She’d forgotten to extract a promise from the God of Mischief not to tell Hades about the crowd. He’d probably waltzed into Nevernight with a smile on his face to report what happened.

“You could always teleport,” Hades offered. “Or I can provide an Aeg—”

“I don’t want an Aegis,” she stopped him. “And I’d rather not use magic not...in the Upperworld.”

“Unless you’re exacting revenge?”

“That’s not fair. You know my magic has become more and more unpredictable. And I’m not eager to be exposed as a goddess.”

“Goddess or not, you are my lover.”

She didn’t mean to, but she wasn’t a fan of that word. She stiffened, and she knew by the way Hades’ eyes narrowed, he had noticed.

He continued, “It is only a matter of time before someone with a vendetta against me tries to harm you. I will keep you safe.”

Persephone shivered. She hadn’t thought about that.

“You really think someone would try to harm me?”

“Darling, I have judged human nature for a millennium. Yes.”

“Can’t you…I don’t know…erase people’s memories? Make them forget about all of this.” She waved her hand between them.

“It is too late for that,” he paused a moment and then asked, “What is so terrible about being known as my lover?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It’s just...that word.”

“What’s wrong with lover?”

“It sounds so…fleeting. Like I am nothing but your sex slave.”

One corner of his lips curled. “What am I to call you, then? You have forbidden the use of my queen and my lady.”

“Titles make me…uncomfortable,” she said.

She wasn’t sure how else to explain why she’d asked him not to call her my queen or my lady, but it added up to the fact that they were two labels she could get used to, and that meant she was setting herself up for potential disappointment. The thoughts made her guilty, but the echoes of the heartbreak she’d experienced while they were separated made her cautious.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be known as your lover…but there has to be a better word.”

“Girlfriend?” Hades supplied.

She couldn’t suppress the laugh that tore from her throat.

“What’s wrong with girlfriend?” He asked, glowering.

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It just seems so…insignificant.”

Their relationship was too intense, too passionate, too ancient for her to merely be his girlfriend.

But maybe that was just how she felt.

The tension eased from Hades’ features, and he drew his finger under her chin.

“Nothing is ever insignificant when it comes to you,” he said.