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Chapter32
Persephone
Four months later
Blowing out a breath, I try to calm myself down. It shouldn’t be that big of a deal; I’m marrying Hades, the man I have a baby with. It’s all very logical and practical.
But a romantic part of me is still completely freaking out.
There’s a knock on my bedroom door. I clear my throat and check my reflection in the mirror one last time. An elegant woman in white silk looks back at me, her vacant expression echoing what I feel.
“Penny?” Magda’s voice comes through the door. “Are ye ready, dear?”
I blow out one final breath and smile at myself in the mirror. I only have to pull it together for an hour. Then I can fall apart.
“Coming!” I yell. I hurry to the door and swing it wide, finding Magda on the other side. She looks rather refined in dove gray silk and she bounces baby Maggie on one hip.
The second I see Maggie dressed in a frilly baby pink outfit, my eyes mist over. “Well, don’t you both just look amazing.”
Maggie makes a soft noise of want, reaching her chubby arms out wide to me. I stretch my hands out automatically and Maggie grins, looking utterly delighted. She lets out a shriek and I wince, but I’m already smiling.
Magda clucks her tongue, picking up one of Maggie’s hands and grinning. “We both came to tell you that we are about ready. The boys and Diana are congregating outside by the cliff overlooking the sea. The castle servants are heading out there and the priest is waiting. So now, we just need ye.”
I take a deep breath, fanning my face to keep my eyes dry so they won’t mess up my makeup. Maggie reaches out and touches my braided updo and I have to be quick to pull her hand away.
“No, thank you. I don’t need any more help with my hair, thank you.” I swing and bounce her. She smiles, all dimples. She is a happy baby, for which I am endlessly thankful.
“How is Hades doing?”
Magda pulls me out into the hallway, ushering me through the castle.
“He’s fine, as far as I can tell. Ye know how he is with me. We are getting closer, but he still hides ninety percent of his feelings when I’m around.”
“But is he like…” I wince. “I’m just trying to make sure that he hasn’t changed his mind.”
Magda lets out a bark of laughter.
“God, no. My son is completely in love with ye. If it were a hundred years ago, I’d think ye had cast a witch’s spell over him.” She winks. “He knows what he’s got.”
I actually get choked up, just thinking about Hades. I fan my eyes.
“Shoot. I absolutely can’t cry. My emotions are just all over the damn place today.”
She opens the door then stops to give me a hug. “That’s perfectly acceptable. I would think ye were a bit odd if you weren’t acting a little off today. After all, ye are about to become Penny Lyon. It’s a huge change!”
I exhale slowly, fanning my eyes again. “Magda, please don’t make me cry.”
Maggie puts her hand against my face, and I move my head, kissing her little fingers.
Magda bites her lip. “So no speeches about how damn glad I am that my son has the sense to marry ye?”
I tear up, hugging Magda hard. “After the ceremony, okay?”
She wipes at her own eyes and laughs a little. “Deal.”
She holds out her hand. “Come on. Let’s not keep the man of yer dreams waiting.”
I navigate the next couple of minutes as though moving through a fog. I don’t quite know how I get to the clearing on the top of the cliff. But suddenly we are there, me and Maggie. I look at the small cluster of handsome men standing there, and Diana, looking beautiful with her brothers, waiting for us.
