Page 71 of Hades

She angles herself and glances to the top of my head. “I can’t believe I got you to wear a birthday hat,” she teases as she snaps the elastic sting under my chin.

“I’d much rather be wearing my birthday suit,” I tease.

“Get a room,” Moirea says as she passes by on her way to sit with Rasha’s sisters.

It didn’t take much time to figure out who Pestilence had been talking about when she said Aradia had met the missing elder fate. I don’t know why I didn’t see it, probably because I was too enamored with Aradia to pay much attention.

Aradia and I went back to the little run-down diner to convince Moirea she couldn’t stay hidden there any longer. The entire conversation took about fifteen minutes, she had known we would be coming. While she isn’t an active fate, she still has quite a few insightful premonitions. So now she’s staying with the New Fates and helping them through the long process of wielding destiny.

When I look over at the old woman, she gives me a wink. Thankfully, she also knows how to keep her mouth shut.

It’s been a year since I stepped into my family’s legacy and stormed Themis’ temple. Thankfully, she didn’t make good on taking her daughter’s life. Although, technically, I didn’t follow Aradia to Boston, I let her make her own choices.

“Do you think that will ever be us?” Aradia asks as she watches Scarlett cover herself in frosting and cake.

“I’ll go get a cake right now If you’d like to smash it, as long as you’re naked when you do, and I can lick it off,” I tease, knowing what she’s really asking.

She nudges me with her shoulder. “You know what I’m talking about. Do you think we’ll ever be taking pictures of our child while they smash a birthday cake?”

Thinking back to the chest full of memories, there is one box I’m not sure how to ever explain to her. She has still never gotten back any of her memories from the thousands of lives that she’s lived. But in that time, I had watched her be a mother several times, and despite my heart breaking, I swore always to protect her line. But how do I tell a woman who is barely thirty that she has great-great-great grandchildren.

Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her to me. “I would be honored to have a few little devils with you,” I say, kissing the side of her neck.

“Little red ones with horns and pointy tails?”

“Any kind you want,” I whisper. “But we have to get going. I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?”

Her emerald eyes practically glow with excitement, and I have to do my best not to ruin it. Quickly, we make our rounds, saying good-bye to everyone, including the birthday girl. When we get to Moirea she pulls Aradia in for a big hug.

“Are you two going to go get for French Toast,” She teases, and I give her a wide-eyed stare. Damn seer, trying to drop hints to my girl.

Bending down I give Moirea a hug. “I see what your doing.” I whisper.

“Oh, pish-posh,” She scolds. “You two kids go and have fun, I’ll keep an eye on fido for you.”

We take a detour and head to Alastors office; he’s the only other one besides Moirea who knows what I have planned.

“Where are we going?” Aradia asks as I place a blindfold over her eyes. I’ve been planning this since she agreed to return to our secluded cabin. Although now it’s not an illusion in Treachery Prison, it’s our private sanctuary in the Underworld. Hopefully, one day, we will rule together.

“It’s a surprise,” I whisper in her ear.

Wrapping her in my arms, we emerge at our destination, perfectly timed so that no one sees us arrive.

The wind blows, and Aradia cuddles against my chest. “It’s windy,” she says, still unable to see where we are. “Can I take this off now?” she asks, touching the fabric around her eyes.

“Not yet,” I tell her as I take her hand and lead her over to the area I’ve had set up. My heart is thundering in my chest. If I were human, I would most likely think I was about to have a heart attack.

“Why is your hand all clammy?” she asks as she grips her free hand on my arm.

When we get the spot I’ve set up, I set her in the chair and remove the blindfold. It takes a minute for her eyes to adjust, and at first, I can tell she has no idea where we are. After all, the only light is coming from the city below.

“Where are we?” she asks, still looking all around her.

Raising my hand, the city below is rewarded with the spectacular light show that they are so used to.

“Oh my God,” Aradia says, placing her hand over her mouth. “Are we…” She stands and hurries over to the railing to look down. “We’re on the Eiffel Tower!” she exclaims as she turns around and runs into my arms. “Hades, this is the sweetest thing ever. Thank you.”

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