He was in his god form, horns on display. As soon as his bright blue eyes met hers, she was overwhelmed by another contraction. A moan bubbled in the back of her throat, and she winced, a reaction that did not escape her husband’s notice. She wondered how he was able to look alarmed, concerned, and stern at the same time.
“You’re hurting,” he said.
“I’m fine,” she assured, breathless.
Hades looked at Hecate. “If she says she’s fine, she is,” said the goddess, amused. “She will tell you when she isn’t, trust me.”
Hades’s gaze returned to her.
“Do you want to sit?” he asked.
“It feels better to move right now.”
His jaw was tense, but he nodded and offered his hand. On the other side of the doors, they heard Hermes heralding.
“Listen up, you festive fuuhh—” He hesitated and then tried again, likely realizing that children were present. “Listen up, you jolly jingle bells!”
Hades groaned. “Why did you tell him he could announce us?”
“He always complains his title as God of Heralding is obsolete,” she said.
“I think there is a reason for that,” he said.
The doors opened to the ballroom, which was also crowded with guests, the large space divided into quadrants. One for the children, one for food and dining, one for dancing, and one for games, but as she and Hades entered, everyone stood to bow and cheer.
At the center of the crowd, Persephone greeted her friends.
Yuri and Alma wore matching tulle skirts and had holly in their hair. Aphrodite wore a short red dress trimmed in white fur while Hephaestus had transformed his usual gold prosthetic into a festive, red and green stripe. Ares wore a red and green plaid suit and looked relatively pleased, though that was likely because he was currently being fawned over by a group of souls.
Then she came to Hyacinth and Apollo and hugged each of them, holding onto Apollo longest. She could see and feel their sadness, and it hurt her heart deeply, but she knew what was to come was best.
“I love you so much and I am so proud of you,” she said to Apollo.
“Thanks, Sephy,” he said, giving her a final squeeze before joining Hyacinth for a dance. She watched them go, glad that they had chosen to fully live these final moments together.
She turned her attention to the crowd, searching for one familiar face she did not see.
“Where is Lexa?” Persephone asked, looking at Hades who remained by her side, her constant shadow.
“Thanatos has organized a surprise for her,” he said.
Persephone’s mouth parted and she turned toward him fully. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“No,” he said. “Because you would have told her and that isn’t fair.”
“I can keep secrets!”
“That is not what I am arguing,” he said. “Though, you must admit that it is difficult for you to keep secrets when you are trying to console a friend.”
Persephone pressed her lips together and then asked, “Well, what is it? The surprise?”
“I didn’t ask,” he said.
“What do you mean you didn’t ask?”
Hades just stared.
“Weren’t you curious?”
