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Everything is dark until it isn’t. My bedroom in Hephaestus’ home comes into view, and Hades releases me slowly. I twist to find his eyes are taking in the room, brows furrowed.

“Well, this is nicer than where I found you.”

A sound between a bark, laugh, and a sob escapes me. Hades’ furrowed brows arc up.

I clear my throat. “Are you trying to be funny?”

“I’d be anything to make you smile right now.”

The words do the trick. I smile.

Hades rumbles, “That’s better.”

I don’t deny the pull of his arms as he tugs me onto his lap. The nip of his beard against the soft skin of my neck calls an explosion of tingles to the surface of my flesh. I shiver, and Hades nabs my blanket. He wraps it tightly around me before lifting me and carrying me to the massive Hephaestus-size chair that sits beside the fireplace.

He settles us in before asking, “Want to tell me where you are, little goddess?”

I twist to look at him. “I’m in Olympus.”

Hades shakes his head. “You’re not in the castle.”

“Oh.” I shake my head. “No. This is Hephaestus’ house.”

A single brow lifts. “Hephaestus’ house? Why?”

At the memory of the events that preceded me being carried by a very wounded Ares to this stone sanctuary, I bury myself deeper into his chest. The comfort of him is massive, even if it’s only in my dream. Even if that rope of misty black and foggy white cuffs his wrist, threatening to pull him away from me at any moment.

“I—” I shudder. “Hades, it was awful.”

Hades is quiet, until he whispers, “You prayed to me, Persephone. It sounded like,” he cuts off, continues, “like a goodbye.”

I tuck my head under his chin. “I’m sorry.”

His arms pulse around me. “Tell me what happened.”

Pulling in a deep breath, I begin the story I know I won’t soon forget. Honestly, I think I could live a million years, and I would still be able to smell the blood-soaked sand of the arena, the feel of the air whipping around me as I fell fast to a death that blessedly did not come. A death that would have bound me eternally to the prison of Olympus.

I finish, “And now me and Hydra are safe here, but Leuce is—” I cut off with a cry. I shake my head as another swell of tears forms. “She’s being tortured in the castle prison, Hades.”

“Leuce is strong,” Hades assures me.

“They’re going to kill her, Hades. What if they kill her here and?—”

“They won’t kill her.”

“They will!” I cry. “I know it.”

“They won’t, because they know as soon as they kill Leuce, they will lose her.”

I stiffen, pulling away to look at him. “What?”

“Her soul belongs to the Underworld, Persephone. If she dies outside the Underworld, she will reform again in the Underworld.” Hades winces. “The process is excruciatingly painful, but possible. Leuce knew the risk when she decided to accompany you to Olympus. She knew there would be a very real possibility that the only way she would return to the Underworld would be in death. She took great pains to ensure her soul was protected before she left with you, Persephone.” Hades sighs a heavy sigh that tastes of exhaustion. “The only reason she has not ended her own life, is because she doesn’t know where you are. That you are safe.”

“Oh, God.” My mind searches desperately for a way to communicate with her. “Can you connect with her in her dreams?”

“I can’t.” Hades winces. “I have tried. This is how I learned just how seriously she took guarding herself. There are wards she’s placed around her mind and soul. Wards even I can’t shatter.”

“But what about Hecate?”