Ten

Hades cupped my face. "Repeat that," he demanded, a smile forming on his pleading face.

"I'll marry you," I said, also starting to grin. Hades made a choking sound and buried his face in my neck. He placed a soft peck there. I ran my hands through his silky hair. "Are you all right?"

"No, magnolia. I am not. I am better than all right; I am wonderful—better than wonderful, actually. I do not believe there is such a word to describe me. Elated. Euphoric. Overjoyed. Ecstatic."

I placed a slow kiss on his cheekbone. "I know what you mean. I am overjoyed, too."

"I have to get you a ring."

"Yes."

"And we have to start planning with haste."

"Definitely."

"It is late. We should begin in the morning."

"Sure thing."

"Oh, but how will I sleep? I cannot possibly do such a thing now..." Hades began to ramble and slowly slip into his native tongue.

"Hades! Hades! Calm yourself. Let's go to sleep. You're going to freak yourself out if you keep that up."

"You are right." He beamed and added, "My wife."

Red tinted my cheeks. "I'm not your wife yet. We have to get married still."

"Yes, but we did not have ceremonies back when the mortals created us. You were married when you decided to be with your lover."

The next morning, Hades told me that he wouldn't see me until dinner that evening, so I took my lunch in my room and ate with Sudie. Sudie, thanks to her connection to lilies, helped me decorate my bedroom with lilies and asphodels we picked. She loved hearing about my mother—although I didn't dare tell her about my mother's smothering.

That girl has an enormous infatuation. But I considered it sweet.

At dinner time, Hades waited for me at the table. He beamed. "Good evening, magnolia. I have something for you. Come and join me."

I obliged. "Is it what I think it is?"

"Most likely." Hades laid a ring box on the table, and my excitement skyrocketed. I flipped it open and gasped.

The ring was one of the most magnificent ones that I've ever beheld.

It was identical to the one I dreamed of a couple of months ago: A silver band with an opal center stone and pink tourmalines encircling it.

"How?" I whispered to myself. How could he possibly know the design that I dreamed of earlier?

"What? What is wrong? Are you not fond of it—?"

"No, no! I love it. It's just that I had a dream of this exact ring a few months ago."

"How peculiar."

"You designed this, right? How did you come up with it?"

"It came to me this morning."

"...Well, it doesn't matter. I love it." I slid it onto my finger.

Over the next few hours, we selected many things for our wedding: the gardens for the location, Thanatos for Hades' best man, and Kerberos for the ring-bearer. Then we had to choose the date.

"I've always wanted a winter wedding. What about you?" I asked.

"It does not make a difference to me, magnolia, as long as you are there—in white. If you wish for a winter wedding, we shall have one. How does holding the ceremony on the first day of winter sound to you?"

Excitement bubbled in the pit of my stomach. "It sounds perfect."

"The service has to be petite—lest the news gets out and relays it to your mother or Zeus."

"I agree. Maybe limit the guests to less than two dozen?"

"Magnolia, do you believe that the king of death would have more than two dozen acquaintances?"

"Well, hey, I wasn't going to judge. And I'll take that as an okay."

He leaned across the table and kissed my cheek. "I love you, my silly girl."

"I love you, too, my silly boy."

With the realization that neither of my parents will attend the most important day of my life, tears sprang to my eyes, and my smile faded. Hades' face morphed from teasing to concern in an instant. "Magnolia, what is wrong?"

"Neither of my parents will be present at my wedding..."

Hades gently tugged me out of my seat and into his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder. "Everything is going to be fine, okay? When my brother and I get along once more, we can have another service, and you can have millions of gods attend. All right?"

I sniffed. "You would do that?"

"I would do anything for you."

That following morning, Hades woke me up, saying, "Wake up, my wife. I made an appointment with the best seamstress in the palace for a dress consultation. It is in an hour and a half."

I rolled over, and Hades ran his knuckle down my cheek and jaw. "Dress consultation?"

"Yes, darling—for your wedding dress."

My groggy mind finally grasped what he said, and I bolted upright. "We're getting married," I blurted.

Hades smiled, amusement in his tone. "Yes, magnolia. And you need to get ready for your dress appointment. I started you a bath; go, and I shall choose you an outfit."

Warmth pooled in my stomach. I love this man with everything that I am.

I kissed my fiancé for a few seconds before slipping out from under the covers. Hades caught me as my toes touched the floor, trapping me against his chest and lifted me. "On second thought, perhaps you need some assistance with your bath?"

My heart raced at his words. I swallowed the knot forming in my throat. With my voice coming out breathier than I intended, I spoke, "Perhaps, I do."

"Ma'am? Did you hear me?"

I snapped out of my thoughts. I couldn't stop replaying what happened this morning between Hades and me in the bath. I had never felt anything like it—it was the best sensation in the world. Hades made sure to be gentle and to go slow. We passed a significant milestone, and I am glad it was with Hades.

"I'm sorry; I didn't catch that last question."

"Oh, it's rather all right, ma'am. I know how exciting your big day can be. I asked if you have a fabric preference? Satin or silk, perchance?"

"Yes, um, a satin bodice and a lace skirt would be my first choice."

"Oh, what a lovely idea, ma'am. I can do that. Do you have a style partiality?"

"Yes, nothing skin-tight."

"Does a ballgown style strike your fancy?"

"That would be perfect."

The seamstress crossed the room and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. She sketched for a minute before showing me the design. "You said that it is a winter wedding, so I am going to add tiny crystals to the skirt along with snowflake lace—the sparkles will look like falling snow. The neckline will be a simple straight-across and strapless. You will wear lace gloves and a shawl. Do you have any objections, ma'am?"

"That sounds amazing. Thank you. Do you have any idea when you will complete it?"

"With my team and I, it should take a fortnight—another week after that is possible."

"Thank you so much. I look forward to seeing your work."

She smiled, her laugh-lines appearing. "And I look forward to seeing you in it, ma'am."

~~~

"I have a question," I said, opening Hades' study door.

"Do tell." He met my eyes, something twinkling in his irises. "Fiancée."

I moved closer with Hades inviting me in with his arms. "You say that I am a goddess, right? The goddess of flowers, right? Well, why do I not have any powers?"

"I am certain that you do, but your mother neglected to nurture them. Your mother never told you of them—so you never let them out."

"...Will you teach me how to use them?"

"That is a given, magnolia. Of course, I will."

I perked up. "When can we start?"

"Whenever you wish."

"Are you busy after lunch?"

"I will always have time for you, magnolia."

We met up in his gardens. "What are we doing first?"

Hades set down a white lily. "We will start with something simple. Grow this for me, please, magnolia."

"How?"

"Imagine it is growing."

I raised. "It's that easy?"

"Would I lie?" a teasing grin tugged at his lips.

I flicked a speck of dirt at him and glared at my fiancé. "Don't patronize me. I don't know this stuff."

"I know, I know. But in all seriousness, in your mind, visualize the lily rising."

I nodded. "Do I have to touch it or something?"

"Possibly. You might have to since you are a beginner."

I kneeled before the ivory flower. I stared at it for a few seconds, noting all of its details. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. The small flower made its way into my mind, and I pictured the flower becoming not-so-small anymore. Its petals and stem grew until it was two-feet-tall.

"Extraordinary work, magnolia." Hades' voice broke me out of my trance, and I opened my eyes.

I gasped. In front of me was a replica of the flower in my head. "Did-did I do that?"

"Yes, magnolia, you did do that." He kissed my forehead. "I am very proud. You got it on the first try—well done. Now attempt to shrink it."

I glowed from his compliment. Throughout my life, I have only received a handful of praises—my mother handing out zero of them. I strained to follow his orders. I repeated my earlier actions and visualized the flower shrinking past its original shape—all the way down the size of my thumb.

"You are truly a gifted person," Hades spoke, pride coating his voice. "Now, let's try some of my trees."

Hades had me grow and shrink various plants and trees in his vast garden. But after about an hour, an ear-splitting headache formed behind my eyes. I didn't mention it because I love making Hades happy, and his approval made my insides warm.

"Okay, magnolia. Try and— σκατά!"

I met his gaze. "What? What is it?"

"You are bleeding, magnolia! You have a nose bleed!"

"Wha—?" I brought a finger to my nose and, sure enough, it came back a golden color. "Oh! Oh, my God!"

Hades whipped out his handkerchief, and I pressed it to my nose. "I am truly sorry, magnolia! It is my fault; I should have known that you have a limit; I—"

"It's fine—really. Why-why is it that color? Blood is supposed to be red."

"It's called ichor—the blood of the gods. It's not regular mortal blood, and it's a golden color. Let's take a rest, yes? We have not eaten dinner yet; let's take it to our room, yes?"

Hades helped me to my feet, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. I fell into him, and he grabbed my waist. The garden spun behind my eyes and went black for a second. When I came to, Hades was carrying me. The lights above me caused pain to explode throughout my head.

I groaned. "What—?"

"Shh," he murmured. "Relax."

Hades set me down on our bed, and I groaned. "Can you turn off the lights, please?"

"Absolutely. I am extremely sorry, magnolia. I forgot that you do not have the stamina that I do. I—"

"Don't worry about it, Hades. I should've warned you that I was getting a migraine. Really, it's my fault."

"Nevermind who is at fault. You rest, and I shall get us dinner." He kissed my hair, and I watched the door shut behind him. I stumbled into the bathroom and washed the sticky blood off of my face before drifting off to sleep.