Page 111 of The Queen & the King

Destroyer of Worlds.The Gods of Fates’ words ring in my head.

Persephone didn’t just imprison Kronos. She decimated him. The Void opened and consumed him. He is gone, truly and completely gone.

I struggle to remain conscious as Persephone collapses, much less summon the strength to go to her. Her body changes back to her glamoured version, and Cerberus limps to her side, licking her face and waking her up. I am frozen there, unable to move the entire time, feeling completely helpless.

Cerberus starts toward me, but Persephone calls him back when she sees the limp. I struggle to sit up, pushing myself to my feet as she heals him, and he dances around her in relief and happiness.

Persephone laughs, and her eyes flicker toward the door, a look of uncertainty lingering there. Her body is still glowing with remnants of her power. “Hades?”

I limp over to her, cupping her cheeks. “Are you all right?”

She gazes up at me, and I watch as any lingering remnants of that absolutely awesome power inside her fades.

Dark Spring. Iron Queen.

I press my forehead to hers. “How? You don’t have Gaia’s powers anymore.”

Does she realize the truth? Does she see what I see? Does she understand the implications of everything she just did? I had scoffed at the Gods of Destiny, insisting that they would have nothing from us and that we were in control of our own fate.Fuck.

“I… the Underworld…” she whispers.

I shake my head. “You are connected to the Underworld, yes, but that was not… Youbecamethe Underworld.”

She became a physical manifestation of the Underworld, like Helios being the physical manifestation of the Sun, but Persephone is the manifestation of a mystical realm of the dead. A realm that contains the decaying corpse of a Primordial, and now Persephone has the ability to harness that Primordial’s power for her own purposes.

Fuck.

“I’ve been connected to it since I came down here,” she whispers, trying to understand and adjust, rationalize what just happened.

“But you’ve never transformed like that before.”

She pulls back, studying my eyes. “I drew from the realm, but it was like… I was drawing from a well of my own power, just a part I’ve never delved into before.”

“Destroyer of Worlds.” I smile softly at her. “That’s what the Fates called you. Destroyer of Worlds.”

She smiles back at me, her eyes shining. “Why are you not kissing me?”

What a fucking good question. I press my lips to hers and put my hands on her hips, lifting her and spinning with her. She candestroy any world, any life, so long as it ends like this. With her and me, together.

Sixty-Six

Persephone

IT’S BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE THE BATTLE, SINCE I ENDED KRONOS,and the night I ended Kronos. To say they’ve been complete bliss would be the biggest understatement ever. Hades and I have spent the days repairing the Underworld, reassuring the dwelling souls, and reinforcing the prison again. We’ve spent the nights reacquainting with each other. I’m not sure I’ve ever slept less or been happier, and while it’s been a chaotic few days, the next few are reserved for planning our wedding. We decided we didn’t want to wait any longer.

I wait in the library for Mellie to arrive, excited to see my best friend again after so long. I understand why Helios is keeping her away, wanting to keep her safe, and I bet she made his life hell for it. Truthfully, I’m glad she was safe. I hope in time, she comes to be comfortable in the Underworld. Hades explained that he offered them both safety here, to live in peace, but I know Mellie doesn’t want that, not yet anyway.

There is a subtle shift in the Underworld, informing me of her arrival a fraction of a second before her ear-splitting howl. Her screams and the pounding of her footsteps echo down thecorridor. I barely have time to consider how long I have before her attack when she tackles me, taking me to the ground.

“You’re here!” she screeches, hugging me tightly.

I laugh, hugging her back. “Ow! Mellie!”

She pulls back, grinning. Her scars are still present, but there’s something about how she glows that makes them less visible. “Oh, my gods! I have missed you so fucking much! Hades is so boring, and he gives theworstadvice,” she says, standing and yanking me up with her.

“Oh, he’s not that bad.” I laugh and sit on the couch.

Mellie rolls her eyes. “It’s his fault that Helios and I keep fucking.”

---