Page 263 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

A Voice in the Darkness

It startled us all…

The sound of a deep abyss

coming from the door.

‘All is not lost.’

I turned to see Hades

standing at the door.

His head was bowed.

If I did not know Gods better,

I would almost say I saw guilt.

He walked into the room,

his gait was slow,

Kore had stopped crying.

Instead, she was staring at him

with exhaustion and suspicion.

He kneeled beside her

and reached to touch her face.

She edged back from his touch.

He sighed and withdrew his hand.

‘All is not lost,’

he said again,

his eyes full of longing.

‘How much of the pomegranate

did you eat, Kore?’

he asked her tenderly.

I could see he loved the girl.

But in his desire he had not cared

what she wanted,

not understood the damage

he was bringing upon them both.

A marriage should not begin this way.

Kore answered quietly,

‘Six seeds.’ Even now, full of fear

and anger, her voice was gentle.

‘Six seeds.’ Hades looked crestfallen

and then said softly,

‘This gives you two seasons

with your mother.

Would that please you?’

His face was so hopeful.

Kore’s eyes narrowed.

‘And the rest of the seasons?’

she asked him pointedly.

He sighed and said,

‘You will rule here

with me. As my queen.’

Kore’s face crumpled for a second.

But then I watched a Goddess

being born.

She looked him in his eyes

and told him,

‘I will agree to this.

However, I will only

accept this if you bestow

half your entire realm to me.

If I am to be your queen,

I will be your equal.

You will take no other lovers.’

Hades looked surprised

at these words,

and for a moment,

I thought he would refuse.

But to my surprise,

he smiled and nodded.

Kore wiped her eyes

on the back of her hand

and drew herself up

to her full height.

Hades nodded at Styx,

then spoke to me.

‘Hekate, I ask you

to be Kore’s escort.

Please take her home.’