slid to a stop in front of the open office door and feasted her eyes on the details beyond. Hades sat beside a bassinet. He held a ledger in one hand, pouring over the markings etched upon it while he used a foot to nudge Melinoe’s crib. The baby was at least twice the size Persephone had expected, already so big. With a full head of black hair and eyes that watched her mother with an awareness that was eerie for her age.
“Hello husband,” she said.
He jumped. Hades looked up to see her standing in the doorway and then rose like a man who had seen a ghost. He set the book gently on the table, his movements measured and slow.
Then he was racing toward her. So fast she might have believed he had teleported to be in front of her faster. He caught her face in his hands and kissed her with all the deep ache they had both felt these long months away from each other.
Hades devoured her lips. He consumed her soul and swallowed all the sadness and guilt she had felt in the long nights she’d been far from his side. And when they both needed to breathe, he pulled back only slightly so he could still press his lips to hers as he spoke.
“I missed you,” he breathed against her lips. “I missed you so much I could hardly think.”
She’d been so worried that he would forget her, she realized. And that was a foolish thing to think, considering her husband was also looking after their child. He couldn’t forget her when a baby reminded him every single day just how connected they were. But she had still been afraid.
Standing in front of him now, she knew how wrong the thoughts were. Hades would always be with her because he worshipped the very ground she walked up. In return, she loved him with her entire heart, body, and soul.
Throwing her arms around his neck, she sank into his embrace with a quiet hum of pleasure. “My husband, I missed you more than words can say.”
He kissed her again, and she lost herself in his embrace. The world fell away until she was aware of nothing other than his lips, his tongue, and his hands gripping her waist.
If only they had a few more minutes together. Just enough time for them to sneak away so she could enjoy her husband’s touch without scarring their child for life. Melinoë saw far too much with those ancient eyes.
Someone coughed behind them, clearing their throat in a rather exaggerated way before she heard their footsteps approaching even closer. Sighing, she pulled away from her husband and looked over her shoulder. “Yes?”
Hecate stood behind them, her hands clasped behind her back while clearly trying to contain her grin. “Welcome home, my queen.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you perhaps like me to watch the little one while you and Hades catch up?” She lifted a brow. “I imagine the two of you have much to... talk about.”
Persephone would like nothing more. Hecate must have seen the answer in her eyes, because she remained waiting while Persephone disentangled herself from Hades’ arms and strode over to her daughter.
Lifting Melinoë into her arms, she hugged the sweet smelling baby close. Inhaling the scent of her hair, Persephone sighed in happiness. “I missed you too, sweet daughter of mine. You are the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I’m sorry I had to leave you for such a long time.”
Melinoë reached up and grabbed a handful of Persephone’s hair. Babbling a few strange words, she stuffed the locks of hair into her mouth and gurgled out more gibberish.
“Yes,” Persephone replied. “I know you’ve grown up a lot since I’ve been gone. If I could have been here to see it, I would have been. But mommy is here now. I’ll watch you grow for another six whole months, and then you will have to grow with your father a bit. But until then, you’re all mine.”
She kissed the baby’s cheek before handing her off to Hecate, who waited with her arms outstretched.
Melinoë, showcasing an obvious intelligence far beyond her years, gave her mother a disgruntled look over Hecate’s shoulder.
Persephone shrugged. “You’re all mine in a bit. Let me speak with your father first, then I’ll come get you and you can show me all the things you’ve learned while I was gone.”
That seemed to pacify the unusually intelligent child. Melinoë pressed her cheek against