Page 36 of The Dread Queen's Bargain

Hades had been preparing to send Hermes out with the announcement when Persephone had stopped him. As soon as the Olympians knew, it would cause chaos. Most of them wouldn’t care, but Zeus and Demeter had been suspiciously quiet since the feast of Dionysus. Persephone insisted they keep it to themselves for now, claiming there was power in secrets, and they could reveal the wedding at the most opportune time. Hades had been so delighted by Persephone’s strategic, cunning mind that he’d taken her to bed for three days to demonstrate his devotion as her husband.

“I figured they would show up at some point,” Persephone scoffed, stepping out of bed. She raised a brow and passed Hades to slip into the closet. “Well? Will you get dressed, or do you want to greet my mother and your brother in the nude?”

Hades suppressed his laughter as he got dressed alongside his wife. The Persephone he’d first met was long gone. How quickly she’d stepped into her new role and evolved was nothing short of radical. It would break other deities to undergo so much transformation, but Persephone was coming out stronger for it. Hades loved her more every day to the point he thought he might burst with it, which was okay with him. It would be a perfectly acceptable way to go.

Hades got halfway dressed and got distracted, staring at Persephone again.

“Hades,” Persephone rolled her eyes playfully as she pinned up her himation, “you can stare at me and worship me later, I promise.”

“Do you swear?” Hades stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her waist, ducking to kiss her neck and shoulder. Persephone giggled, and Hades swore the sound made him feel lighter than air.

“Yes.” Persephone dramatically pretended to detangle herself from him. “I’ll stand on a dais like one of the marble statues outside, and you can marvel to your heart’s content.”

“Well,” Hades shrugged, tying up his chiton, “I can think of better ways of worshipping you, but if you’d rather—ow!”

Persephone playfully smacked Hades on the shoulder as she passed by.

“Can you match me, please?” Persephone asked, motioning to her himation. It started as a bright pink color on top, then darkened to blood red and faded to black at the hem. Hades looked down at the grey chiton he’d selected before undoing it and choosing a black one to offset Persephone.

“Yes, my love.” He tossed her an easy smile and changed. He’d gotten plenty of heat from Hermes—and Thanatos, Aeëtes, and Erebus—about how easily he caved to any of Persephone’s requests, but he ignored them all. He knew their devotion went both ways, so why should he care if Cerberus slept in bed or if Persephone felt more confident when they matched?

When Hades stepped out of the closet, Persephone was waiting for him. She was chatting with the shade at the door, inquiring after their friends and family.

“Are you sure?” Persephone asked the shade softly.

Hades listened to the end of their conversation.

“Yes, my lady.” The shade bowed. “They opted to drink from Styx and be reborn. It was their choice. I prefer to stay here.”

“If you insist.” Persephone offered the shade a warm smile. “If you’d like to be reunited with anyone who passes on, please let me know directly.”

“Yes, my lady.” The shade smiled warmly. Hades swore if shades could blush, that one would.

“Are Zeus and Demeter here already?” Hades asked the shade, coming up behind Persephone. “Or are they requesting an audience properly?”

“They have not entered the Underworld yet, my lord.” The shade bowed again. “They are waiting for your express approval.”

“Let them enter,” Persephone instructed the shade, who rushed off to do Persephone’s bidding.

“They must want something,” Persephone rolled her eyes and started walking towards the reception hall, “or they are attempting to get in our good graces for some reason.”

Hades grabbed Persephone’s hand as they walked, squeezing it for reassurance. He knew it would still be difficult for Persephone to face Demeter, no matter how much she’d grown recently. Whatever she needed, he’d support her.

“It doesn’t matter, darling.” Hades leaned over to kiss her forehead as they approached the doors.

“I know,” Persephone sighed wistfully. “Sometimes it would be easier if Kronos ate Demeter again.”

“She was a pain in the ass, even in his stomach,” Hades chuckled. “That wouldn’t stop her.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Persephone shrugged, “but at least I wouldn’t be able to hear her.”

Hades shook his head and tried to quiet his laughter as Persephone steeled her expression. She placed her hands on the great doors and briefly composed herself, breathing deeply before her crown appeared on her forehead. With the final touch in place, she shoved the doors open.

The great doors swung wide for Persephone, Hades trailing right behind her. Persephone conjured a cloud of black and red smoke around their feet as they walked into the room. There were many things Hades appreciated about Persephone, but she knew how to make an impression.

Hades relished the shocked expressions on Zeus’s and Demeter’s faces when they strolled in. Hades and Persephone had dressed elaborately, in matching colors, and with enough jewelry to communicate Hades’s position as the lord of riches. The horrifying crown of bone and dead flowers on Persephone’s brow expressed everything necessary about her new position in the Underworld.

She was the Dread Queen—she was his Dread Queen, and he’d spend every last century he had showing her off and giving her whatever she wanted.

---