“I’m afraid to believe this is real. Who are you, Ashlyn?”
I understood then why he was holding himself back.
“I’ve told you so many times to leave the past in the past, but now that I remember everything, you’re worried I won’t be able to leave our mistakes there, right?”
His expression turned tormented, and I crossed the space between us to cup his cheek.
“You don’t want apologies from me, so I won’t give them. I’ll give you the truth instead.
“Idoremember, Hades. I remember all the pain and the fear. I remember the all-consuming anger. It would be hard to forget any of that when we’ve given each other so much of it. But remembering it will serve us, Hades. We will never forget what we did wrong so we can move forward and do what’s right.
“We’ve made so many mistakes together in the past, but we never worked through them together. That’s what I want to do with you now. Move forward. Together.
“You want to know who I am? I’m yours, Hades. Just yours.”
He groaned and wrapped me in his arms. Rather than give me the passionate kiss I expected, he pressed his lips to my forehead. We stayed like that for several long minutes, simply holding each other.
“I was serious about starting over,” I said, trailing my fingers over his skin. The script beneath my fingers started to glow, and I tipped my head back to meet his gaze. “Is there any chance you would consider getting rid of these contracts so we can?”
I saw a flicker of doubt and fear in his gaze. Caressing his jaw, I pulled him down for a sweet kiss that he allowed me to lead for a change.
“These contracts were the start of Persephone’s resentment,” I said softly. “I am not Persephone. I’m the countless versions after her who don’t want you to carry that burden anymore. Give me a chance to prove you can trust me. Let’s remove them all.”
He tightened his hold on me, and I wanted to kiss him again, to comfort him, but I didn’t want to sway him.
“As you will it,” he said finally.
All the script rose from his skin at once, twining around us in golden threads.
“Instead of making something for me, will you create a ring or maybe a hoop earring for each of your children? Something I can give them when we return so they know I’m not the goddess I once was?”
Hades’ expression faltered, and I saw the hope and fear in his eyes as the pieces started to spin into existence and fall to the floor around us.
“I know it’s going to take time for you to believe this is real. Just keep giving me chances to prove it, okay? I swear you won’t regret it. What should we do first to test that this version of me is here to stay?”
“Bathe together,” he said.
“Done. But not here. I’d rather use a pool in Hell so you don’t disappear in the middle of something again. And then tomorrow, I want to come back to Earth to have dinner with my friends somewhere.”
Hades grabbed my face and studied it with an almost crazy light in his eyes.
“How long will you stay here?”
“How long willwestay here?” I corrected. “I go where you go, Hades. And Hell is your home, so it’ll be mine too. I just don’t want to give up seeing my friends forever.”
“You won’t,” he said earnestly, pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “I vow it. Will you grant me your permission to summon you?”
“Always,” I said.
The room around us folded away and solidified as a steaming bathing room in the Underworld.
I could hear the low murmur of voices echoing nearby, and flashes of Persephone’s memories teased my mind. They felt like mine but distant with almost a movie-like quality. Torn from the home she’d known, she’d been afraid of so much. Just like I had when I’d first arrived. But then Hades had hurt her. And after that, she’d shied away from him and any displays of public affection. Something he craved so badly.
Which was why he’d always wanted to bathe with me. Yet, instead of choosing a pool where the rest were, he’d chosen one close to the other bathing rooms. Somewhere we still might be discovered but somewhere still private enough to appease me too.
I glanced at the opening to our room then at Hades. He watched me closely, waiting for my reaction. I unbuttoned my jeans, trying for casual even as his gaze heated.
“So I finally understand how I was able to call you to me even on Earth. Do you want to know even if it might touch on the past a little?”
