“She tried to turn me into a tree,” Leuce interrupts him. By the ice that fractures the blue in his eyes, and the way Ares tenses, I don’t think that happens often.

Demeter’s fists curl into tight balls. “You welcomed yourself into my daughter's marriage bed, you whore.”

I pat Leuce’s hand twice before shrugging from her hold. The hypocrisy of Gods is astounding.

I step closer to Demeter. One step, two steps. My heart is a thunderous roar in my chest. I lift my chin and tell the woman who birthed my soul, who crafted it and schemed to mold it into something she thought she could control eternally, “She never invited herself to my marriage bed. I did that all by myself.”

Demeter cringes away from me. Horror and disgust flash in her wheat-colored eyes. “You?—”

“Oh, yes. I am very close to Leuce and Minthe. I will remain close to them.” I smile sweetly, driving the blade of my point home in her hideous, scarred heart. “Forever.”

Zeus shuffles between the two of us. He laughs, but there's tension to it now that he can't hide. “Mothers and daughters.” He chuckles again. “Daughters are always testing mothers, aren't they, dear?”

For the first time, my eyes drift to the woman who stands in the corner of the room.

She is beautiful, draped in the same gold from which covers Zeus’ body. Her hair is a shocking fall of white, braided thickly over one shoulder. Weaved into the twist of it are threads of gold decorated in crystals that radiate all the colors of a peacock. The delicate gold crown on her head twists into the shape of a lion’s face, the mane a flare of sharply cut peacock-colored crystals that burst in the cut of a lily. The light spilling in through the ceiling catches the prisms of peacock colors, casting it like a halo over her white hair and toga.

Her eyes are a blue that rivals the cloudless sky, and her lips are stained a soft rose petal pink.

Her skin is not pale, but tinted with the golden hues of one that has lived an eternity under the sun, unweathered even as it is stained by the shine of its golden rays.

I don’t need to be introduced to the Goddess to know that she is Hera, Zeus’ wife and Ares’ mother.

Slowly, regally, she lifts her chin and nods once. “Yes, daughters have a way of challenging their mothers.”

It's hard not to scowl at the lot of them.

“Well, she tried to kill me not long ago.” My eyes cut to Demeter. “Didn't you, Demeter?”

“Don't be dramatic, Persephone.” Demeter rolls her eyes. “You have a power inside you, and I simply wanted to unlock it.”

My heart skips in my chest.The memory of Addison on the floor of the ancient ruins…“You killed my friend.”

She rolls her eyes again and folds her arms over her chest, but she's vibrating with emotion she can’t conceal. I can't say that I'm not happy I've poked at her sore spot.

Now that I found it, I want to dig my finger in it and twist.

Really, I don't know when I became so vicious. So angry and hateful. Maybe it's a collision of an ancient life and the revelations of this life I currently live.

I am about to speak again, to cut into the hateful Goddess when Hera speaks. “Ares, why don’t you take our guest to her rooms? Instruct her on the ways of our golden realm.” She moves closer, her hands folded pleasantly at her belly. “You have most assuredly come into yourself, Persephone. But there is a time and place to loose your tongue. Now,” she clucks hers, “is not that time.” She straightens her shoulders, hitting me with a smile that is so bright, it’s chilling. “I look forward to seeing you at dinner. Until then, welcome to Olympus.”

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Persephone

The hallsof the golden castle are plenty large enough for Hydra to lumber as Ares guides us to the rooms we will occupy while we are here. The halls are long, and the walls are a white marble that widens into yawning lookouts with overhead rooftops crafted of the same white marble from which images of ancient history have been painted. It is held up by massive white marble pillars that are gilded at the base and crown with intricate mouldings of gold.

The balcony's rails are the same gleaming white and gold that bakes in the high warmth of the sun.

I want to move closer, to peer over the rails into the realm beyond the castle, but Ares moves quickly through the halls, allowing little time for curiosity.

He clearly wants to be rid of us.

Hydra’s smooth voice echoes in my mind.“It is too bright here.”

I don’t tell her I think it’s beautiful here. When her nostrils flare on a loud sigh, I can’t help but flash her a small smile.