When they reached his chamber, Hades carefully wiped her legs with a warm, damp cloth, then helped her change into her nightdress. Afterward, he joined her in bed, his arm draped protectively around her as he softly stroked her hair. Lilith rested her head on his chest, her breathing deep and steady.
She tried to keep her eyes open a little longer, but exhaustion weighed her down, pulling her swiftly into sleep. Within minutes, her even breaths told Hades she had drifted off completely.
Turning his head, Hades gazed down at her sleeping form. One of her hands rested on his torso, her fingers lightly curled. A few strands of hair had fallen across her face and neck, her lips parted slightly in a soft pout. Her cheeks still held a faint flush, and her long lashes cast shadows against her skin. She looked so peaceful, so ethereal, y like something fragile and otherworldly.
