Heart of Tartarus: A Hades and Persephone Retelling (Faeries of the Underworld Duology) by Katherine Macdonald

Author:Katherine Macdonald [Macdonald, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

The last secret Hades kept from Persephone was that he’d known her most of her life, knew who her mother was, and that he’d been in love with her for years. This, he thinks, is small compared to that. He knows she won’t be mad about this one, not when a child’s life is on the line.

He’s given his vow now, so he can’t go back on it. He could have refused, of course. Told Artemis he’d tell no one but Sephy, but even though he doubts that Sephy would tell anyone, she can make no vow, and Artemis would live in fear. He isn’t going to do that to her.

He doesn’t go back to the party. Artemis does. She slinks away, leaving him with Diana. Faerie children are seldom watched with the same level of care and attention applied to mortal ones, but he likes that she trusts him with her. He takes hold of Diana’s hand and shows her the rest of the graves, and then they locate the dogs and play the longest game of fetch ever. The dogs tire before she does.

Finally, they scuttle away to the banquet, fill golden plates with food, and sneak under the table to eat. She stuffs her little face, crawls into his arms, and falls asleep almost immediately.

His niece. How nice to have at least one family member who doesn’t despise him.

Shortly afterwards, Sephy finds him. She slides under the table with them.

He raises his hands to his lips, gesturing to the sleeping form of Diana in his arms, her fat pink cheek pressed against his chest.

“This is a sweet image.” Sephy smiles. “Quite cosy under here.”

He murmurs something in agreement. “I like children,” he says. There’s no need to explain why he likes this one specifically. “Particularly faerie ones. They’re so upfront because they haven’t learnt how to skirt around the truth yet. It’s refreshing. Been a while since any came near me, though. Big scary Lord of Night.”

“Yes, so scary, much terror.” Sephy pauses for a moment, her gaze tight on the two of them. She chews her bottom lip thoughtfully. “Whilst we’re on the subject…”

“Yes?”

“There’s not really anything you could say to me that would be a dealbreaker right now, but putting my cards on the table, I’d really like kids. You know, someday. And not like in a few decades/in the next century someday, assuming I’ve got longer to live than most. Because my dad doesn’t. I’d like him to meet my children. So maybe in ten years, or thereabouts. If… if you’re game?”

Hades smiles. He already likes children. He knows he’d like Sephy’s children even more. Sephy’s children being his, too? It’s an idea too wonderful to contemplate.

One long, black-polished finger is curled in Diana’s fist. He wonders what their children would look like, how dark their hair would be, if they’d have Sephy’s curls, her eyes.

They would doubtless be beautiful.

“I’m up for that,” he replies. His voice is velvet and ember.

Sephy’s smile is pure sunshine.

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