Zotera’s reactions and questions helped distract me for the next few hours. When I yawned and she suggested I go to bed, I shook my head and made myself more comfortable on the couch.
* * *
Waking up in my bed was a little disorientating. Especially when it looked nothing like my bed. It took a few moments to remember that Zotera and I had changed my room the day before.
In the early morning light of a new day, I looked at the empty place beside me. With the bed hangings and marble walls, it felt so wrong that Hades wasn’t there. I brushed my fingers against the pillow.
When I told Eliana I had no regrets about going to Hell, it had been the truth. But I did have regrets about coming home. What would my life have been like if I’d stayed and given Hades what he’d wanted? Would I really have slowly grown to resent him for loving someone else while holding me? Would I have turned into his nightmare again like some self-fulfilling prophecy? Or would I have just let myself love him?
Sighing, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the wood canopy.
“Are you hungry, Ashlyn?” Zotera asked, her voice ringing in the room.
I sat up and looked around, wondering how she’d done it, until I saw an intercom box near the door.
Grinning, I got out of bed and pushed the button.
“Nice addition. Did you see these at the Quills’?”
“Yep. Anwen showed me how to use it in case I needed anything when she left the room. I made breakfast if you’re hungry.”
I looked down at the gossamer nightgown I wore, shrugged, and went to find her.
The house didn’t look like the home I remembered. It was like a mini Hell castle but with French country influences. And I loved every newly spacious inch of it.
“Zotera, this is beautiful,” I called.
“I’m glad you think so. I wasn’t sure you’d like it.”
“I love it,” I said, looking up at the rustic chandelier hanging in the living room. I ran my hand over the light-colored sofa and discovered it was as soft as it looked.
Turning, I faced the arched opening that led to a cozy French country kitchen complete with a fireplace and conversation seating with another room off of it for a much larger formal dining table. It was set for two.
“Did you sleep well?” Zotera asked.
I looked at her standing near the dual ovens as she tugged the tie on her apron and couldn’t stop my grin.
“Did you get any sleep? This is incredible.” I inhaled deeply. “It smells incredible.”
“I don’t need sleep,” she said with a shrug. “Do you like your pajamas?”
“I do. They’re very pretty,” I said, not mentioning how see-through it was or my lack of undergarments. “Did you carry me to bed?”
“You didn’t look comfortable on the couch.” She gave me a sheepish look. “And I really wanted to change the room without waking you.”
“I’m glad you got me out of the way. Waking up to this…” I waved my hand at everything. “It feels like I’m dreaming. A really good dream.”
She grinned and turned to open the oven.
“If you want to sit, I’ll serve you, Ashlyn.”
“Can I help carry anything?” I asked.
“No. There’s not that much.”
Our definitions of not that much were very different. She’d made us both cheese soufflés with spinach side salads topped with roasted beetroots, Granny Smith apple slices, watercress, bacon, and spiced walnuts.
I couldn’t eat fast enough.
