“That was the plan unless you need me,” he said.
“No,” she replied. “I would never take you away from them. Besides, I have plenty of help.”
Hecate, Yuri, Alma, Tyche, and Lexa had volunteered to set up the ballroom. Hermes and Apollo had also said they would lend a hand, but everyone knew they would get drawn into the snowball fight.
As Persephone put the first tray of cookies in the oven, she spoke. “Once the children are settled, I’m going to decorate the tree in the entryway.”
“Another one?” Hades asked. He sounded a little exasperated, though she knew it didn’t come from a place of anger. He thought she was overexerting herself. “You’ve put up five already.”
“The one in your office doesn’t count,” she said. It was small and sat on his desk, but otherwise, he wasn’t wrong. She had three in the ballroom because it was so large, and one in the library. The one in the entryway was the largest and the most important.
On Christmas Eve when their guests arrived to celebrate the Ascension and prepare for Christmas Day, they would enter through the main doors. She wanted everyone to feel like they’d stepped into a winter wonderland.
“It takes a lot of effort to brighten these halls, Hades.”
She pulled two more rounds of dough from the fridge and brought them to Hades who had just finished rolling what he had.
“I’m just trying to say, given your condition, no one will be disappointed if things are quieter this year.”
“I’m not dying, Hades,” she replied. “I’m pregnant.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken fear. They had both considered it, that the babies’ souls were granted so hers could be taken. It didn’t seem like an irrational worry given the Fates involvement in almost every aspect of her life since the moment she was conceived.
In many ways, she was grateful to them. They had twined her thread with Hades’s and blessed her with a love she had never thought possible. That was a gift, even though her mother had seen it as a curse and tried to sabotage her destiny.
Now the Fates had blessed her again, and again she felt a love she never thought possible.
As wary as she was of their intentions, she could not help feeling grateful.
If she died giving birth, it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
Where do I go if I die? she wondered.
It wasn’t a question she was willing to ask Hades, or one he would be willing to answer, so she was forced to speculate. It was possible nothing would change beyond her ability to go to the Upperworld. She would lose her magic, but she had lived that reality before.
The other option was drinking from the Lethe, a thought she quickly pushed away. She didn’t want to think about forgetting. As much peace as it might bring to the darkest parts of her mind, nothing was worth losing what she found most sacred—her happiest memories.
Hades approached and wrapped his arms around her, his head falling into the hollow of her shoulder.
“Are you well?” he murmured, his voice quiet and warm. It made her shiver, but she smiled and looked up, turning her head toward his.
“I am,” she replied. “I love you.”
“I love you,” he said and kissed her.
While the cookies cooled, Persephone left to get ready for the Winter Ceremony.
Hecate was the only reason she still dressed for the day. As her pregnancy progressed, the Goddess of Witchcraft had a series of gowns made. Never one to sacrifice style for comfort, each one was more beautiful than the last. She looked forward to seeing what the goddess had dreamed up for today.
When she arrived at her suite, Hecate was there, her lampades hovering like a small army. The silvery nymphs always helped with hair and makeup.
“I’m sorry if I kept you waiting,” Persephone said, breathless.
“No apologies, my dear.” Hecate crossed the room to meet Persephone, placing her hands on her belly. “It’s expected, given your condition.”
“Not you too,” she groaned.
Hecate lifted her gaze and smiled. “They’ll be here any day now.”
