"Yes, don't worry. Have dinner and rest early, okay?" Hades smiled before adding softly, "Mm, I won't forget. Love you."
Peri tilted her head, watching him curiously as he finished speaking to Luna.
They sat deep within the forest, at the mouth of the Death Well—a place where most beasts dared not linger, afraid of being hunted. Unless a powerful beast wanted to test its fate against the land's owner, Kaelith, nothing dangerous ever wandered here.
"I don't get it," Peri asked, her brows knitting in confusion. "Why can Luna hear you, but I can't?"
A branch cracked under fire, scattering embers into the air. The glow of the flames flickered across Hades' face, revealing his hesitation as he admitted, "It's… because our bond isn't complete yet. For it to grow stronger, physical closeness matters a lot."
Though the fire's warmth hadn't changed, Peri felt her cheeks heat up.
