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The Citadel's obsidian gates loomed above her, just as foreboding as the day she'd first arrived. Yet this time, Hazel felt different. She had left as a wife accompanying her husband on a mission… and returned with the satisfaction of having accomplished something that mattered.
Miriam was the first to spot her, darting down the hallway so quickly her slippers almost flew off.
"My lady!" Miriam squealed, throwing her arms around Hazel before she could even speak. "I thought I'd never see you again in one piece!"
Hazel laughed softly, hugging her back. "It wasn't that dangerous… okay, maybe a little. But I'm here now."
They walked arm in arm toward Hazel's chambers, and it didn't take long before Miriam's excitement bubbled over into gossip.
"So… how was Nxymoor? Was it cold? Did the miners really bow when they saw you? Oh—and tell me everything about the food, I heard they eat something called firefruit?"
Hazel smirked. "I'll tell you everything, but first… how are things with you and Stefan?"
Miriam instantly turned red, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "Things are… fine."
"Fine?" Hazel lifted an eyebrow. "The last time we spoke, you were blushing over a single compliment he gave you."
Miriam groaned and covered her face. "You're impossible. And no, we're not—well… maybe. He's sweet, and he listens, and he's… ugh, this isn't about me!"
Hazel chuckled, enjoying the way Miriam's voice dropped to a whisper whenever she mentioned Stefan's name. They talked for a while longer, giggling like two old friends rather than princess and maid. For the first time in days, Hazel felt a lightness in her chest.
But sooner or later, she knew she couldn't avoid the inevitable.
She rose from her chair and straightened her dress. "Alright, time to face my demon husband."
Hades was in the war room when she found him, leaning over a table scattered with maps and sealed scrolls. His gaze lifted the moment she entered, and though his face remained carved in its usual cool composure, something in his posture shifted—shoulders loosening, jaw unclenching.
"You're back," he said simply.
Hazel stepped forward, keeping her tone neutral. "I am."
He studied her like a man who'd been holding his breath and had just now remembered how to inhale. Still, he didn't say the words she half-expected to hear. Instead, he nodded toward the documents.
"I heard about Nxymoor. The miners' demands were met, the sabotage was revealed, and their loyalty restored." His voice was steady, almost too steady. "Impressive work… wife."
It was meant to sound detached, but Hazel caught the faintest flicker in his eyes—something warm and fleeting, like a candle flame quickly shielded.
"Thank you," she replied, unsure whether to feel pleased or… something else. "Where are Aries, Alyssa, and Lycan?"
"They returned to their kingdoms," Hades said, glancing back at the maps. "The alliance stands, but for now, each must tend to their own borders."
She nodded, letting the conversation settle into the practical. But a part of her still noticed the way his hand lingered on the edge of the table, as if resisting the urge to reach for her.
And though neither of them said it aloud, there were unspoken things hanging in the air, things that might one day be voiced, but not today.