Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

Author:Bea Fitzgerald [Fitzgerald, Bea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241624296
Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
Published: 2023-07-19T18:30:00+00:00

I RETURN TO THE MEGARON. Even though it’s crowded, I see Hades immediately, like a magnet is pulling us together. He meets my eyes the moment I re-enter.

‘Ah, my love,’ he greets me as I approach. He’s talking to three other gods, all of them absurdly tall and ridiculously handsome.

I ignore them for the moment as I cup Hades’ face and press a chaste kiss to his cheek in greeting. I’m determined not to feel anything, so I focus on a thousand other things to avoid the sparks that fly when I touch him.

Hades grins smugly and, though he doesn’t pull me back to him, his fingers trail down my back. I’m unprepared, and those sparks sneak up on me.

Thank the gods even surprises can’t touch my expressions or Hades would be strutting around the palace for weeks.

‘Did Hecate say anything interesting?’ he asks before I can think of something to rile him up in return.

‘Many things,’ I say and then I remember the company and rush to continue. ‘About you, actually. Things I had no idea about.’ There’s a look of such panic in Hades’ eyes that I push on. ‘Fascinating things, truly.’ I glance at the gods, who stare at me in unabashed shock as I tease the lord of their realm.

‘I see,’ Hades says. ‘And do I have anything to worry about?’

I laugh. ‘Well, I’m not breaking off the wedding but, dear, I have some fantastic ammunition for our first argument.’

Now he finally does take hold of my waist and he stares at me like I’m the centre of his whole world.

It could become addictive, being looked at like that.

‘I shall just have to keep you appeased then.’ He grins. ‘Thankfully I am very, very good at keeping a woman happy.’

‘So I hear,’ I practically purr.

I can see him swallow and, gods, how right we were earlier that we are far too good at this.

‘Darling?’ I ask.

‘Yes?’ He seems lost in my eyes.

‘You haven’t introduced me to your friends,’ I say, flashing the gods an apologetic smile.

Hades nearly starts but he smothers it with a cool smile. He wasn’t acting that last part, which means I’m getting to him more than he’s getting to me. Oh, I am never letting him live that down …

And I can almost pretend the little jump of hope lingering behind my glee is non-existent.

‘Of course, my love. This is Thanatos, Charon and Tartarus. We … fought together,’ he says, suddenly formal once more.

‘My lady,’ they mutter, bowing their heads.

I’m startled but Hades beams at the sight. ‘Soon to be my queen,’ he says.

I realize not everyone needs to be convinced of our marriage and me taking the throne. Many are already poised to accept it.

Thanatos, the god of death, rises first. His long black hair is swept away from his face. It’s the exact same shade as the oil-slick feathers that coat the wings at his back, stark against skin so pale I can see blue veins pulsing beneath. He adjusts his chiton in a way that suggests he is not used to wearing one.

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