Chapter 83 Pregnant

Chapter 83 Pregnant
Everyone turns back to me, judgment in their eyes, “Please, I'm sorry.” I say my voice thin, lost beneath the murmurs filling the hall.

I take a step forward, my heart still racing and my body humming with left over magic.

“I didn't mean for any of this to happen.” I say forcing myself to keep going before everyone will view me as some monster Jades created, “I never intended to hurt anyone.”

For a moment no body speaks and at the sound of me pleading, Hades finally turns and our eyes meet.

He exhales slowly and straightens, his voice cutting through the god filled tension, “Thats enough for tonight. We should leave now.” Hades starts ti walk towards me, buts if embarrassment on his face.

Before he can reach me, Aphrodite dteos forward, her heels clicking confidently against the marble, “Oh, stop,” she says ligtky, waving a hand in the air as if this is nothing but me spilling my drink at a fancy dinner party, “Obviously it clearly was an accident. Aria didn't mean to hurt anyone.” she blinks

She turns addressing the room with a bright smile, “She’s new to all of this, she is a former human remember? And if she's getting powers, control will take time and everything will be good again, so why panic?”

Relief hits me so hard I almost sway. Finally someone to my defense.

Aphrodite snaps her fingers sharply. “Music orchestra” she calls out

The musicians hesitate, but faced with the goddess of love, who could say no? They quickly lift their instruments again. Soft notes fill the hall and it's awkward at first then steadier.

Conversations slowly resumes, the tension thins and everyone starts to speak together again like everything is normal

Only Zeus and Poeidon don’t move. They stand together eyes fixed on me and Hades with eyes filled with unease.

Zeus finally speaks, low and firm, “Hades, come with us, now.”

Poseidon nods once. “We need to talk privately.” 

The room goes quiet again as people watch the three brothers gather. Hades glances back at me one last time before turning away, following Zeus and Posedon down a side corridor.

My stomach sinks as they disappear. That conversation will be wholly about me and I won't get a say in it or even hear it.

I feel a hand slide around my wrist steadily. Aphrodite is already pulling me away from the hall, her grip gentle.

“Come on,” she murmurs, “Lets give them space.”

She guides me down a quieter hallway, away from the party, and from the stares. My heels echo against the floor, my thoughts racing.

“What happens now?” I whisper, leaning closer to her. “What’s going to happen to me?”

Aphrodite tilts her head toward me, lips curving into a knowing smile. “Relax. You’re new. No one expects perfection from someone who was a former human overnight.”

She winks. “And with the little help I gave you that day, you should already have a very strong hold on your husband.”

My cheeks burn instantly.

“That–” I lower my voice, glancing around nervously. “Why did you even do that?”

She laughs softly as she pushes open the door to the bathroom and pulls me inside, closing it behind us. The sounds of the party fade, leaving only the quiet hum of enchanted lights and our reflections in the mirror.

“First,” she says, leaning against the counter, “no one can hear us. These walls are sealed.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Second,” she continues, smiling at me through the mirror, “I’m the goddess of love. It’s literally my job to spread it.”

She shrugs lightly. “And honestly? Olympus has been boring for centuries. Same people, same affairs, same betrayals. You and Hades are new. Interesting. Cute.”

She turns to face me fully. “So tell me. Did you enjoy it?”

I drop my gaze, heat flooding my face. My fingers fidget with the fabric of my dress. “It was… my first time.”

Her eyes widen.

“Oh,” she breathes, genuinely shocked. “Oh, darling.”

She waves a hand dramatically, and a small transparent square bag appears in her palm, filled with shimmering golden dust. Before I can react, she opens my purse and slips it inside with a convincing smile.

“What is that?” I ask quickly.

“A little jump-start,” she says casually. “It’ll last about a week. Use it wisely.”

I frown. “Use it for what?”

She giggles, tapping my nose lightly. “You’re adorable. Of course now you need to get pregnant.”

My stomach flips. “What?”

She lowers her voice, suddenly serious. “If you’re carrying Hades’ child, no one will dare touch you. Not Zeus. Not Persephone. No one.”

She straightens. “What happened out there was a big deal, no matter how much I tried to soften it. That kind of power frightens gods. And frightened gods get dangerous.”

I stare at my reflection, my thoughts spinning wildly. I have to get pregnant for Hades?

Is that really my only shield?

“Think about it,” Aphrodite says gently. “And you should really meet me outside. I want to show you a cupid statue I made for the party.” she giggles happyily like some love fairy

She opens the door and slips out, leaving me alone with the mirror and the golden dust weighing heavily in my purse.

I sigh, fingers brushing the edge of the transparent bag before pushing it deeper inside. Not now. I can’t decide this now.

I step out into the hallway, but freeze when I hear a sharp metallic crash echo from the next room.

I move quietly, curiosity and dread pulling me forward. The door is slightly open. I peer inside.

Persephone’s voice carries through the shadows, sharp and furious. “Her powers are growing too fast. If we don’t stop her now, it’ll be too late.”

My breath catches.

I can’t see who she’s talking to so I try to creep closer, I didn't see it the last time, thus time I have to see who it is

I step back instinctively, my heel slipping against the floor and unfortunately my crappy legs stumble.

The door creaks and Persephone turns sharply just as I fall forward, hitting the floor hard.

Her eyes widen and so do mine, the room goes completely silent.