Demons of the Sun Read Free Page A

been dead for months. If the higher ups found out, they’d try to force her to live somewhere else. If that happened, Hades Dagger would be exposed, and all Hell—literally—would break loose.
    Persephone showered, then threw on some clothes, making sure the lacy white tank showed under her navy Henley. She liked to remind the guys she played soccer with she was a girl while she was showing them up. She fed Turtle, grabbed a pomegranate smoothie out of the fridge, and headed toward the front door.
    The knock stopped her in her tracks. Last night she’d been too exhausted and sore to clean, and now she cursed herself for not putting her weapons back where they belonged. Persephone kicked the dagger under the couch and scooped up her short sword. The blade had a wicked jagged edge, and even though it was short, twenty-six inches was plenty if it caught you wrong.
    The knocking came again, louder this time. Gripping the weapon, she looked through the peephole. And groaned.
    She unlocked the door and swung it open. “What do you want?”
    Jax ran a hand through his damp hair. The swelling in his nose had gone down, but his right eye held a hint of blackness. “You said we could talk today.”
    “Not now. I’ve got to go to school.”
    His eyebrows drew together. “You go to school still?”
    “I’m seventeen. Of course I go to school. The real question is why don’t you?”
    “I already graduated. A year early.” He looked all pleased with himself about it. “So I could start taking out demons as soon as possible.”
    “Sorry, I’m fresh out of gold stars. You’ll have to settle for an uninterested stare.” Persephone replaced her sword behind the peace lily, stepped onto the porch, and locked the door behind her. She readjusted the gris-gris hanging from the door, then turned to Jax. “How’d you break in yesterday, anyway?”
    “Just picked the lock. As soon as I’m done dropping you off at school, I’ll figure out what we need to do to better secure the place.”
    “It’s secure from the demons, which is what’s important. The wards make it invisible to them. If they come across it, all they’ll see is a vacant lot.”
    “I don’t trust some witch’s spells. We need to cover all our bases.”
    All of two seconds, and he was already irritating her. With the memory of last night’s dream fresh in her mind, reminding her she had someone she loved out there waiting for her, she could focus on all of Jax’s annoying qualities instead of his good looks. “There is no we . I’m going to school, you’re going…wherever it is you live right now, and then later tonight, we’ll have a quick talk and go our separate ways.”
    “Not going to happen,” Jax said, crossing his arms. “I’m staying by your side, and you don’t actually have a choice in the matter.”
    She jabbed a finger at him, fighting the urge to reinjure his nose. “That’s where you’re wrong. Don’t push me, because I promise, it won’t work out well for you.”
    “I don’t understand why you’re so hostile. I’m just trying to help.”
    “The last time someone from the Order helped me and my family out, I was almost killed. My family wasn’t lucky enough for the almost part.” Her heart knotted, the familiar ache of missing them rising to the surface.
    Jax’s expression softened. “I’m sorry about that, I really am.” He reached out his hand, like he was going to put it on her shoulder.
    Persephone stepped back. “Yeah, well unfortunately for me, I got no time for feeling sorry.” Before she could start thinking too hard about all the things she’d lost, she turned and charged toward her car.
    All she’d wanted to do was have a nice, normal day. Guess when you’re the guardian of an artifact that could basically ruin the world, that was just too much to ask.

Chapter Three
     

    Persephone tossed her bag in her locker and went to find Dean and Danielle. The twins were her best friends and provided the best