‘I know,’ I say. ‘You hug me in your sleep.’
‘What?’
‘Yeah, it’s quite funny actually. You make little contented sighing noises.’
‘And yet you dare say thatyoumade your feelings known before I did.’
‘Unconscious revelations don’t count. You could have been dreaming about anything.’
‘Oh not this again.’
‘I mean, the latest rumour in the courts is that Zeus has turned his lover into a cow.’
‘Zeus and I have very, very little in common.’
‘Thank the Heavens.’
‘I hope you had no plans to go to court today.’
‘They can survive without me for one day.’
‘Doubtful but we’ll see.’
‘They’re all highly competent gods. Now roll over. I want to hold you.’
He sighs but I can hear his smile as he turns. ‘If you must.’
I grab on to him, curve my body round him, think that I’ll never let him go.
And with the thought I hear my mother’s words: ‘What happens when you stop loving your husband? You truly believe in his love enough to think it will last forever?’
I stand by what I said to my mother. I’d survive. But, if falling in love is complicated, how much more complicated would falling out of it be? Would we fight over the realm? Hurt each other at every meeting? My mother thought she loved my father once …
‘Hades, um … what happens if this doesn’t work?’
‘Well, your emotions sure are fickle.’
‘Hades.’
He squeezes my hand. ‘Neither of us are horrible people, Persephone. I’m sure we’ll find an amicable solution, some peaceful coexistence.’
‘Okay.’
‘I do truly despise being a young god at times. All this eternity and none of the experience. But, for what it’s worth, for all my creativity I can’t imagine a future where I’m not in love with you.’
My panic fades. I’m going to love this man forever – how could I not?
‘Um.’
‘Um? That’s what I get for that declaration?’
‘Well, I’m torn between “I’m so glad I recklessly jumped into Hell” and “Fates, what’s wrong with you? Why are you being so sappy? It’s weird”.’
‘I’m allowed to be sappy sometimes.’
‘I know.’ I squeeze his hand a little tighter. ‘And it’s very cute but I’m much more comfortable when we insult each other to show affection.’
‘That’s because you have no idea what to do with affection.’
