Blooming Emotions

~Επίλογοσ

~Two Years Later

I love waking up in the middle of the night to my husband's arms around me. I love feeling the passion, the craving, as we kiss. I love having my husband run his fingers through my hair. I love making him coffee, breakfast, and even simple things like a sandwich.

I love that he loves me.

A pair of lips found my neck, pecking down it. I opened my eyes with a smile to see Hades' arctic-blue eyes. "My wife? Are you awake?"

I found his hips under the blanket and brought them to me. I wrapped my legs around his torso. "I am now."

My hands traced his chest—his shoulders and stomach—before heading lower. He laughed lowly, catching my hands. Hades interlocked our fingers. I let out a sound of disappointment.

"As much as I would love for you to continue," he murmured, "we have breakfast with Hekate, Charon, and Thanatos."

"Hmm. We'll make it a brunch then."

Hades laughed once more as I tried to free my hands. "That would be very un-queenly-like of you to make them wait."

I gave a theatrical sigh. "Fine."

He planted a kiss on my forehead. "Σε αγαπώ. Do you want me to run you a bath, magnolia?"

I gasped. "Oh! I would love that."

I hugged Hekate as we opened the doors to the Private Dining Room. "How have you been?" she whispered. "What is the big news for tonight?"

"What do you mean?" I tried to keep my voice as natural as possible.

"Why else would you throw a ball if there isn't any news?"

I laughed. "Hekate, it is the autumn equinox. It's when I fell into the Underworld via you three years ago. I have no news."

She narrowed her eyes in accusation, but I could see the humor behind it. "If you say so."

We all sat down to eat. A servant stepped forward—an envelope on a tray in her hand. Hades' expression turned darker as he read the sender. "Who does he think he is?" Hades said, his voice low and furious.

I put a hand on his arm. "Hades? Who is it?"

"My nephew, Hermes."

Hekate, beside me, gasped. "Where did he get the courage to do that?"

I squinted at the letter. "Hades, it's addressed to me. Let me read it."

"Calantha—"

"Please?"

"Oh, all right. But if it's a threat—"

"I'm sure that it's not."

Hades reluctantly handed over the letter. I broke the cherry-red wax seal. My eyes widened as I realized that it was not Hermes who sent it—but Sudie. "What does it say?" Hades demanded.

"It-it's not from Hermes," I said, looking up. "It's from Sudie."

"Your old lady's maid?" Thanatos asked.

"Yes. She-she apologizes for everything. Sudie claims she did it without ill-intent. It turns out someone had been slipping her love potions—to make it so that Sudie would follow Hermes through anything. Hermes convinced her that they were doing it for my mother's sake. Sudie says that she finally realized what was happening and left."

"Then why is it addressed from Hermes' manor?"

I kept reading. "Sudie says that she is to send the letter and flee. Artemis offered her shelter... now that she is pregnant."