events.
When they were finished shopping, Persephone and Zofie stood outside Aphrodite’s shop.
“Do you have a home?” she asked.
“My home is in Terme,” she answered.
That was north and several hundred miles away. “Do you have a place to stay here in New Athens?”
Zofie frowned and seemed confused. “I must go where you go, Persephone.”
It was then, a thought occurred to her.
“Where would you have stayed had I not discovered you?”
“Outside,” she said.
“Zofie!”
“It is fine, my lady, I am resilient.”
“Resilient I have no doubt. I won’t have you sleeping outside—as a cat or otherwise. You can sleep on the couch for now.”
They would work out sleeping arrangements again once Lexa returned home. Sybil had taken Lexa’s bed for the time being, and it wasn’t likely Persephone would be sleeping in the Underworld for the next few weeks.
“I cannot sleep,” Zofie said.
“What do you mean?”
“I do not need sleep. Who will watch over you if I am not awake?”
“Zofie, I’ve survived this long without being abducted. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
But as the words left her mouth, she felt foreign magic grip her and the familiar pull of being sucked into a void.
Someone was forcing her to teleport.
“Zofie—”
The Amazon’s eyes widened, and the last thing she saw before she vanished was the determined look on Zofie’s face as she reached for her.
A second later, Persephone was thrust into the middle of a screaming crowd. The air around her was hazy and sticky. It smelled like tobacco and body odor.
“There she is!” Apollo wrapped an arm around her neck and hauled her against him. He was sweaty and dressed casually, in a polo shirt and jeans.
“What the actual fuck, Apollo?” Persephone demanded, pushing away savagely, but the god held her tight, pulling her along through the crowd toward a small stage at the front of the room. As he did, he turned his head toward hers, whispering against her ear.