Lexi was grateful to see Kade waiting at Poseidon's palace when the chariot delivered her and Zeus to the beach. Based on Kade's exuberant behavior as he stood at the bridge, he was excited to be there, rubbing his hands together like a child contemplating a prank.

"I don't know about you, but I'm psyched about this orgy," he said as he gestured to a trio of goddesses standing at the palace entrance. "Some of my favorites are here."

Lexi cleared her throat, adding a sharp eyebrow lift for impact. "This is where I remind you of your promise to act as my chaperone, even if it means you miss out on some of the 'activities'. I don't want to be left alone with these horny gods." She glanced at Zeus, daring him to argue. He merely shrugged as he waved them on.

Once inside the palace, Zeus waded into the sea of mingling guests, letting Kade handle the duties he was assigned. At the moment, Kade's duty appeared to be ogling goddesses. Some were dressed to impress, while others only bothered with a basic toga, something that could be easily removed. A nymph greeted her with a tray of ambrosia, and Lexi knew it would be the first of many temptations placed before her. Of course, she took a glass. It was the polite thing to do.

With full intentions of pacing herself, Lexi sipped at the decadent nectar as she scanned the crowd, relishing in the moment of standing in a palace among the gods. Forget boarding school dinner parties. This was the shit. Somehow, she had finished her drink within a few minutes, and the same nymph reappeared, swiping the empty glass from her hand and replacing it with a full one.

"Oh, I really shouldn't," Lexi said as she clutched the glass to her chest. The nymph only smiled and continued making her rounds.

Kade was shaking his head when Lexi glanced at him. "If your plan is to keep that dress on all night, I suggest you make that your last glass. Poseidon's nymphs brew a much stronger version of ambrosia than the one you had at dinner last night. Try the wine if you want something to relax you." He said this as he downed his second glass of ambrosia.

"My plan is to eat a smorgasbord of delicious food and call it an early night."

Kade wasn't convinced, based on the eye roll he thought she didn't see. "So, Lexi, since this is your first orgy, you get to make the calls. What would you like to do to start things off?" He wiggled his eyebrows as if to entice her, but it only made her want to slap him.

"Eros said we could ride horses. I'd love to visit the stables."

"No one wants to ride horses at an orgy."

"I do."

Kade sighed dramatically, reminding her of that child again. "Fine. We'll take a quick jaunt up the beach on horseback then come back here and mingle. By then there might be a few goddesses playing kiss or tell."

Lexi didn't bother asking how kiss or tell was played. She could infer from context.

Kade led her past a long glass wall, and they slipped out a side door onto a path lined with blooming trellises and marble statuary. As Lexi breathed in the scents of the sea accented with whatever white flower hung in braids overhead, she wished Hades could be the one walking the path with her. She already missed the smell of him.

The stable had been built in textbook Olympian style, with twenty full-sized stalls on either side and pillars lining the center walkway. A pair of gods were saddling up for a ride, but the place was empty save for a satyr helping them with their gear. That's when Lexi realized she wasn't exactly dressed for a jaunt up the beach on the back of a horse.

"Damn. I'm not going to be able to straddle a horse in this," she said, grabbing a handful of satin.

Kade shrugged apologetically. "That's too bad. I guess we'll have to head back to the palace. Maybe tomorrow." He did a terrible job of suppressing a grin, and Lexi made sure he saw her eye roll.

It wasn't two seconds before a satyr walked up to them and bowed. "Would the lord and lady wish to ride one of Poseidon's fine horses? We have a few who are experts at handling side saddle riders. Are you familiar with two pommel saddles? They can handle the task with ease."

Lexi offered a not-so-subtle smirk to Kade before speaking to the satyr, who had a kind face and a very pointy beard.

"I would very much like to ride. What is your name?"

"I am called Landau. May I inquire your name? I don't believe we have met before."

"I am Lexi, daughter of Zeus. I don't live here in Olympus. I live with his brother, Hades."

Lexi didn't know why she felt the need to divulge extra information to Landau, although she suspected the two glasses of ambrosia could have been responsible. Her comment did provoke an interesting reaction from him, something resembling a bobble head doll taking a journey through the outback. It made her want to giggle but she managed to get through it by sucking in her lip.

Landau chose a thoroughbred for Kade. He was a fine specimen, with a chiseled head and strong hind quarters. For Lexi, he chose a gorgeous Andalusian, with a thick white mane and hide the color of rain clouds. Lexi was introduced to her horse as she helped saddle him up.

"This is Westly. He loves to carry goddesses and will show off if you give him the opportunity," Landau explained as he fed a sugar cube to the horse. "Westly also loves sweets. Here's a couple for the trip." He slipped two cubes into Lexi's hand, but she didn't have anywhere to put them, so she dropped them into her cleavage when no one was looking.

It had been some time since Lexi climbed into the saddle in a dress, and she couldn't recall ever doing it while feeling the effects of alcohol, which seemed to have hit her while she was distracted with the horse. With the aid of a mounting block, she managed the task without embarrassing herself, but the maneuver forced a hiccup from her throat that Kade thought was hilarious.

"You going to be okay up there, princess?" he asked as he swung himself into the saddle. "I would rather not have to drag you out of the ocean after you fall off your horse."

"I have never fallen off a horse... well, not until recently, and that was not my fault. You just worry about keeping your own ass in the saddle."

Landau had them out of the stable and on their way before Kade could tease Lexi about getting her dress stuck in the pommel. While she enjoyed the uplifting effects the ambrosia had on her spirit, which she desperately needed after facing the council of the gods, she didn't like how it impaired her judgement. She had trouble reading the personality of her horse, and she wasn't comfortable with the close proximity he kept with the ocean waves. Before long, they came upon a cliff, reachable by a sandy path. From her vantage below, Lexi could tell it was a cemetery or memorial of some sort, as there were marble headstones and sarcophagi placed in neat rows.

"What's up there, Kade?" she asked as she pointed into the sun.

"That is the cemetery of the gods."

"Can we go see it?"

"Really? You want to visit a cemetery while you're at an orgy? I think you have spent too much time in the underworld, Lexi."

"I'm just curious. My whole life has revolved around the stories of the gods, and now I'm here living the life of one. Cut me some slack." Another hiccup accompanied her outburst, and she slapped her hand over her mouth. "Don't say a word or I'll deck you."

Kade grinned as he motioned for her to follow him up the path. Once they reached the top, Lexi guided her horse between the headstones. For the first time, she was faced with the reality that not every god had experienced immortality. She parked Westly in front of a large monument to admire the intricate carvings. The name on the headstone read Adonis – God of beauty and desire.

"I've read the stories of Adonis," she said as Kade and his horse pulled up next to her. "It was said that both Aphrodite and Persephone loved him, and he shared his affections with both. How much of that is true?"

"The mortal texts give a good representation of Adonis. Aphrodite and Persephone fought over him until the day he died."

"So, who killed him? Was it Artemis or Ares? There are scholars who argue both sides."

Kade smirked. "I could not say. Even the gods have secrets they will never tell."

Lexi glanced around and located an equally impressive monument. This one had her scratching her head. The inscription on it read, Heracles – May he ever protect Olympus. "I'm confused. I met Heracles at the gates of Olympus."

"You met his immortal form. His mortal body is entombed inside this marble. His is a complicated case."

A loud clamoring of hooves interrupted them as another horse trotted up the path. Poseidon was sitting atop a massive Andalusian, an exact replica of Lexi's horse, only larger. The god of the sea had dressed in a toga, which didn't surprise her, nor did it bother her. The lack of coverage exposed his muscular legs as he straddled his horse, and she indulged a moment on the tanned ripples of his chest before dragging her eyes away. His horse sucked in air from what must have been a vigorous gallop, and the contented smile Poseidon wore gave away his relief at finding them there. Was he worried Kade and Lexi had been engaging in indecent activities in the cemetery? Was he jealous?

"Here you are, Lexi," he said. "You didn't give me a chance to greet you when you arrived. When I saw you and Kade on the beach, I thought you might be escaping to enjoy a private party of your own."

Yep. Just as she suspected. The gods were a jealous bunch, and she was letting his accusation slide rather than take issue with it. She didn't trust her mouth under the influence of ambrosia. "Actually, I dragged Kade out here kicking and screaming. He wanted to stay in the palace and play kissy face with the goddesses."

Poseidon laughed and his horse appeared to join him, shaking the mane on his enormous head and stomping his hooves animatedly. "Well, I am happy to step into Kade's shoes and fulfill his duties as chaperone so he can rejoin the guests. I am perfectly capable of protecting you from any and all gods who try to make unwanted advances."

Lexi smirked at Poseidon, giving no thought to the ambrosia. "Did you ever consider that you might be one of the gods he's protecting me from?"

Another hearty laugh erupted from Poseidon's throat, and he slapped the side of his horse, who didn't seem to notice the gesture at all. "Subtlety is not one of your strengths, is it?"

"Never has been."

"Fair enough. Would you mind if I accompanied you and Kade on your tour of the cemetery?"

Kade groaned. "Can't we be done here? You've seen one sarcophagus you've seen them all."

Lexi didn't have the patience to argue with Kade, and she surrendered to his tantrum. "C'mon. Let's get back to the palace before all the pretty ones are taken."

"That would be impossible, since you are not at the palace," said Poseidon.

Lexi made a point to ignore Poseidon's remark. His intentions to charm her were perfectly clear, but his efforts were futile. No amount of ambrosia could weaken her resolve. She would remain true to Hades no matter what games were played at the orgy.