Page 77 of The Queen & the King

I smile, swapping the camera back and climbing back into bed.

Hades yawns. I hear him pat the bed, and then there’s a loud thump as Cerberus climbs in.

“You’re letting him on the bed?” I ask, my heart so full of love for them.

Hades shushes me, smiling lovingly. “Don’t let him think this is the norm.”

I sigh, grabbing the pillow from the other side of the bed and hugging it before propping the phone up so he can see me.

“My boys,” I whisper.

“He’s too big for this bed.” Hades flushes a little. “We’re in the guest room.”

“I noticed,” I reply. “Why?”

Hades blushes more. “Because… that’sourroom.”

I whimper again and start to cry.

“No, don’t cry, my spring,” Hades whispers comfortingly.

“You are everything to me, demon.”

“As you are to me.” Hades’ eyes glisten with unshed tears.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Hades shakes his head. “You have been taken from your home and stripped down to a version of yourself you don’t recognize. She took you from me.”

This man is perfect. He is my perfect husband, and I love him so much.

“Hades?”

“Yes?”

“I’m truly honored that fate chose me to be yours.” My voice cracks, betraying all of my emotions.

“I will never deserve you,” he says, his voice trembling.

“You already do, demon,” I reply, and it’s the truest thing I have ever uttered. “I love you.”

“I love you so much more.”

I smile and slowly drift off, knowing how cherished I am.

Forty-Six

Hades

IJOLT AWAKE AT THE SOUND OF AN ECHOING THUNDEROUS CRASH.I bounce to my feet, my bident already in my hand, prepared for the enemy. There’s another crash, and I whirl, trying to find the source. The tattoos on my body tighten, and for the first time, it’s not like a manifestation of my emotions. They almost feel like they areprotectingme. I hear a voice raised in anger, and my eyes lock on the balcony. This time, the sound is almost familiar. Is someone yelling?

I open the balcony doors and have to cover my ears, the air nearly vibrating with the violence of the thunder. It is deafening. I blink and slowly lower my hands, tracking the sound across the landscape. My lips twitch as I head back inside, closing the doors to mute the noise. I pick up my phone to text Persephone.

Hades

Found Z.

Demeter must have used the same ability that Gaia used to imprison my father to end her battle with Zeus. Therefore, Zeus ended up in the same place Kronos had—the cell.

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