Page 112 of The Queen & the King

I bite my lip to stop my smile. “Right.”

Mellie crosses her arms, pouting a little. “It is.”

“Mel…” I give her a knowing look. “You may be able to get away with that shit with Hades, but you know I can read you like a book.”

She glares at me. “Maybe I didn’t miss you after all.” But her lips twitch as she gives me her death stare.

“Listen, I get it.” I hold my hands up. “You remember how it was at the start of Hades and me?”

Mellie thinks for a moment. “This isn’t like that. Helios is just the worst. You don’t even know.”

I lift an eyebrow.

“I mean, Hades is also the worst, but Helios is like?—”

“He loves you,” I interrupt. Mellie’s face turns mutinous, but after a moment, it falters into something more vulnerable.

“How do you know?” she asks me, her eyes searching mine.

“That Helios loves you? He told me.”

Mellie shakes her head. “How do you know Hades loves you exactly as you are and won’t try to change you down the line? And that Helios…” she trails off.

I take her hand. “Truthfully, it’s extremely hard, but it is something I can thank my mother for. I’ve experienced love where the person loves theideaof me, and I’ve experiencedtruelove.” I squeeze her hand, waiting for her to meet my gaze again. “Helios sees you, Mellie. It’s obvious to everyone but you. The question you need to ask yourself is, does heloveyou, or does he love who you could be?”

“He always tells me not to go anywhere he can’t follow.” A tear slides down her cheek. “What a fucking idiot. Right?”

I shrug. “We’re all idiots when we’re in love, and that idiot would follow you into the depths of madness, just so you’re not alone there.”

Mellie looks away thoughtfully, another tear falling. She brushes it off after a moment and looks at me. I notice that while I can still see the inner madness behind her eyes, they’ve never looked so clear.

“I missed you,” she admits.

“I missed you too.” I squeeze her hand again. “And I have a very important question to ask you.”

Mellie groans. “No, I won’t be your third. Hades is gross, and he’s also like my father.”

I roll my eyes. “Not what I was going to ask.”

Mellie brightens. “You need butt plug recommendations?”

I blink, then burst out laughing. “As fun as this guessing game is, why don’t I just ask you?”

Mellie shrugs. “Boring, but whatever.”

“Will you be my maid of honor?”

Mellie’s eyes go wide, and then she narrows them. “Do I have to wear pastels?”

I shake my head, and she squeals, lunging at me again. “Yes! Of course, I will!”

I hug her, thrilled to have my best friend back. I know that while it may take some time, she and Helios are going to be okay.

Mellie and I set about planning the wedding, and at the end of it, I call Aphrodite to ask her if she will design the dresses for the event.

Sixty-Seven

Hades

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