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Hades picked up Persephone again and went around the corner.

I sat for a little while, watching Finvarra rage. It was good that it was happening, but it brought me no joy. I didn’t want to have to think about him ever again. I got to my feet and looked down at my opal ring. This made me happy and brought joy. Clive’s gift had been returned.

Meg came around the corner, watched Finvarra rail against his prison, and then sat, motioning for me to join her. “I knew you’d come.”

I nodded, still processing everything that had happened in the last few days. “I wish you’d given me more information, so I’d have known what I was facing.”

She gave me a look and then went back to watching a raging Finvarra. “You wouldn’t have had to deal with any of that if Stheno had kept her mouth shut.” Her claws drummed on the bench beside her leg. “You would have done this far easier without her. It never occurred to me that she’d come with you, self-centered drunk that she is.”

I held up a hand. “Don’t. Please. Stheno is my friend. She came to make sure I was okay. And you could have met us once we’d crossed the Styx, if you were so concerned.”

On a shrug, she said, “I thought you’d enjoy meeting Cerberus. You like dogs.” She blew out a breath. “Those Stymphalian birds would have killed you all if my sisters and I hadn’t arrived when we did.”

“And I thank you for that,” I told her. “Stheno was a huge help, though, especially with the Minotaur.”

Meg scoffed. “Monsters of a feather and all that.”

I took Meg’s hand. “Please don’t. She’s not a monster. She’s a good friend and a caring sister who’s been grieving what was done to Medusa for a very long time. She and Athena had it out. They understand each other better now. Will she ever be a fan of Poseidon? Definitely not, but hopefully she and her sisters can begin to heal—once she shares Athena’s message with them.”

I took my hand back, knowing Meg wouldn’t appreciate it. “So, Hades and Pythia said you and your sisters have been looking for me ever since Pythia made her prophesy.”

Meg nodded.

“Did you know it was me right away?”

She nodded again.

“Oh.” I knew it was stupid to feel disappointed, but I did. I’d thought Meg and I were friends. Kind of. Mostly. I mean, she wasn’t the warmest of individuals, but that could be said about a lot of the older ones. They’d experienced a mind-numbing amount of life. A certain sense of ennui was to be expected. Still…

“Will you come back to San Francisco again?” I asked, trying to sound more detached and curious than needy.

Her eyes cut to me, eyebrows raised. “I was living there long before you showed up.”

“Right.” I stared into the prison cell without really registering what Finvarra was doing. Exhausted and feeling a little down, I just kind of zoned out.

“Why are you sad?” she asked. “You rescued my lady.” She patted my knee, keeping her talons in check. “You accomplished what none of us could.”

“And I’m happy about that. I’m just feeling a little lost right now.” My stomach hurt. I wanted to go home. I wanted Clive and Fergus and The Slaughtered Lamb, but I had no obol. “I don’t suppose you have a spare obol I could borrow, do you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t need one to travel in and out of the Underworld.”

It felt like my brain was floating away from me. “You probably just fly over the Styx, huh?”

“Yes.” She stood. “Let’s go back. You look like you’re about to fall asleep. It’s time for you to go home.”

“Only if I can get an obol—or someone is willing to fly me out,” I grumbled, following her down the tunnel to the great hall.

Before she opened the door, she turned me toward her, her fingers under my chin to lift my face to her. “You did good. And in case you’re wondering, I’ll come back to San Francisco and your bar. I’ve grown—I don’t know—fond of you, I suppose. If you and your bloodsucker move somewhere else in the world, I’ll visit there too. Okay?”

Embarrassed at being so transparent, I grinned and then hugged her. It was just a little one. Shaking her head, she opened the door and ushered me in.

“We’ll see what Hades says,” she whispered. “If there’s no obol, I’ll get you out.” She crossed the hall then to join her sisters.

The hall was now filled with furniture and plants, also with tons of people, all smiling and hugging Persephone. Meg and her sisters were ranged around the thrones, ever vigilant. My friends, though, were to my left, leaning against the back wall, as far from the gods and goddesses as they could get.

Stheno turned to me. “Good. You’re back. Can we get out of here now?”

“In a minute,” I said, watching Hades and Persephone. She was looking much better and had a cup in her hand. Perhaps it was some kind of ambrosia that rejuvenated her. She looked healthier, but her eyes were still haunted.