Page 98 of Flowers Near Me

“It’s okay.” The words tasted sour. Turning her head away from Hades, she reached out her hand and imagined poppies blooming around the bed. Bright orange and red blooms sprouted across the floor and parted around a sitting Cerberus.

A low rumble in Hades’ chest preceded his reply. “I thought I was being selfish, keeping you here as you struggled. I didn’t believe Hecate when she said you were better off staying. I was wrong, Sephy. Will you forgive me?”

Relieved to hear his regret, she smiled. “Of course. I mean, we still don’t really know what’s going on. And I’m sorry I’ve missed so many events. I feel terrible.”

Hades ran his fingertips over the back of her neck. “I kept you from going to events. Besides, you should save your strength for our weekend getaway.”

In the struggles of her illness, she’d completely forgotten about their trip. Would it even still happen?

Do I tell him what my mom admitted?Maybe if she could go a day without searing pain, she’d bring it up.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

A GODDESS AWAKENS

PERSEPHONE

Back in Hades’ apartment, Persephone’s no longer suffered from headaches or dizziness. Instead, she felt better than ever. When Hades touched her, her powers came alive. Those few days of full health made her recent illness a distant memory. Had she known being back with Hades would cure her, she would’ve never left.

Cerberus slept at the end of the bed like a furry donut.Eyes closed, the gentle lift and dip of his breathing made him too irresistible not to squeeze. His fluffy fur scrunched like fleece.

With a loud knock, Hecate entered the room with Hades close behind. “We figured it out,” Hecate cheered.

Sitting straighter on the end of the bed, Persephone knew he could only be talking about one thing: what had made her sick in the first place.

Hecate said, “You’ve got to purge your magic more regularly. If you don’t start using it for daily activities, it’ll get stored up and make you sick again. Hades’ power seems to draw it out, which is why you feel better when he touches you, but you’ve got to push it out as well.”

“So, I need to release and recall the poppies more often?”

Hades shook his head. “No, you need to portal when you want to get somewhere. Conjure your morning coffee, summon your clothes to get dressed, enchant your laptop to record notes in a meeting. Once you’re exercising your powers regularly, you won’t have those terrible headaches.”

A wave of relief washed over her.Thank the Fates.There was life after migraines and fainting spells. “How did you two figure it out?”

Hecate said, “After I portaled you back here from Laura’s place and saw how you immediately perked up at his touch, I knew it had something to do with the flow of your magic. Hades must’ve awakened it but you had so much pent-up power it drained you trying to escape.”

Hades cut in, “You should try to use your powers this morning so you feel your best. We’ve got a meeting with the launch team, and I want you there.”

Persephone sprung up from the bed, Cerberus hopped off and Persephone fixed the sheets with a wave of her hand, just as Hecate had shown her. “How soon until we leave?”

“We have a couple of hours.” Hades smiled at her.

Hovering her hands over her face, Persephone imagined her makeup from one photo of Hades and her on their first fake date. Olive tinted foundation, dark mascara, and light pink blush. A warm breeze radiated from her palms and brushed her skin. A thrill spiraled from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Power flowed with abandon through her, and a beaming grin spread across her face.

Opening her eyes, she asked Hades and Hecate, “How do I look?”

“Stunning,” said Hecate.

Hades replied, “Perfect.”

“Good. I’ll meet you two in the living room. I want to change my outfit with magic.”

“Great idea,” Hecate said and portaled with a purple cloud in her wake.

Hades stepped closer. “Sephy, before you finish getting ready, I have something I should confess.” He sat down on the bed, patting the open spot next to him. He leaned onto his side getting comfortable, but the strained expression on his face looked anything but relaxed. “Before we ever met in person, I asked the Fates about you.”

So this was it. Her Mom had said as much—that he’d asked them if they’d marry.

“It only took one look at you and I felt it deep in my being that our paths would intertwine.” His gaze bore into her with such sincerity that she held her breath. “I bargained with them for an answer to the question:would you marry me.I was drowning in my infatuation with you, even before I knew how incredible you truly are. There was no rationalizing or explaining why I was so captivated by you from the start. I’d never experienced a longing as strong as this and I needed to know if I had an iota of a chance to be in your life, because if I didn’t, then I needed to leave Olympus.” He paused, sucking in a deep breath. “But here’s the tricky thing about the Fates: they expect payment for their answers. Even still, I knew the answer was worth the cost.”

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