Jax closed the front door and called out for Persephone.
She didn’t answer, which wasn’t surprising. She was probably still mad. He looked into the open bathroom—not there—then knocked on her bedroom door. “Persephone?”
No answer.
“I lost my temper and I’m sorry.”
Nothing.
He opened the door. Empty. Her cell phone was on her side table, though, plugged into the charger.
He walked back to the living room and looked outside. The car was gone. The clock on the cable box showed it was early for school, but he knew how she felt about being on time. He decided he’d take a quick shower and then make the walk to school. At least that would give him time to come up with a decent apology.
Jax scanned the halls of the school for Persephone. She wasn’t by her locker, like he’d hoped she’d be. He cracked his knuckles, watching and waiting, feeling jittery and restless. He walked over to Dean and tapped him on the shoulder. “Have you seen Persephone?”
Dean looked at him for a moment before responding. “I don’t think she’s here yet.”
“Well if you see her—” Danielle stepped into view, and Jax rushed over to her without bothering to finish his sentence. “Have you seen or heard from Persephone this morning?”
“No,” Danielle said. “Did she get away from you again?”
“We…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We had a fight.”
Danielle raised an eyebrow. “How bad?”
“Pretty bad. You know about her boyfriend?”
Her expression went from half asleep to wide awake, eyes glowing with excitement. “Oo. Did he finally show up, because I’ve been dying to meet him.”
Jax clenched his fists, struggling—and failing—to keep the bitterness at bay.
“Sorry,” Danielle said, apparently noticing the news didn’t exactly make him happy.
“It’s my fault. I should’ve realized…” Jax shook his head. “The fight was about him, anyway. I’m not sure if she told you that I…Well, I kind of have a thing for her.”
“Actually, I told her. It’s pretty obvious.”
“You’re just full of helpfulness this morning, aren’t you?”
She offered him a pity-filled smile.
“Anyway, she left her phone.” Jax dug it out of his pocket and showed it to Danielle, like otherwise she might not know what he meant. He’d grabbed it because he figured Persephone might need it. And okay, maybe so he could find out more information about her boyfriend, even though it held nothing helpful—the only calls were to and from Dean and Danielle and a nearby pizza place. “So now I can’t get a hold of her, and I’m starting to worry.”
“You want to know where she’d go?”
He nodded. “Please.”
“I know she sometimes goes to Carrefour when she’s upset. It’s that little restaurant on Decatur. I’d try there first. If she’s not there, she might be on the moonwalk or even wandering around the square.”
Carrefour. Of course. She told me about it last night. “Thanks.” Turning his thoughts to how he was going to get there—for the love of Zeus, this no vehicle thing was getting annoying—he turned away from Danielle.
“And Jax?”
He twisted back to face her. “Yeah?”
“I know she acts tough, but she’s had it rough. Take care of her.”
“I will. Whether she wants me to or not.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Persephone stared into the surface of the scratched mahogany bar, where countless others had sat, trying to drink away their worries. Her head ached, and her heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise. The fight with Jax had been awful, and the most devastating thing about it was, he was right. She wasn’t being fair to him.
He’d yelled and slammed the door, and she’d totally deserved it. In fact, she deserved a lot worse.
On top of it all, she got to feel guilty for betraying Adrastos. But as she sat, rehashing her suddenly way-too-complicated life, she realized what scared her most was that Jax might leave—might be gone already. Not so much because she’d be all alone, but because she’d never see him again.
“You need another, hon?” Rose asked, jerking her chin at Persephone’s empty glass.Unfortunately, the two Dr. Peppers she’d already downed weren’t making her feel any better. No way Rose would give her anything stronger, though—especially since it was early in the morning and the bar part of the restaurant wasn’t even open yet. Not that Persephone thought alcohol would really help. At this point, nothing would. “Sure. Hit me again.”
As usual, a colorful headband—red today—kept Rose’s curly black hair off her face. Her ebony skin showed only hints of aging around her eyes, and she could easily pass for ten to fifteen years younger than her sixty some years.
Rose set the refilled glass in front of Persephone. She leaned her six-foot frame over the bar. “I called the school, and I know you’re having a rough day…” She fixed Persephone with a serious glare that grown men often cowered at. “But don’t you make this a habit, kay?”
Which part? Fighting with Jax, making myself sick with guilt over having feelings for him when Adrastos is still out there, or sitting here thinking about what a horrible person I am?
Persephone didn’t want to make any of it a habit. Of course, Rose meant ditching school. “I won’t.”
Rose squeezed Persephone’s hand and then headed to the dining area to tend to her customers.
The door opened, and Persephone automatically turned. For a brief moment, she hoped it would be Jax.
But it wasn’t.
And she wouldn’t know what to say to him even if it was.
Sorry I’m so selfish? Sorry I already have someone else? Sorry I like the way your arms feel around me? Sorry that when I think about you my pulse races, and I want to let go and kiss you, regardless of the consequences?
When she was with Jax, everything felt like it might actually be okay.
But I feel that way around Adrastos, too. In my dreams, anyway.
Persephone reached up and ran a finger across her tattoo. Jax’s words echoed through her head: You let him mark you?
Adrastos hadn’t asked, but she knew he’d done it to show her how much he loved her—to give her a symbol to cling to in her waking hours. If he’d asked, she would’ve agreed. She’d agree to almost anything he said.
Which was a little unusual for her.
She rested her head on the bar, fighting the urge to scream. It was hardly fair to Adrastos to compare Jax to him when he was away fighting demons somewhere else, but she started to wonder. Would he care about her opinions? Would he hold her so she wouldn’t have bad dreams? Would he attend boring high school classes he’d already had just to make sure she was safe?
Surely he would, but she didn’t know. Didn’t even know if he’d tire of her once they were finally together.
Thinking of not being with Adrastos hurt her, but now so did thinking of never cuddling up next to Jax on the couch, or watching him cook, or being pressed next to his body as they slept.
Oh, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, tell me what to do.
She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up, expecting to see Rose. Instead, Jax stood there. Seeing him again made her heart swell. “How’d you…? Oh, that’s right. I told you about this place last night. And you have that weird I-can-sense-you thing.”
“I wish I was smart enough to put that together, but actually it was Danielle. She guessed you’d be here. As for the sensing you thing, it’s much stronger if you’re in trouble, not to mention I was a little too messed up to have good focus.”
The arrogant expression he normally wore was gone, replaced by a blank, detached one. He slapped her phone on the bar in front of her. “It’d be nice if you carried that so I at least know you can call for help if you need to.”
Tears pricked at her eyes, and she wanted to end this stupid fight. She started off the stool, planning to hug him and tell
him she was sorry. Halfway there, though, she remembered his earlier remark about how the next time she wanted someone to hold her, she should call her boyfriend.
She stumbled, not quite off or on the stool.
Jax’s hand came to her elbow, steadying her. She looked up into his eyes, her rapid pulse pounding through her head.
He let go and took a big step back, crossing his arms.
He’s still mad. But because of who he is, he won’t leave me unguarded.
Another stab of guilt sliced through her.
Jax ran a hand through his hair. “So, um, I guess we better get to school.”
“I…Rose called in for me. We could…” She shrugged. “Walk around the quarter?”
“I’m just here to keep you safe, so…” He glanced at the door. “If that’s what you want to do, that’s fine with me.”
Here she was promising him a day off from school, a chance to enjoy the city, and he looked like she was slowly torturing him to death. Well, as long as he was going to keep on hating her, she figured they might as well be outside getting some fresh air.
Persephone and Jax walked around the French Quarter, went to Jackson Square, and then to La Divina Gelateria and had gelato. The tension wasn’t as awful as earlier, but it was still there, hanging over them.
Persephone finished her gelato and scooted the bowl aside. “I told you it was the best.”
Jax offered her a pathetic half-smile. “Yeah. It was good.” His gaze drifted to the window. “It’ll be dark soon. We better get going.”
Without waiting for a response, he pushed out his chair, his eyes focusing on anything but her. She slowly stood, her chest aching and hollow. Before this morning happened, she’d been planning on spending tonight hunting. But she didn’t have the strength to fight with Jax about it anymore, much less go out and kill some demons. Jax wasn’t himself either, and if something happened to him because of her…
She squeezed her arms around her churning stomach.
Jax put his hand on her back. “Too much gelato?”
“No. It’s…” Now all she could think about was the tenderness in his features and his hand on her back. He’d been so cold and mechanical all day, not flirting or putting his arm around her like he usually did.
Suddenly she had to focus on sending the breath in and out of her lungs.
He pulled open the door. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
They exited La Divinia, his hand still on the small of her back. The light from the sun was fading, and more people were out now, walking the streets. As soon as they reached the car, Persephone spun to face Jax. “That fight this morning was awful, and I’m sorry, and I can’t believe that after everything I’ve put you through…” She put her hand on his arm. “Why didn’t you leave?”
“I’m supposed to be here with you.”
“Still, job or not, most people would’ve given up by now.”
Jax’s hands came up on the sides of her waist. “Job or not, I’m supposed to be here with you.” He ran a thumb along the top of her hip, sending butterflies through her stomach.
The contact, the way he was looking at her—it was too much, and she couldn’t fight it anymore. She leaned in, pressing her body against his, feeling the warmth radiate off him, and slowly raised her mouth toward his.
Using the grip on her hips, he stopped her just short of contact. “Tell me it’s me.”
The space between them was torture. She wanted his arms to be around her, his lips to be against hers.
“I tried to convince myself I don’t care who you’re thinking about, but I do.” His eyes bored into hers, and her heart felt like it was going to burst. “I care, and I want it to be me.”
He put his forehead against hers and whispered, “Tell me.”
Somehow, she managed to find her voice. “It’s you. I want you.”
The next instant, his mouth was against hers, his kiss sending heat through her entire body. Kissing Jax was like fire. Like oxygen. Like she never knew kissing could be. She threw her arms around his neck, parted her lips, and kissed him until the rest of the world melted away.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jax tensed and pulled away. “Please tell me you keep weapons in your car.”
Not exactly what Persephone had expected him to say after a kiss that had made the world spin. “I have a couple blades in the trunk, but—”
He grabbed her hand, yanking her toward the back of her car. “Something’s near. Something bad.”
“Like demons bad?”
“If they are, they’re not just any demons. I’m getting the strongest vibe I’ve ever felt.”
Persephone popped the trunk. Jax grabbed a broadsword and handed it to her. “Go back home, keep the doors locked, and after I—”
“Nice try, but if it’s that bad, you’re going to need my help.” She replaced the broadsword and grabbed the hand-and-a-half mercenary sword. She slammed the trunk and turned to Jax. “Which way?”
He sighed, seemed to weigh his options, and finally tilted his head toward Jackson Square. “Stay close to me, and if things look bad, you leave me.” He locked eyes with her. “That’s the only way I’m agreeing to this.”
“Fine. Let’s go before they get away.” After all, “bad” was such a broad term. One she planned on stretching to its limit if it came down to it.
Skepticism painted his features, but he nodded, then turned and rushed toward the square. By the time they reached the statue of Andrew Jackson on his horse, Persephone’s legs and lungs burned.
Jax paused and looked around. Narrowing his gaze like a predator moving in on his prey, he darted toward the Saint Louis Cathedral.
The cathedral bells clanged out, like they did every quarter-hour, calling to saints and sinners. And tonight, maybe the kind of sinner who’d already been sentenced to Hell. Three spires jutted into the gray skyline, the cross on the highest one centered in the glow of the full moon.
Suddenly, Persephone felt what Jax must’ve been feeling all along. A steadily escalating sense of foreboding, worsening with every step closer they got to the cathedral. Jax stopped, his attention fixed on a dark object on the ground.
A few steps brought her close enough to see the object wasn’t just an object. It was a body. A headless—and judging from the bloody gaping hole—heartless, body. Blood pooled beneath what was left of the man, coating the white steps in streams of crimson.
“We’re too late,” she whispered. Her stomach churned, her knees shook, and as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t stop staring. On the man’s belt, he had a sword. A small tattoo of an ancient key stood out on his forearm—the Gatekeeper symbol. Burned a couple inches above it was Hades’s two-pronged symbol.
Someone’s taking out prominent members of the Order. Not just taking them out. Taking their heads and their hearts.
Her nightmare was looking more and more like reality. And this is number four. They only need two more.
Finally, she managed to tear her eyes from the gruesome sight at her feet. The lights from the Cathedral lit up Jax’s pale, pinched face.
Laughter drifted from a group of people. Amazing how people could be laughing right now. Persephone wondered if she’d ever laugh again.
Jax draped his arm over her shoulders, and she twisted into him, waiting for him to say it would all be okay.
But he didn’t.
Because it wouldn’t.
The neglected dishes in the sink seemed like a good place to start. Turtle had licked them mostly clean, but Persephone figured she’d take that next step and make them sanitary as well. She turned the water as hot as she could stand it, filled the sink, and got to work.
All she saw, no matter how hard she tried to focus on the dishes was that headless, heartless body.
Which head from my nightmare used to be connected to that body?
She should’ve gotten Isadora’s phone number. Now she could only wonder if the woman had listened. Or is she destined t
o end up dead no matter how hard I try to stop it?
Arms encircled her and Jax tucked his chin on her shoulder. “You doing okay?”
“I don’t think I’ve been okay for years. And I don’t think I have a chance of being it anytime in the near future.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him. Concern filled his eyes, and she wanted to be tough. But he’d ruined her tough façade shortly after he arrived, and she didn’t think it was in her to get it back again. He cupped her cheek. “I wish I could say something to make you feel better.”
Unfortunately, nothing he said would change what had happened. For the past few hours, she’d tried to talk herself out of the horrifying thought that the scene in her nightmare could still happen. That she was the reason it all would happen.
I should tell him. I should tell him about my nightmares, about the evil inside of me, and how it’s causing the demons to call me their queen.
The adoration in his eyes would fade, and he’d never look at her the same again. The thought was enough to cause her heart to knot.
I can’t risk it.
“Make it go away,” she whispered. “Make everything go away, like you did earlier today.”
He hugged her to him, and she squeezed back. It wasn’t enough, though. Her mind needed more of a distraction. She tipped onto her toes and kissed him.
The kisses started slow and soft, but gradually increased in intensity. He boosted her on the counter, and kissed her neck, sending pleasant chills down her spine. He brushed kisses on her jaw, her cheek, then recaptured her mouth.
The lightheadedness set in, and she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer.
Something sharp dug into her shoulder. “Ouch!”
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