Chapter 20

20

Three days later, Persephone entered the dog shelter. A pause and she ran, flinging herself into Hecate’s arms.

Hecate squeezed her close but only for a little bit before pulling back and holding Persephone’s shoulders. “Let me get a look at you.” She’d been grinning, but her smile dimmed at looking Persephone up and down. “Sweetie, are you all right?”

Persephone’s bottom lip trembled and she fought back tears as she nodded. She hugged Hecate again, hard.

“Oh, sweetie,” Hecate said, rubbing Persephone’s back soothingly.

Persephone closed her eyes and sank into her friend. Gods. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed a friendly face. Tears crested and fell down her cheeks but she didn’t make a noise. She clung to Hecate. For a long time.

When she finally let go, she swiped at her eyes and gave a short, somewhat false laugh. “I don’t know what’s come over me. So much has happened since I’ve seen you.” She reached out and grabbed Hecate’s hands, giving them a squeeze. “I’m sorry I didn’t reach out sooner.”

Hecate squeezed her hands back. “It’s okay, I understand. I remember what it was like being a newlywed.” Then her eyebrows furrowed. “But honey, seriously, are you okay?”

Persephone swallowed hard and nodded.

Hades had made it more than clear at breakfast that she wasn’t to disclose any of the truth of their situation to her friend. He hadn’t gone so far as to threaten Hecate’s safety should she not comply, but Persephone wasn’t about to put her in that position. Maybe it was selfish to even come back here. Hades was dangerous. Putting Hecate anywhere on his or his Shades’ radar wasn’t doing her any favors.

But things between her and Hades had continued to thaw even more since the gala. He was still letting her move freely throughout the apartment and they discussed letting her volunteer again at the shelter on a temporary basis, once a week. Today was the trial run.

Well, by discussed, she meant Hades had decreed it, with a long list of conditions, including having his Shades guarding the front and back of the building and Charon escorting her at all times.

Hades worked all day and sometimes nights, but they had meals together at least once a day, though they never did much in the way of talking. Sometimes he read to her, though. First from the newspaper. And without discussion, he’d plucked a book from the bookshelf and started reading it aloud. It was a Thomas Hardy novel and it was very beautiful and very sad.

And every night, without fail, he came to her room. He took his time with her. Sometimes it got a little rough, but it was never quick and, as much as she hated to admit it, it was never unwanted.

She’d begun to look forward to him coming home with an excitement that disturbed her.

He was the enemy. Wasn’t he?

She. Was. So. Confused.

All that to say, Persephone could use a friend now more than ever.

“I’m all right,” Persephone said and her smile was a little less tremulous this time. “I mean it.”

The bell over the door jingled and the man from the gala walked in, the reporter, this time not in a tux but in jeans and an attractive gray Henley. He smiled as soon as he saw Persephone and she waved.

“Hecate, this is the reporter I called you about, who wants to do a story on the shelter.”

Hecate looked briefly at the man but her eyes came back to Persephone. “We’ll talk more later, okay?” Her eyes searched Persephone’s and Persephone nodded.

“Definitely,” Persephone said.

Persephone showed the reporter, Joe Garcia, around the shelter and explained how things worked as she went from cage to cage, feeding the dogs.

“We accept any and all strays and drop-offs, no matter what. Hecate has committed to this being a no-kill shelter, which means that other than the dogs that are simply too old or too ill for us to care for, no animals are euthanized here. But that puts a huge burden on us to get these animals adopted and to continue caring and housing the ones that remain. We depend on donations and volunteers to stay afloat.”

Joe nodded and made a couple of notes on the small pad he had with him. “And how long have you been volunteering here?”

“For about two and a half months, ever since I came to the city.”

“Where did you live before that?”

Persephone stopped in front of Puggles’ cage as she opened his door and scooped in his food. “Out West,” Persephone said noncommittally. “We work hard to walk the dogs at least once a day, depending on how many volunteers come in. And when we can, we advertise our adoptive services. The more we’re able to get the word out about this place, the more dogs we can save.”

“Have you always had a love for animals?”

Persephone saw what he was doing. He obviously wanted this to be an article more about her than the shelter, and no doubt any reporter worth his salt would try to dig to get what scoop he could.

Persephone smiled sweetly at him. “This is Boris,” she introduced him to a large German Shepherd. She opened the cage and poured in his dog food, giving him a belly scratch before closing it again. “Now, I have a soft spot for him. He’s big and intimidating looking, but once you get to know him, he’s really a sweetheart.” She leaned in. “A little like my husband.”

Joe’s eyebrows went up at that. “Oh really? Are you saying that Hades Ubeli has a soft underbelly?”

Persephone laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. Hades is many, many things, but I wouldn’t call him soft. Let’s say he can be a perfect gentleman when he’s of a mind to be.”

Joe scribbled furiously at his pad, no doubt trying to record the quote.

Persephone moved on. “A lot of people think adopting a dog from an animal shelter means getting an older animal, but that’s a misconception. We have a lot of puppies, as you can see. It’s unfortunate, but too many people take on animals they simply aren’t ready for.”

“But we work hard here to match potential owners to pets that are compatible with exactly what they’re looking for. We don’t want to see a dog back here in several weeks any more than an owner wants to bring them back. So we talk to people and have them fill out questionnaires. We spend time with the dogs to learn their quirks and habits, all so that we can make the best and most long-lasting matches.”

Joe nodded and made a few notes, but with not nearly as much enthusiasm. “So how did you and Mr. Ubeli meet? Obviously, you had a short engagement if you only came to the city two and a half months ago.”

Persephone gave a slight, enigmatic smile. “Something like that.”

“Oh, come on,” Joe said. “Give me something for my readers. Hades Ubeli, consummate bachelor, suddenly ties the knot after knowing you only a few months? The news set New Olympus buzzing. Surely you can give our readers some insight into your whirlwind romance. Did your families know one another?”

Persephone stopped at that and turned her back to him. Did he know something? Did he know she was a Titan?

She worked to suck in an even breath as she took another scoop of dog food from the plate and poured it into the bowl of a stray border collie Jack Russell mix. No, there was no way he could know about who her parents were, otherwise the news would’ve been splashed all over the headlines long before now. She’d seen unpleasant headlines about Hades before, and news that big… Even Hades with all his power and influence might not be able to suppress it.

But most likely, Joe Garcia was shooting into the dark, hoping something would land.

Persephone dragged the bucket over to the next cage and felt Joe follow behind.

Still not looking at him, she said, “I don’t really know how to explain Hades and me.” Ha. That was the understatement of the century. “It was raining one night and I ran into his club to get out of the storm.”

She finally looked back at Joe. “He dazzled me.” More truth, even though the pang in her chest was more like an ax blade.

“And I guess I made an impression on him too. Have you ever experienced a moment and known, with everything inside you, that it was going to change the rest of your life? That’s what meeting Hades was like. There was my life before meeting him and my life after. And that’s the way it’ll be defined until the day I die. Before and after.”

Joe had stopped scribbling. He stared at Persephone, absorbed, as she told him the simple truth.

“I’m starting to see why Mr. Ubeli might have been dazzled in return,” he said.

Persephone tilted her head and smiled at him. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Garcia. Now come this way, I want to show you the puppies.”

“That went well, I think,” Hecate said, looking at Persephone over her steaming cup of tea. Hecate always said there was nothing that couldn’t be solved over a good cup of tea. But Hecate had only met Hades once, and briefly, at the wedding.

“Hopefully, the publicity will bring in more people to the shelter looking to adopt,” Persephone said.

“I was eavesdropping,” Hecate admitted, making Persephone smile.

“I would expect nothing less.”

Hecate’s face went serious. “But how are you really?”

She reached out and squeezed Persephone’s knee. They were sitting in the back of the shelter in Hecate’s cramped office on stools beside the tiny break area where a microwave, coffee, and tea station had been set up in a corner.

Persephone tipped her head back and let out a heavy sigh.

“That bad?”

Persephone looked back at her friend. “Not bad, necessarily,” Persephone said. She wondered how much she could say without revealing the true extent of it.

“Marriage is… Well, marriage to a man like Hades is…more complex and intense than I was maybe prepared for.”

“Honey, you’re only what, nineteen? I’d be shocked if it wasn’t, though I wish the honeymoon phase would’ve lasted a little longer.”

Persephone smiled. “Hades works long hours and he’s not always the best communicator.” That was putting it mildly. “And I guess I worry that…” How to put this? “I came to the city to try to find myself. To be free of my controlling mother and now…”

“Now you’re married to a controlling man?”

Persephone nodded. Again, an understatement.

“It’s not that surprising, honey,” Hecate said gently. “It was what you were used to all your life. And it’s true what they say, unfortunately. We are attracted to partners like our parents because it’s all we know.”

Persephone dropped her face into her hand. “Gods, don’t say that,” she moaned. “The last person I want to be married to is someone like my mother.”

Hecate laughed. But then she got serious again. “Is he good to you? Is he kind?”

Persephone stared at the floor for a long moment before finally admitting, “Yes.”

She looked up at Hecate. “He’s not like my mom. He’s not petty or mean for meanness’ sake.” Then she wondered if that was true. “I don’t know, it’s still early. What if he really is like my mom?”

“Honey, you listen to me. You ever want to get away from that man, if he ever lifts a hand to you or starts being abusive with his words, you tell me. I don’t care who he is, we’ll get you away from here.”

There it was. Everything she’d wanted to hear ever since Hades had flipped the script on their wedding night. Someone willing to help her escape him.

But Persephone shook her head and reached out to give Hecate’s hand a squeeze. She told herself it was because she didn’t want to bring down the world of trouble Hecate’s words might incite from Hades.

But she was afraid she believed her next words more. “I think I could be happy with him. It’s been an adjustment and we’re still learning to communicate but… I think I could be happy…”

She looked around her at the dogs in cages. Were the dogs happy there? They were well fed, taken out for walks once a day, and some of them in far better situations here than the abusive homes they’d been in before.

The dogs were grateful every time she poured food in their bowls or gave them a belly rub or took them outdoors for a walk.

But always they came back to the cage.

“Do you think they’re happy?” Persephone asked suddenly. “Spending their whole life waiting in these cages until someone thinks they’re worthy enough to adopt them?”

“It seems to me,” Hecate said quietly after a moment, “happiness starts in here.” She leaned forward on her stool and pressed her fist to Persephone’s chest, right over her heart.

Persephone looked up at her and her eyes stung again like when she’d first gotten to the shelter. She swallowed hard. “It’s not that simple. All I ever wanted was freedom.”

Hecate gave the slightest shake of her head. “You are already free, baby. You always were. Where it counted.”

She lifted her fist and pressed it to Persephone’s chest again. “I want the best for you, girl, whether you want to leave or stay, and I’ll help you whatever you choose. But till you demand your freedom here,” she opened her palm over Persephone’s heart, “it won’t matter who you’re with or what rules they or their lifestyle put on you.”

“I don’t understand,” Persephone said.

Hecate smiled. “You will.”