I understood then that he didn’t care what name he used to address me. I was simply his. Always and forever.
A sob caught in my throat for what I’d done to him.
“My love. Forgive me,” I managed in a choked whisper.
He waved a hand, and everyone disappeared except the two of us.
He stared at me, his wary and slightly unhinged gaze sweeping my face, and I understood why.
“I remember the first time I saw you as Persephone,” I said. “You found me in a field filled with flowers. I remember thinking how handsome you were.” He stepped closer and held my face, wiping at my tears with his thumbs. “I’m the reason you suffered, Hades. When I discovered that Zeus intended to cast all the immortals down to Earth, except for you and Thanatos, I used Thanatos to find another way to make you suffer.
“He is not to blame. I am. I can’t tell you how sor—”
Hades set his forehead to mine.
“No apology need ever fall from your lips,” he said roughly. “Goddess, I wronged you. You were owed every ounce of suffering I endured.”
I shook my head against his.
“No, Hades. You are owed love and understanding. And if you’ll let me, I’d like to keep giving you both.”
He wiped at the fresh wave of my tears, and the space around us shifted. We stood in the bathing pool room at my house.
“Will you allow me to care for you?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, still crying.
My clothes vanished, and he picked me up to carry me into the warm water. I hadn’t realized how cold I was until the heat surrounded me. Then, he just held me through my tears as the memories continued to settle into place.
Slowly, the throbbing in my head faded, and my breathing calmed.
“I was so filled with hate that I didn’t see,” I said without lifting my head. “But the lives I lived without you have opened my eyes.” I lifted a waterlogged hand to run my fingers along his skin and saw the way he shivered.
“I see where we went wrong. If you don’t want an apology, I won’t give it. Instead, I’ll give you a promise. Even though I remember, I won’t live in the past. There’s nothing there but pain. We both made mistakes and paid for them. Can we start over?”
He gently caught my chin between his fingers and tipped my head back to meet his gaze.
All the uncertainty I saw there threatened to start my tears again.
“Slowly,” I said. “Simply. Like this.
“Hi, my name’s Ashlyn. I was a not-so-great goddess in one of my many past lives. My favorite color is sky blue. And I think you’re the most handsome man I have ever seen.”
Hades swallowed hard several times before he spoke.
“My name is Hades. I’m the god of the Underworld. My favorite color is the color of your eyes. And I know you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
My throat felt tight as I gave him a small smile.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Hades.”
He released my chin to hug me and press a kiss on the top of my head. I brushed a kiss over his heart.
“I thought I would lose you,” he said softly.
“You did. For a very long time, you did. But I found my way back to you, and you showed me what you tried so hard to show me the first time. Your love.” I rubbed my face against him to try to hold back the tears that wanted to start again. “Thank you for loving me unconditionally. You’re the only one who ever has.”
“Please end this pain, goddess. I beg you,” he whispered, his voice raw.
