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He wondered if she was thinking about it now.

If she wasn’t yet, she soon would be.

He ground his teeth, and Persephone shifted from his grasp to knock on the door, her warmth disappearing with her distance. He didn’t like it.

And he liked it even less when a man answered Sybil’s door.

Not because he felt like a threat or even appeared to be. It was how hefelt.

Wrong. Deceptive.

Hades returned his hand to Persephone’s waist. He wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or worried when she seemed just as confused by the blond, blue-eyed man.

“Um, I think we might have the wrong—”

“Persephone, right?” the man asked.

Hades stiffened. He did not like the way he said her name. It was too casual, too comfortable.

“Persephone!” Sybil cried, running up behind the man who did not move, forcing the oracle to bow beneath his arm, which was braced against the doorframe as if he were some kind of guard.

Hades also did not like that.

He let Persephone go when Sybil pulled her in for a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” she said, and it was impossible not to hear the relief in her voice. Hades cast a dark look at the mortal male who watched them, unmoving.

Had he made Sybil uncomfortable in her own home?

His fingers tightened into fists.

If Sybil did not introduce him soon, Hades would send him to a deserted island somewhere off the coast of New Greece.

“I’m glad you could come too, Hades.”

Hades was surprised and met the oracle’s gaze.

“I appreciate the invitation,” he said sincerely.

He was rarely invited to anything that wasn’t his own event.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” The man standing guard in the doorway had finally moved to cross his arms over his chest as if he were pouting. His voice was grating, and he spoke with a crude entitlement Hades found irritating. He got the feeling the mortal only spoke to draw attention back to himself, and his attention he would have.

The God of the Dead glared.

Did he really need an introduction to death?

Sybil half turned to the man, as if she’d forgotten he was here. She gave them a look as if to apologize for his insolence.

“Persephone, Hades, this is Ben.”

“Hi, I’m Sybil’s boyfrie—”

“Friend. Ben is a friend,” Sybil interrupted him.

Hades exchanged a look with Persephone, who could not hide her bewildered expression.

“Well, soon-to-be boyfriend,” Ben amended.