Aphrodite’s face turned red. “How dare you—”
“Silence, both of you,” said Zeus in a voice that rolled like thunder, and even Aphrodite obeyed. “Adonis—that is your name, yes?”
He swallowed and nodded, averting his eyes. His grip would’ve likely broken my bones if I hadn’t been immortal.
“What is it you choose to do, Adonis?”
I exhaled. A choice. At least Adonis would have that much. I patted his hand. “It’s all right,” I whispered, and across from me, Aphrodite stomped her foot in protest. Too bad.
“I…” He stopped and shook his head, staring at the sand. Why, because he thought Aphrodite would curse him if he didn’t choose her?
Probably. And I wouldn’t put it past her, either. “It’s your life,” I whispered. “Remember that.”
But he still said nothing. At last Zeus ran out of patience. “Very well, then I will decide. In the absence of the young man’s opinion, I will split his time equally between both of you. He will spend one third of the year with Aphrodite, one third of the year with Persephone and for the final third, he will do what he pleases. Is everyone happy?”
No, not in the least, and judging by the pinched look on Aphrodite’s face, she wasn’t, either. But we both nodded, and Adonis didn’t protest. He barely even blinked.
“So be it. Now, if my beloved daughters do not mind, I have matters much more important than this to attend to.” Without another word, he disappeared, and instantly Adonis relaxed.
I turned to Aphrodite. I could’ve said a million things to her, but instead I blurted, “Why wasn’t Zeus mad that you told Adonis who you are?”
Aphrodite shrugged, clearly put out over having to share him. “Because I’ve been lobbying Daddy to let Adonis join us, of course. But now you had to go and ruin it, didn’t you?”
I snorted. “And how did I ruin it? You’re the one who wouldn’t let him make up his own damn mind.”
“Persephone.” Adonis’s voice was hoarse, but at least his grip on my hand wasn’t quite so tight anymore. “I apologize to you both for not speaking up. It is just…”
“No need. We both know Daddy’s a little intimidating sometimes,” said Aphrodite cheerfully, though there was a glint in her eyes as she looked at me. “But now that Daddy’s made a decision, we have to figure out who gets what third.”
I scowled. No doubt she’d try to make me take the winter months. “I want him starting on the spring equinox. The entire spring and first month of summer.”
She eyed me, and I steeled myself for the fight I knew was coming. Instead of objecting, however, she nodded. “Yes, I think that’s an excellent idea. I’ll take the next four months, and then Adonis can do whatever he pleases with the final four.”
I blinked. That was it? Not even a hint of protest? “What’s your game, Aphrodite?”
“Game?” she said, her eyes widening innocently. A sure sign she was lying through her teeth. “Is it so terrible to give my sister a chance at happiness?”
There wasn’t much I could say to that, not without looking like a monster in front of Adonis. I would figure it out eventually though, and when I did, I would rip her apart. “Fine. At the start of the spring equinox, you and I will go to my cottage,” I said to Adonis. “And Aphrodite will stay very, very far away.”
She sniffed. “Fine, as long as you promise to never come back here, either. This is my island, not yours.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
We glared at each other. This war wasn’t over, but for now, we had no choice but to call a ceasefire. I would discover her game soon enough, and until then, I wasn’t about to let her or Zeus or anyone ruin my time with Adonis.
* * *
On the morning of the spring equinox, Hades dropped me off in the meadow as he’d done thousands of times before. I leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek goodbye, nothing more than what it was, but he stiffened.
I frowned and looked behind me. Standing in the clearing, as promised, was Adonis. And Hermes. And Mother.
Terrific.
“And that, I take it, is Adonis?” said Hades quietly, and I blanched.
“Yes.” Who had told him? Aphrodite or Zeus? Did it even matter? “We’re just friends.”
“For now,” he said softly, and I gave him that peck on the cheek.
“I’ll see you on the autumnal equinox. Take care of yourself.”
He remained stoic as I walked across the meadow, and a knot of guilt formed in the pit of my stomach. I should’ve told him, but these seasons were mine, and telling him before anything had happened wouldn’t have made it any easier. It wouldn’t have made him hurt any less.
I ignored Hermes completely. He frowned as I passed, but to my relief, he didn’t say anything. The situation was awkward enough as it was without his getting involved. Instead I headed toward Adonis first, taking his hand and giving him a smile. He returned it, albeit nervously, and he glanced over my shoulder. At Hades, no doubt. “It’s fine,” I said, and I led him toward Mother. “I want you to meet my mother, Demeter. Mother, this is—”
“I know who he is,” said Mother quietly. Instead of welcoming him like I expected, as Adonis bowed in greeting, her lips curled back with contempt. “I thought you were past this, Persephone.”
“Past what?” I said. “Past making friends? Past wanting to be happy?”
“Past causing your husband pain in the most deplorable way possible,” said Mother. Beside me, Adonis straightened, and I touched his elbow. No need for him to waste effort if she was going to be cruel about it.
“You’re the reason that me finding a bit of happiness is so deplorable in the first place,” I said. “If you can’t support me, then fine, I don’t need your support. And I don’t need you here, either.”
I didn’t know what I expected—an angry retort, a sneer, Mother to break down and beg my forgiveness. Either way, I didn’t expect her to fold her hands, give Adonis a slight nod and disappear completely.
All the air left my lungs, and I stared at the empty space where she’d stood moments before. She’d gotten mad at me before, of course, and her disappointment over the years had become impossible to bear. But never had she turned her back on me. Not like this.
“I am sorry,” whispered Adonis, his lips brushing against my temple. The regret in his voice only made the ache inside me grow.