Page 22 of The Dread Queen's Bargain

“Come on in,” Hecate smiled. “I have a feeling that this conversation could use your input too.”

Persephone had no idea what they were discussing that could require her input. She noticed the young goddess beside Hecate stiffened at the thought.

“I don’t mean to pry,” Persephone offered up humbly, sitting across from the pair and offering a wink towards the unknown goddess to create some familiarity between them.

“Yes, you do,” Hecate ribbed playfully. “You’re Hades’s eyes and ears all over the Underworld.”

Persephone was surprised she didn’t fall right off the bench. It was a stretch to say she was Hades’s eyes and ears in the Underworld. They’d spent a few days hooking up together and were destined to be consorts. Persephone realized Hecate, of all people, was well aware of the Fates’ prophecy and was likely referring to it.

I am not beholden to Hades. Persephone’s stomach churned in rebellion. Even if the ancients foretold them to be together, Persephone didn’t see a path forward for her and Hades. She didn’t even understand what her path forward looked like.

“Ha! Don’t confuse me with Minthe. I am a free agent.” Persephone scoffed.

In a bit of a petty rebellion, she snapped her fingers and put food on the table in a show fitting of Demeter’s daughter. An amphora of wine and three cups appeared on the table, and a plate overflowing with pears, cheeses, cured meats, and pomegranates.

“Pomegranates,” Hecate rolled her eyes as she grabbed a few seeds and raised a brow. “How cute.”

Persephone paled for a brief second before regaining her composure.

I don’t know how she even heard about that so quickly. I suppose a goddess of witchcraft has many methods of foresight.

“What?” Persephone acted indifferent and popped some into her mouth, smirking. She turned towards the other young goddess at the table. “We haven’t met.” She widened her smile and passed her a cup. “I’m Persephone.”

“Persephone!” Makaria squeaked. Her brow furrowed, and Persephone realized she was likely surprised to see her in the Underworld. “As in Persephone, Demeter’s daughter? In the…Underworld?”

“Or Persephone, goddess of spring.” Persephone pursed her lips and slathered a piece of honey on a slice of bread, not even attempting to disguise her disdain for her mother. She hated being referred to as ‘Demeter’s daughter’ almost as much as she hated being called ‘Kore.’ “Yes, in the Underworld—”

“She’s here to drive Hades insane,” Hecate quipped, wagging her eyebrows in Persephone’s direction.

Persephone laughed and toasted her cup in Hecate’s direction. That was a directive she could get on board with.

“He’ll be fine,” Persephone sing-songed, sipping the nectar and wine. “His subjects are already dead. What’s he going to do? Kill someone?”

That was precisely what Demeter always feared Hades would do—come up from the ground one day and smite all the Olympians, but even after her limited time with him, Persephone knew it was unlikely.

“You’re awful,” Hecate grinned approvingly. “But not why we’re here. Makaria, darling, what’s stewing in that head of yours?”

Persephone watched Makaria take a deep breath, her eyes downcast as she looked slightly uncomfortable.

I know how you feel. Persephone thought. She was barely hanging onto her wits, not knowing where she belonged. Persephone wasn’t even attempting to process the news about the Fates’s prophecy. How could she? How did you handle the news that you’d been betrothed to Hades since birth? She should have wed him centuries ago… Now it was hitting them both upside the heads. If Persephone knew anything about prophecies, it was this: they always came true. The longer they were delayed, the heavier the blow.

It would explain why there’s such chemistry between us and so quickly… Persephone had partially tuned out Makaria and Hecate. The Fates designed us for each other, and now the prophecy has only been building strength since it didn’t come to pass when it should’ve.

Makaria wiped some tears from her cheek, and Persephone immediately bottled up her feelings again. She refocused on the young goddess and listened to her story as she recounted the story of her new divinity. Hecate helped fill in the parts about Makaria’s mortal life for Persephone. She reached across the table and gave Makaria’s hands a welcoming squeeze.

“Goddesses of the Underworld have to stick together, no?” She smiled, referring to herself for the first time as a goddess of the Underworld. She’d always be one if her powers partially belonged to this realm. Hecate let out a playful shriek.

“I’m assuming you’ve told Hades you’ve accepted his proposal then?”

“Absolutely not!” Persephone grinned wildly, standing up on the bench and pouring fresh cups of wine for the table. If there was ever a time to get drunk, it was now. “Listen to me, Makaria. Always make them sweat it out!”

The women broke off into laughter. Hecate gently steered the conversation back to Makaria, for which Persephone was grateful.

“I don’t even understand how I got here,” Makaria moaned, leaning her head on the table. “I mean… I know how. That was Nyx. It just seems so…misplaced.”

“You have to be careful with new powers,” Hecate sighed, rubbing Makaria’s back gently. Persephone watched as Hecate doled out maternal affection towards Makaria and itched for some herself. “It’s overwhelming, to say the least, and you’re going to need to find some sort of an…outlet…for a while.”

“Is Thanatos going to be the one teaching her?” Persephone turned towards Hecate with a quizzical look on her face. She’d only heard rumors about Thanatos, but she knew he wasn’t one to be trifled with—and he didn’t have the reputation of a teacher.

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