tilted her head back and listened to all the hopes and dreams of the mortals.
“Queen Persephone, please grant me a child,” one called out. “I know it’s not in your normal powers, but I fear the only way I will be blessed is with the soul of a child who did not make it. If you could send me a babe from the Underworld, I will give it a life it deserves.”
If only that were possible. She would gather all the babies of the Underworld and send them to mortal mothers who were struggling to get pregnant. But such things weren’t possible, no matter how hard she tried.
Persephone rubbed a hand over her own belly. “Soon,” she whispered. “Soon you’ll be in my arms, little one.”
She couldn’t wait to meet the child. She and Hades had stayed up all night talking about what they hoped the baby looked like. He wanted it to be a little Persephone. With her chocolate locks, her eyes, and a smile that could light up the sun.
In contrast, Persephone would prefer a little boy who looked just like Hades. She wanted a son with dark hair, dark eyes, and a solemn expression on his face even as he played.
She spent a lot of time daydreaming about what the baby would look like these days. A lot of time.
Only a few more months and she’d be back in the mortal realm, although it was plenty of time for her to have the child and get ready to handle it on her own. Hades was already planning to start a war the moment someone tried to take away his wife and child. But she knew they didn’t have a choice in the matter.
Someday soon she would have to leave with their child. But thankfully, they had all the time in the world together.
The thoughts weren’t helping her nerves. Pressing her fist against her belly, she burped out an acidic anxiety bubble and decided she should go find Hades.
He could rub her back, calm her down, and remind her that everything was going to be fine. No matter how hard it got, things were going to be a lot easier because it was two of them handling everything.
Standing up, she started down the halls toward his room. She wasn’t so big that she was waddling yet, although her stomach was definitely larger than it had been. The bulbous home of her child led the way as she headed to Hades’ room.
At the end of the hall, both Hecate and Thanatos stood waiting outside the door. Frowning, Persephone paused right behind them, and neither god even looked at her. They just continued to stare at the door as though it was about to burst into flame.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
Hecate turned around with so much horror in her eyes, Persephone wondered if someone had died. Thanatos turned white as snow, a feat for someone already so pale, and then awkwardly spread his wings to prevent her from going inside.
“Nothing is happening,” he stammered. “Everything is under control.”
No one could ever accuse him of being subtle.
Unease burst in her stomach and bubbled up into her mouth. “What is going on?”
“Nothing!” Hecate said, jumping in front of Persephone like she could stop her from even looking at the door. “Nothing at all, my queen. Everything is under control and I suggest maybe you seek your own chambers for a time. Let Thanatos and I handle this.”
“Handle this?” Persephone looked her in the eye and gave her the best glare she could muster. “I don’t know what it is you two are up to, but I think I’m allowed to go into my husband’s chambers if I wish.”
“Yes, of course.” Hecate glanced over at Thanatos, then back to Persephone. “But maybe not right now?”
That was it. Persephone wouldn’t sit here and wait for these two fools to figure out what story they wanted to tell her. The knot in her stomach tensed up so much she could almost taste metal, and it wouldn’t go away until she knew exactly what was happening behind that door.
With a slight flex of her power, she sent tendrils of vines down from the ceiling. They looped around Thanatos arms, tugging him against the wall, and forcing him to freeze in place.
“My queen!” he shouted before a wad of leaves stuffed into his mouth and prevented him from saying anything further.
Hecate backed away from Persephone with her hands held up. “Don’t tie me up with a