Persephone’s gaze collided with his—a ring! She did not have a ring, and yet, the tilt to the corner of his lips told her everything would be okay.
“Do you take Persephone to be your wife?” Hecate asked.
“I do,” he said, his deep voice slid against her skin, making her shiver as he slipped the ring upon her finger.
“Persephone,” Hecate said, and held out her other hand. A black ring rested at the center of her palm. It was heavy, and as she held it, her hand shook.
“Do you take Hades to be your husband?”
“I do,” she said, and slid the ring upon his finger. She stared at the ring for a long moment, feeling a deep sense of pride at seeing it there—it meant he belonged to her.
“You may kiss the bride, Hades.”
Persephone’s eyes were fastened to Hades as his expression turned thoughtful—almost grim, but Persephone knew it wasn’t because he was upset, it was a mark of how serious he took this moment. A weight settled upon her chest as she realized how long he had waited—while their courtship was a second in his vast life, he had spent most of that alone, yearning for companionship, for love reciprocated, and when their lips met, it would be an end to that vast void.
He cupped her face, and she latched onto his wrists, smiling up at him.
“I love you,” he said, and sealed his mouth to hers.
At first, she thought he would end the kiss there—something simple and sweet before the entire Underworld, but then his hand moved from her face, to the back of her head, while the other wrapped around her waist. His tongue slide against her mouth, and she opened for him, smiling for a moment before he deepened the kiss.
Around them, the souls applauded.
“Get a room!” Hermes yelled.
When Hades pulled away, there was a smirk on his face, and he bent forward to press a kiss to her forehead before taking her hand. They turned to face the massive crowd.
“May I present, Hades and Persephone, King and Queen of the Underworld.”
The cheers were deafening. Hades guided Persephone down the aisle which felt so much shorter than when she’d first walked it. Once they were behind the line of trees, he pulled her against him and kissed her again.
“I have never seen anything more beautiful than you,” he said.
Her smile widened. “I love you. So much.”
“Come,” Hecate said as she rounded the corner.
She used her magic to teleport them and ushered them into the library.
“You have few minutes to yourselves until I return to collect you for the festivities,” Hecate said at the doors. “If I were you, I’d keep your clothes on.” She paused for a moment and added, “And your feet on the ground.”
As the door shut, Hades looked at Persephone.
“That,” he said. “Sounded like a challenge.”
Persephone arched a brow. “Are you up for it, husband?”
But at the word, he closed his eyes and exhaled.
“Are you okay?”
His eyes were still closed as he spoke. “Say it again. Call me your husband.”
She smiled.
“I said, are you up for the challenge, husband?”
Hades opened his eyes. They had darkened from blue to black, burning with desire. He reached for her hips, bunching the silk of her dress into his hands.
“As much as I want you now,” he said. “I have something else planned for us tonight.”
Persephone swept her hands over his chest and behind his neck.
“Does it involve…something new?” She asked.
Hades raised a brow. “Are you asking…for something new?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Hades reached for her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “And what is it you wish to try?”
She swallowed. “Restraints.”
CHAPTER XXXII – IN A SEA OF STARS
Hecate retrieved them from the library and led them to the first-floor entrance of the ballroom. On the other side of the doors, she heard Hermes’ voice.
“Introducing your Lord and Lady of the Underworld, King Hades and Queen Persephone.”
Persephone was certain she would never tire of hearing her name spoken in tandem with Hades’, and as the doors swung open, she was faced with her people—every soul in the Underworld she had grown to love. They clapped and cheered again as they entered the throng, spilling out into the courtyard where they came to a stop and there beneath the Underworld sky and before all the souls—new and old, Hades drew Persephone close.
The music was soft—a beautiful melody that seemed to twine them together.
“What are you thinking?” Persephone asked.
“I am thinking of many things, wife,” he said.
“Like?”
The corners of his lips curled.
“I am thinking of how happy I am,” he answered, the words warming her chest. Still, she arched a brow.
“Is that all?”
“I wasn’t finished,” he said, tightening his hold and bending so that his cheek pressed against hers, his breath brushing her ear. “I am wondering if you are wet for me. If your stomach is wound tight with desire. If you’re fantasizing about tonight as much as I am—and are your thoughts just as vulgar?”
When he pulled away, she was flushed, the heat pooling in the core of her body. Still, she held his stare and as the music came to an end, they halted at the center of the courtyard. Persephone craned her neck; her lips close to his as she answered his questions.
“Yes.”
His eyes darkened, and Persephone grinned just as her attention was taken by a group of children begging for a dance. She broke away from Hades and held hands with the children as they moved around the courtyard, oblivious to rhythm or footwork. Still, Persephone did not care—she laughed and smiled and felt more joy than she had in months.
When the song ended, another began, and the children broke away to play on their own.
“May I have this dance, Queen Persephone?”
She turned to find Hermes, who bowed low in her presence.
“Of course, Lord Hermes,” she countered, taking his outstretched hand.
“I am proud of you, Sephy,” he said.
“Proud? Whatever for?”
“You did well in front of the Olympians tonight,” he said.
“I think I made enemies.”
He shrugged and guided her into a spin. “Having enemies is a universal truth,” he said. “It means you have something worth fighting for.”
“You know,” Persephone said. “For all of your humor, Hermes, you have a lot wisdom.”
The god grinned. “Another universal truth.”
After dancing with Hermes, Persephone was passed to Charon and when she found herself standing face-to-face with Thanatos, her smile faded.
He was pale and handsome and looked a little sad.
The god bowed his head. “Lady Persephone, will you dance with me?”
Thanatos had not approached her since the day he’d told her she could not see Lexa. Facing him now felt awkward.
She hesitated and Thanatos noticed, adding. “I understand if you wish to decline.”
“I do not expect you to be kind because I am your Queen,” she said.