Epilogue

EPILOGUE

S ix months later

Helheim-Sungard Border

Aria

Since the prophecy had been fulfilled, life had taken a surprising turn. I was more than just Hades' queen.

I ruled over Sungard myself.

I stood on the balcony of our newly constructed castle, looking out to see Sungard and Helheim stretching out before my eyes. The barriers between realms had long since dissolved, but instead of plunging the world into chaos, it had brought about a new era of harmony.

True to his word, Hades no longer harbored the desire to conquer the world or bend the realms to his will. His focus had shifted entirely; he ruled Helheim with a fair and just hand, but his heart was here with me and our legacy together as king and queen.

The world was truly at peace for the first time in a very long time.

Helheim, once a realm of unyielding darkness and despair, had begun to change. The shadows still lingered, but now they coexisted with the light. The air, once thick with foreboding, was now filled with a strange, peaceful serenity.

It was beautiful.

Sungard, too, had changed. No longer just a realm of blinding light and rigid rules, it had softened. The harsh golden light that once dominated everything had mellowed, allowing room for shadows and nuance. The people had embraced the balance, realizing that there was beauty in both the light and the dark.

Since the Sun King's death, Sungard had floundered without a ruler. By right of conquest, I'd taken Sungard for myself, while Hades continued to reign over Helheim. Together, we had forged a new path, ruling side by side from our castle on the border between the realms.

The people of both realms had accepted us, and though there were challenges, we faced them together, our bond growing stronger with each passing day.

In the weeks that followed our ascension to the throne, I made it my mission to rescue my mother from the Sun Court. When I finally found her, worn and tired from years of hard labor, the look of disbelief and joy in her eyes when she saw me was enough to make my heart swell. I promised her that she would never again be a servant to anyone. I brought her to the castle, where she was given a place of honor, a room with a view of the gardens, and a life of comfort and peace.

I could never get my father back, but at least I could have her.

With a soft sigh, I gazed out over the landscape. After a little while, I felt a presence behind me, and I turned, smiling when I saw who it was.

It was my Dark King. My Hades.

He approached with a smile that was both tender and possessive, his violet eyes filled with a warmth that still took my breath away.

"Admiring our kingdom, my queen?" he asked in a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine.

I smiled back, reaching out to take his hand. "Our kingdom. It's everything I could have ever dreamed of, and more."

He pulled me close, his hands sliding down my waist as he pressed me against him, the heat of his body unmistakable even through our clothes.

"We've come a long way, haven't we?" he murmured, his lips grazing the sensitive skin just below my ear, sending a shiver of desire through me.

I tilted my head slightly, giving him better access as I rested my hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.

"And there's still so much more to explore," I whispered, my voice teasing, my fingers trailing suggestively down his chest.

"So much left to conquer," he said provocatively, tracing his hands down my back to cup my ass. He jerked me up against him, and I could feel his hard cock pressed up against my hip.

I smiled, a mischievous glint in my eyes as I leaned in closer, my lips brushing his ear as I whispered, "Then I suppose you'll be pleased to know that our legacy is growing."

He stilled, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes, a flash of possessiveness sparking in his gaze.

"What did you just say?" he asked, searching my face for answers.

I grinned, biting my lip as I whispered the words that would change everything between us. "I'm pregnant, Hades. We're going to have a baby."

His reaction was instant and intense. A growl rumbled in his chest as he tightened his grip on me, his hands possessively roaming over my body as if he needed to feel every inch of me, to claim me all over again.

"My queen," he breathed, his voice thick with a mix of awe and dominance.

His eyes blazed with a fierce protectiveness, and before I could say another word, he captured my lips in a kiss that was both savage and tender all at once.

He pressed me back against the throne, his hands continuing to wander as he whispered against my lips, "I'm going to take you right here, Aria. On your throne."

I arched against him, a thrill of desire rushing through me at the thought.

"Yes, my king," I moaned, surrendering to him.

With a low growl, he claimed my mouth again, his lips demanding, his hands moving with a desperate urgency. His fingers tangled in my hair, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him close. I could feel the heat of his desire, the raw, primal need that burned within him, and it only fueled my own.

He broke the kiss, his breath ragged as he stared down at me, his gaze filled with a hunger that took my breath away.

"I need you, my queen," he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

With a rush, he threw his hand back, using his magic to throw the doors of our throne room shut.

"Now."