Chapter 33

Chapter

Thirty-Three

P ersephone

On the floor next to the couch where I lay in Hades’ living room, Noc is sprawled. Under my head, after whining for the opportunity to wiggle her way in, Jas is lounging. To ensure that Prim doesn’t feel left out, I stroke her soft fur with my bare foot.

After a long week of working my butt off with the team, we’d exhumed the underground temple—or most of it. We’d managed to get ourselves into what, so far, appeared to be a large room. After testing to ensure the safety of the structure, finally standing in the ancient room came with a cool sensation reminiscent of déjà-vu. It crept like spiders over my skin, spreading until I climbed from the deep into the sun above.

Beyond exhausted after a week of working hard all day, and falling into bed with Hades not to sleep, I was happy enough to let Hades go with a kiss to the meeting he claimed he ‘couldn’t miss’.

I’ve been sprawled on his couch reading a mindless romance about monsters—of all things—that Willa lent me. She claimed I’d love it. And, surprisingly, I do.

Mom would freak. Honestly, she’d have me on my knees confessing my sins to the cross and praying for forgiveness. Because this book is dirty . But it’s not dirtier than some of the things I’ve been up to with Hades while we’ve been not sleeping.

Gosh, just the thought has me blushing, even now as I turn another page.

The blush cools rapidly when my phone rings and I see Mom’s name on the screen. Well, speak of the—I cut the thought off.

I want to ignore it as I’ve been ignoring her calls, but since I’m not at the dig site and Hades isn’t with me, I feel obligated to answer.

Forcing cheer I don’t feel into my voice, I connect the call. “Hey, Mom.”

“Persephone.” Mom never calls me by my full name. My full name packs the same punch that another kid’s first, middle, and last name together packs.

“How are things at home?” I put real effort into brushing over the full name use. “How’s Dad?”

“Well.” She sniffs. “You’d know if you answered your phone, wouldn’t you?”

I roll my eyes. “Sorry.”

“I don’t even know why we’re paying for the minutes when you never answer. It’s expensive, you know, Annie.” At least we’re back to Annie. “And it’s a waste of money.”

“You tend to call when I’m at the dig site, and you know I work Monday through Saturday in the evenings.” I still haven’t told them about Hades. Telling them would cut this experience short, because both of them would be on the first flight, determined to have me seated between them on a return flight home.

It’s better they don’t know.

“You’re playing in the dirt, Persephone. I’m sure you can spare a few minutes to connect with your parents.”

Playing in the dirt and Persephone. She’s really incensed.

I try for placating. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”

Mom harrumphs. “I just can’t wait for this insanity to be over. You can come home and help on the farm where you belong until you and Jerimiah?—”

I cut her off. “Who is Jerimiah?”

“You know Jerimiah. He’s home from school now and he’s asked after you. ”

“Mrs. Opal’s grandson?” I shriek, and Noc looses a single bark.

Mom is quiet. “What was that? Was that a dog?”

“Stop talking to Mrs. Opal’s grandson about me.” I ignore the dog question. “I’m not going out with Jerimiah—or anyone.”

“Annie, you’re a young woman. You have to move out and start a family sooner or later. Jerimiah is a nice man.”

I can’t even picture the ‘nice man’.

Mom giggles. “And Mrs. Opal heard him bragging to the Preston brothers about taking you out. He’s smitten already.”

Ice snakes in my veins. “Mom, I’m in no hurry to settle down or start a family.”

“What are you going to do, then?”

“Build a career. That’s why I’m here.”

Mom makes a noise of pure disgust. I just know she’s rolling her eyes. “Nonsense. It’s an experience, and honestly, honey, it’s a silly one. No one can have a life digging in the dirt all around the world chasing the past.”

“Maybe that’s exactly the life I want.”

“Persephone, you’re being unreasonable.”

“Mom—” I clamp my mouth shut. I don’t want to say anything I might regret. I sigh. “Is Dad home?”

“He’s in the field.”

“Okay, can you tell him I love him. I love you, too, by the way.”

“We’re not done talking.”

“Yeah, I am, Mom.”

“Don’t you dare ha?—”

I disconnect, feeling entirely put out as I drop my phone to the cushion. Jas gives a low whine and lowers her head into my lap. I stroke her lovingly, thankful for her comfort when I feel so sad and frustrated inside.

I sigh. “I’ll never be the daughter they want.” Emotion stings my nose when Noc sits directly in front of me, his eyes fixed on mine as though to tell me he’s here and he’s listening. I laugh, because I’m still crazy—and now I’m talking to dogs and seriously thinking that they understand what I’m saying. “I’ve never been the daughter they wanted. I was supposed to be their miracle, but I was their curse.”

Noc growls low, like he disagrees. I lean forward to press a kiss to his nose. He bumps my nose with his as I pull back. I sniffle and whisper my confession to the pups, “I’m crazy, you know?”

Prim wiggles closer, and I find myself surrounded by good pups I’ve not disillusioned myself to think couldn’t rip me to shreds if they so desired.

Still, with them, I don’t feel quite as alone.