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a life without her was not a life at all.
beautiful and gracious, far too good for the things he had done in his many lifetimes—and yet she remained, a steady light at his side, a beacon he could follow through the dark.
His goddess was no longer made up of innocent things, and there was a part of him that did not know how to feel about it, that wondered if she had never met him if that would still be the case.
This…it went beyond love. It was devotion. It was worship. It was the power that began and ended worlds, and if he had to, he would do so in her name.
“No one is deserving of my presence,” she said. “I am a plague upon men.”
“Do not pretend Persephone does not know who she has chosen to love,” Hecate said. “She sees all of you. She is the Goddess of Spring after all. She is used to life and death.”
It went beyond being friends. They were soul mates,
Persephone was life and he was death. They were a cycle that could give and end life, which made them powerful.
“Oh, darling, but I have told you before—for you, I would destroy this world.”
Hermes grinned. “See you soon, Daddy Death!” He vanished, and when he was gone, Hades looked at Thanatos, who asked in a very serious tone, “Which one of us do you think he was calling Daddy Death?”
“It’s called being vulnerable,” she said. “And of course you hate it. You don’t like to feel out of control, though you often are, especially where Persephone is concerned.”
“Persephone has chosen you, and she accepts you in whatever way you choose to offer yourself, but is it fair that she cannot see you struggle when so often you must bear witness to hers?” “I am protecting her,” he said. “Are you protecting her or yourself?” Hades was quiet. “Persephone has grown because at some point, you made her feel safe enough to be vulnerable with you. As a result, she has come to see your side of things and respect your decisions. If you do not offer her the same, can you truly respect her?”
“I want you to recognize the importance of being vulnerable with Persephone, because apart, you are both powerful, to be sure, but together, you are unstoppable.”
“I never thought I’d thank the Fates for anything they gave me, but you—you were worth all of it.” “All of what?” “The suffering.”
He wished she knew how difficult it was to speak each word in the face of her beauty, in the face of her temptation.
If any one of the gods was underestimated in their power, it was Hephaestus. If anything happened to his wife, the world would come to know just how terrible he could be.
“I need help. The souls have arranged a surprise engagement party and I…want to look…” “Less like a goth?” Hermes prompted. “I want to surprise Persephone,” Hades said. “We could swap outfits,” Hermes suggested. “That would really surprise her.” Hades glared.
Her divine form inspired nothing but awe because she glowed. She was like a fucking star in the sky, burning away the darkness, setting fire to every horror he had ever known.
a smile broke out across her face. Hades never really considered that beauty would be the weapon to stop his heart, but here he was, barely breathing. She made it so easy to forget every weight he carried—
“I will give you the world,” he whispered, his mouth hovering over hers. “I don’t need the world,” she said. “I just need you.”
There was no man in the world who would claim such a thing; only women were taught their pain was never enough.
“Are you well?” she asked, and he leaned into her touch, holding her bright gaze like it was a beacon for his soul.
“No,” he admitted, and they held each other tight, unwilling to let go.
“There is always hope,” Persephone said. “It is all we have.”
“She should not even have to face this,” he said. “She should have been safe where she worked.” “I do not disagree,” she said. “Such is the world for women in a society dominated by men, even for those of us with great power.” “It must end.” It was all he could think to say. “As all things must,”
then he appeared before her as she sat on his throne, and he almost knelt at her feet. She was a fucking dream. “My queen,” he said and took a step toward her.
“Why is this the first time I am hearing about your fantasies?” she asked as he kissed her head. He didn’t really know what to say. “How do I verbalize such a thing?” She held his gaze. “I suppose you just…tell me what you want. Is that not what you would want from me?” “Yes,” he said, intrigued by the thought of desires.
“You make me feel insane,” he said. “Like I’m struck with madness. I never thought I would want to feel that way again…but it’s different with you.”
What was done was done. Now, they had to move forward.
“I will worship you until the end of the world. There is nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice for you.
“I will give you everything you ever wanted, even things you thought you would live without.”
Telling her more meant he would have to handle his fear of being too much for her—too angry, too vengeful, too cruel. “I worry my words will come out wrong and that you will find my motives barbaric.” “I’m sorry,” she said. “I think I gave you this fear when we met.”
“I will be the reason for your misery, for your despair, for your ruination. I promise you will taste my venom.”
but that was the nature of a narcissist. Demeter had taught Persephone that she was at fault for her mother’s poor decisions.
“The best thing you can be for her is a safe space. You are where she heals from trauma, not where it seethes.”
They were the beginning and the end, the dawn and the night. They were never-ending, and their magic would be too.
“Just one more thing,” he said, and as he lifted his hands, a crown of iron grew between them. “Are you making a statement, my lord?” she asked as he placed it on her head. “I thought that was obvious,” he said. “That I belong to you?” she asked with a pointed stare. “No,” he said, tilting her head back. “That we belong to each other.”
“I have seen love—all forms and degrees—but there is something dear about this love—the kind you two share. It is desperate and fierce and passionate.” She paused to laugh, and so did everyone behind them. “And perhaps it is because I know you, but it is my favorite kind of love to watch. It blossoms and blazes, challenges and teases, hurts and heals. There are no two souls better matched. Apart, you are light and dark, life and death, a beginning and an end. Together, you are a foundation that will weave an empire, unite a people, and weld worlds together. You are a cycle that never
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“Thank you, Hecate,” he said. “I will forever be grateful for everything.” She smiled. “You’re welcome, my dear, but I would do anything for you. I would do anything for Persephone.” There was a weight to her words that was almost threatening. He could feel it, as if she too wanted to promise the end of the world if either of them came to harm.
