Hades (55 page)

seen us last and where we might have gone. Someone

would volunteer to look around the grounds. Ivy and Gabriel

would notice our empty seats and know something was

amiss, while Xavier’s parents would be total y confused by

their model son’s disappearing act. Thinking about al this

was sobering and certainly tempered my elation. I had to at

least confirm that Xavier had made his decision with a

clear head.

“Xavier,” I began tentatively.

“C’mon, Beth, you can’t have changed your mind

already?”

“No, of course not. I just have to say one thing.”

“Okay. Shoot.”

“You have to think about your future.”

“I have. It’s sitting right in front of me.”

“But what wil your parents think?”

“I thought you only wanted to say one thing.”

“Please, Xavier, be serious.”

“I don’t know what they’l think. I’m not planning to ask

them. This
is
the right thing to do. I’ve thought about it long

and hard. It’s what I want and I know it’s what you want too.

If circumstances were normal we might approach things

differently, but we don’t have that luxury. This is the only way

to protect what’s ours.”

“But what if it makes things worse.”

“Doesn’t matter because we get to face it together.”

“Have you thought about
how
we’re going to do this?”

“It’s al taken care of. Father Mel has agreed to help us

out. In fact, he’s waiting for us right now down at the

chapel.”

“Right now?” My jaw dropped. “Shouldn’t we tel

someone first?”

“They’l only try and talk us out of it. We can tel the whole

town afterward. Once our families get over the initial shock

we’l al go out and celebrate. You’l see.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“That’s because it is. Marriage is a holy sacrament. Even

God wil have to be satisfied.”

“I was thinking more about your mom.”

“What’s she got to complain about? At least we’re

getting married in a church!”

“That’s true.”

Xavier raised his milkshake to propose a toast.

“To us,” he said as our glasses clinked. “What God hath

joined together let no man put asunder.”

What could I do but return his optimistic smile? I wanted

nothing more than to be his forever. How could I tel him it

wasn’t the interference of man I was worried about?

I remembered the anguish Xavier had endured during the

time I’d languished in Hades. Now the crisis was over, the

boy I loved was back, ready to declare our commitment to

the world. He was prepared to risk everything for

happiness. The old Xavier had returned to me, perhaps

even stronger than ever. I couldn’t risk losing him again,

even if it did unleash the wrath of heaven.

Xavier must have read uncertainty in my face.

“You can stil back out,” he said quietly. “I’l understand.”

I hesitated a moment, al the possible consequences

flooding into my head. But when Xavier took my hand,

everything cleared and I knew exactly what I wanted.

“Not a chance,” I replied. “I can’t wait to be Mrs. Xavier

Woods.”

Xavier slammed his hand down on the tabletop,

frustration momentarily clouding his face.

I jumped. “What did I say?”

“Damn it, I forgot about the ring!”

“We can worry about that stuff later,” I placated.

“No, we don’t need to,” he said with a smile.

He reached into his trouser pocket and teasingly

withdrew a closed fist. When he opened it a round antique

ring box sat neatly in the palm of his hand.

“Open it,” he suggested.

I gasped when I lifted the tiny metal clasp and the lid

sprang open. The box contained a rose-cut diamond ring

so perfect it took my breath away. As soon as I set eyes on

it, I knew it was my ring and I was never going to part with it.

I’d never felt such a strong connection to a material

possession before. The ring seemed made for me. I didn’t

even stop to consider it might need resizing. I just knew it

would fit. There wasn’t anything showy or ostentatious

about it. I’d been with Mol y and the girls when they’d

admired the displays in the local jewelry store. I’d always

feign interest to be polite, but the gaudy modern diamonds

they gushed over left me cold. They looked so colorless

and harsh. My ring was as delicate as a flower. Its design

could not be improved. The multifaceted central stone was

set in a platinum band and peaked like a tiny dome.

Encircling it were smal er diamonds that recessed down

the shoulder of the ring.

“It’s perfect for you,” Xavier observed.

“It’s so elegant,” I breathed. “Where on earth did you find

it? I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“My grandmother left it to me in her wil . My sisters were

pretty pissed off that she wanted me to have it. It’s a ring

made for an angel. Aren’t you going to try it on?”

I nodded and reached hesitantly for the ring, stil

struggling to believe that something so intricate and so

precious was to be mine. But I never got the chance to try it

on. Just as Xavier’s words were spoken, the very earth

beneath us began to shake as if Heaven itself were in

revolt.

The ring slid off the table and tumbled onto the trembling

floor.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you, Mom—for everything. I don’t even know where

to start.

Thank you, Liz Kerins, for being my adopted big sister

and dear friend. Our Texas road trip was epic.

Thank you, Janna, Gail, and al the Memphis girls, for

making me fal in love with the South.

Thank you, Christopher, for understanding that “creative”

is pretty much code for “crazy.”

Thank you to each and every one of my fans. Without you,

none of this would have been possible. I love y’al !

Thank you to everyone at Feiwel and Friends, for their

commitment and dedication to this series.

Thank you to my agents, Jil and Matthew, for believing in

me.

Thanks to my dear friend Lisa Berryman—your

intel igence, grace, and insight have helped shape me as a

person, as wel as a writer.

Lastly, thanks to my country music heroes: Hank

Wil iams, Johnny Cash, Wil ie Nelson, Kitty Wel s, and Alan

Jackson, for being my constant inspiration.

HADES. Copyright (c) 2011 by Alexandra Adornetto. Al

rights reserved.

Donnel ey & Sons Company, Harrisonburg, Virginia. For

information, address Feiwel and Friends, 175 Fifth Avenue,

New York, N.Y. 10010.

A FEIWEL AND FRIENDS BOOK

An Imprint of Macmil an

macteenbooks.com

Book design by Rich Deas and Tim Hal

Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto

eISBN 9781429966634

First eBook Edition : July 2011

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Available

First Edition: 2011