A Matter of Importance.

A Matter of Importance.
Elliot
The portal splits open in a flare of violet, scattering fireflies and nearly upending the basket between us. Macey lets out a groan before the shimmer even fades.
“Please tell me that’s not Envy again,” she mutters.
I don’t even bother looking up. “It’s always Envy.”
Sure enough, there she is—standing in the middle of our garden, one hand on her hip, the other holding what looks suspiciously like a clipboard.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she says, waving the board. “I bring news!”
Macey exhales. “If it’s about redecorating the Veil again, I swear—”
“It’s not,” Envy cuts in. “Though we will revisit that because the lighting down there is tragic. No, this is about your brother.”
That makes me look up. “Elias?”
She nods, lips pressed together in a way that tells me she’s holding back something juicy. “He and Tessa want to talk to you. Both of you.”
The words land like a spark in dry air.
“Tessa?” Macey repeats, her tone flat.
“Yep,” Envy chirps. “Apparently, they’ve been trying to reach you topside, but you’re a little hard to get a hold of between reaping souls and doing whatever it is you two do when you’re not ruling.”
Macey folds her arms. “They could’ve gone through you.”
“They did,” Envy says. “Which is why I’m here. They thought I’d be the gentlest messenger.”
I snort. “That’s a stretch.”
Envy glares. “Anyway, Elias says they’re not here to cause trouble. They want to clear the air before they… y’know.”
“Before they what?” Macey asks, though her voice already sounds tired.
“Complete the bond,” Envy finishes softly. “They want your blessing.”
Macey sits very still for a long moment, eyes on the basket in her lap. I can feel her emotions ripple through the bond—shock, then anger, then something quieter and sadder.
“They're waiting?” she says finally, voice low.
“Yeah,” Envy says gently. "I think they’re trying to do this right.”
Macey looks up sharply. “After everything she did?”
Envy hesitates. “She’s… changed, maybe. I don’t know. You’ll have to decide that for yourself.”
I shift closer to Macey, resting a hand on her knee. “You don’t have to do this tonight.”
Her jaw tightens. “If they’re reaching out, we should meet them. It’s better than letting it fester.”
Envy looks far too pleased with that answer. “Good! I’ll let them know you’ll come up tomorrow. They’re staying at her parents' house.”
“Tomorrow,” Macey repeats quietly.
“Tomorrow,” Envy confirms. “And—uh—maybe wear something less intimidating than your battle leathers? Just saying.”
Macey gives her a look that could reduce a god to dust. “Goodnight, Envy.”
“Right! Leaving! Love the hair, by the way.” She gives a cheerful wave before vanishing in a shimmer of violet smoke, leaving behind only the faint scent of ozone and sugar.

Silence follows, settling thickly between us. The torches flicker lazily, their flames stretching long in the stillness. Macey presses her lips together and sets the basket aside, folding her hands in her lap.
I reach for her hand, thumb tracing idle circles against her skin. “You okay?”
She exhales slowly. “Not really. I don’t even know what I’d say to her.”
“Whatever feels true,” I tell her. “You don’t owe her anything, Mace. But Elias… he’s your brother.”
Her lips twitch faintly. “And you’re his.”
I nod. “Which means if this is what makes him happy, we need to listen at least.”
She leans into me, resting her head against my shoulder. “You’re too good sometimes.”
“Only because you balance me out.”
Her quiet laugh warms against my throat. “You think we can actually get through this without someone yelling?”
“Doubtful,” I say. “But we’ll try.”
The humour fades, leaving a silence that’s softer now. The glow from the river spills across the garden, painting everything in faint gold and blue. I can see her reflection in the water; her eyes are bright and steady despite the emotions I can feel through our bond. She’s calm on the surface, but I can sense the flicker of nerves underneath.
“You know,” I say after a moment, “if someone told me a year ago that we’d be sitting in the Underworld eating sandwiches while discussing divine politics and family drama, I would’ve called them insane.”
She hums, lips curling into a faint smile. “And yet here we are. Immortal, crowned, and still dealing with sibling issues.”
“Some things never change.”
She looks up at me then, eyes soft, the anger from before dissolving into something that feels more like weary affection. “You always know how to make me breathe again.”
“That’s my job,” I say quietly. “King of the Underworld and emotional support husband.”
She laughs, and the sound is like air after a storm. I lean in and kiss her forehead, feeling her relax fully against me.
“Tomorrow,” she says again, this time with a steadiness that wasn’t there before.
“Tomorrow,” I echo.
I stand, offering her my hand, and she takes it, and when she rises, the light catches the faint gleam of our magic minglings: my shadows and her like meeting where our fingers intertwine. Together, we step through the portal, the garden falling away as we move through the fold between worlds.
When our feet touch down in the palace again, Macey turns to me, her expression unreadable. “Do you think it’ll ever be simple?”
I smile faintly. “Probably not. But that’s what keeps it interesting.”
She shakes her head, amused despite herself. “Gods, I love you.”
“I know,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Come on, my Queen. Let’s get some rest.”
And as we walk through the quiet corridors toward our chambers, hand in hand, I know we’re both thinking the same thing. Tomorrow may not be easy, but we’ve faced worse. And this time, we’ll face it together. We'll face everything together, from this point on, we're never going to be alone in this world. We will always have a shoulder to lean on.