The pale moonlight wrapped the garden in a soft, silvery glow as the two walked side by side.
A gentle silence lingered between them—not the kind that pressed on the heart, but one that felt warm and familiar.
Marilyn had spent time with him before—watching him from the shadows, speaking to him when he was alone—but this was the first time they walked together like this, after becoming mates.
Her heart beat a little faster at the thought, yet his quiet presence calmed the flutter within her chest.
"How do you feel? Do you still have trouble adjusting to your new self?" Hades finally asked, his voice breaking the stillness.
Marilyn had changed in more ways than one since their bond. Her magic flowed stronger, her awareness sharper. The world around her seemed clearer, as though her senses had been gently polished to brilliance.
She hadn't fought since the transformation, but deep down she knew—she was stronger now. Much stronger.
