That is how the days have passed. A walk in the garden where I appreciate every petal and the intoxicating scent. I cast blessings on Olympus and the mortal realm, and even bless my travel to come. Last-minute prayers to Hecate to thank her for connecting the realms that I may have both my king and my mother.
I am ravenous for Hades. And…I feel trepidation at the thought of leaving my mother for six moon cycles. I know I will be all right. I will be well and happy and fulfilled with Hades, but I worry for her.
She is quiet through our meal together. The silver’s clinking and scraping against one another. We linger over sweets afterward, wine goblets in hand, until finally it is time to admit that the sun has set.
My mother keeps track of the moonrise out the window. There is not much to see with the new moon, but she can feel it. I know she will feel it every time it rises and sets while I am gone. She will be counting the days we are apart.
“Hecate will be here,” I say, putting down my glass. I gather my belongings, then go to my mother and wrap my arms around her. “Be well,” I say into her ear. “Do not worry for me.”
“I will worry for you, my daughter,” she answers, hugging me tighter. “That is what all mothers do. You cannot stop us.” She gives me another squeeze. “Endings are also beginnings,” my mother murmurs. “The Earth will rest, then grow again.”
“It will be in balance,” I say easily and note my mother’s calm.
“The stars have aligned themselves, Persephone.” My mother pulls back and looks into my eyes. She smooths a lock of hair back from my face and smiles, though I can see tears collecting in her eyes. She blinks them away for me. “My pain will be felt and shared but so will my hope and longing for your return.”
“It is a beginning,” I remind her, as she has just reminded me. “Please do not spend the next six moon cycles fretting about me.”
“It is what?—”
“Promise me you won’t.” I take her hand and squeeze. “Promise me you will scry with me, and you will plan for the summer, and you will take it as a time to slow down and sit by the fire.”
“I may sit by the fire any time I want,” she says, her brow furrowing.
“More in the autumn,” I say. “Promise me.”
My mother kisses my cheek. “I promise.”
There is a loud crack, like the sky splitting open. My mother gives me one last kiss on the cheek, then straightens up. She looks proud, as the mortal mothers did on Earth when their children grew up and moved into their own homes. They were always so proud for their children to take their places in life.
I hope my mother knows that I have already taken mine. That part of my place in life is here, with her.
If she does not know now, she will know in the spring.
“Hecate is here,” she says and swallows a lump in her throat. She releases me and closes her eyes, whispering and fighting back emotions. “Go to your king.”
Hades
“Hades.”
I am prepared for Minox, so Persephone’s voice sets my heart racing. Fucking finally. Every nerve ending in me lights aflame and my breath is stolen from me. Finally, my queen returns. I whirl around as Cerberus leaps from my side. My dog is the first to reach my queen, and Persephone bends down, her travel satchel slipping from her shoulder and falling with a faint thud.
She’s breathtaking in a blush pink silk robe with floral pin in her hair.
“Hello,” she says, ruffling whichever of Cerberus’s heads she can reach. The dog barks a few more times, then runs around Persephone and out into the hall. Announcing her arrival and racing to tell all of the Underworld, our queen is here.
She’s so beautiful and the air around her bends to her power. Her return is a soothing balm to my soul. That is her scent in the air. That is her gown, and her face, and her sweet lips.
I am with her before I realize I have taken a single step. Cupping her face, I tilt her chin up for a kiss. She’s here. This is not a dream. Persephone looks up at me, her hands coming up to cover mine, and smiles a gorgeous and lust-filled smile. She is sinful with what she does to every inch of my being.
“My love,” she says in a low voice. “I’m here.”
I lean down and kiss her once again.
She tastes of honey and sweetness and love. I moan into our kiss, and she presses herself closer to me, deepening the embrace. Persephone wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down. Her warmth consumes me. Barely paying attention and without breaking our kiss, I guide us to the bed chambers until I can slam the door shut with one hand, then throw magic at it to lock it. Parting my hand from her lower back was torturous and I’m eager to reclaim her curves. We cannot be disturbed.
My cock has ached for her for months, and now that she is in my hands again, I will lose my mind if I do not have her.
“Hades,” Persephone gasps in a sweet moan against my lips. It’s evident she needs me as much as I need her. Our movements are not graceful as we tear apart the clothing we wear. It’s painful to stop kissing her, but I must. I need her gown on the floor. I need to see all of her, every inch of her skin, so that I know she is well, and she is here, and she is mine. I strip her clothes over her head like I have lost my mind and let them drop to the floor until she is naked.
