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But that was the loyalty and dedication of an Amazon, even those who had been exiled.

“Of course,” she said, hesitating a moment before pressing the button for the bottom floor.

There was an awkward pause, and then Hades spoke.

“Teleport, Zofie,” he said.

“Right,” she said and then vanished.

Hades sighed, planting his face in his hands.

“Fuck me,” he said.

“Totally would,” said Hermes, appearing in a flourish of cloudy magic.

Hades let his hands drop and tilted his head. “Why the fanfare?” he said. “You aren’t in public.”

“I wanted to surprise Persephone,” Hermes said. “I don’t think she’s witnessed my…effervescence.”

Hades raised a brow, and Hermes looked around.

“Where is Persephone anyway?”

“Your brother just took her,” Hades said. “Perhaps you should go get her back.”

“Uh, no,” Hermes said. “I had to do a lot of atoning when I stole his cattle. Do you think I want to do it again after stealing Persephone?”

“Did you just compare my wife to cattle?”

“Wife?” Hermes asked, waggling his brows. “Already practicing?”

“Fuck off, Hermes,” Hades growled.

Hades stalked into his office. Ice had begun to stick to the windows, obscuring his view of New Athens, though at this moment, there wasn’t much to see as the city was shrouded in mist and heavy snow.

“Demeter is big mad,” Hermes said.

Hades looked at him in confusion. “Big mad?”

“You know, really mad,” Hermes explained and then shimmied his head and shoulders as he added, “Mad as fuck.”

“Why not just say that instead?”

“Because it isn’tcool, Hades,” Hermes said. “If you’re going to fit in, you need to learn the lingo.”

“Lingo?”

“Thelanguage.”

Hades chuckled and Hermes narrowed his eyes.

“I hate you,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

They were both quiet for a moment as they looked out at the world. Hades had expected the weather to worsen, but seeing it in real time brought on a greater sense of dread.

“You know who I hate more than you?” Hermes asked.

“I think I can guess,” Hades replied.