A Touch of Darkness

On their way to La Rose, Lexa teases Persephone by encouraging her to write about Hades’s romances. At the club, they encounter Adonis, who takes them to his suite. Persephone hides her anger so that Lexa can enjoy herself. Some of their other friends arrive; their conversation reveals that Adonis has Aphrodite’s favor, implying that they are in a sexual relationship. Lexa and Persephone go to the dance floor, and a waitress gives them free drinks. The two girls lose each other as Persephone experiences the symptoms of being drugged. Adonis corners her and begins forcefully kissing her against her will, but Hades appears with ogres and rescues her. He promises to get Lexa home safe as he takes Persephone out of the club. In his limousine, she initiates a kiss. Hades stops her advances, and she falls asleep.

Persephone awakes, naked, in Hades’s bed. He describes the night before and his fury at Adonis, who remains alive because he has Aphrodite’s favor. They argue about Persephone’s article, and he refuses to release her from her contract in exchange for her not writing any more.