Lexi waited nearly an hour for the council meeting to adjourn, and Hecate was annoyingly tight-lipped about what had been discussed as they journeyed home in a palace chariot. Heracles' nephew, Jules, who turned out to be Ares' son, had been assigned to see them to the gates of the underworld. Jules did all the talking, speaking incessantly about Heracles training him to be the best javelin thrower in Olympus' history. Even if Jules had been a mute, Hecate seemed determined to remain incommunicative, at least until they had passed through the gates. That's when Hecate finally spoke.

"I have been asked by Zeus and Poseidon not to speak of the outcome of the council meeting," she said as she and Lexi walked the path. The trees boasted the colors of fall, and the smells reminded Lexi of spring, but somehow this did not cheer her.

"Why not?"

"Because they want Hades to tell you. End of discussion."

Lexi knew when to drop a subject with Hecate, and they continued their trek to the river in silence. Once there, Hecate looked around as if she had lost track of something.

"That's strange," she said. "Hades was supposed to send a pair of horses to take us to our respective homes. It appears we will be making the journey on foot."

Lexi didn't mind walking, in fact, she enjoyed it most of the time, but as her walking partner seemed to be in a mood, she wasn't looking forward to the hour long trip across the snowy landscape. Continuing with her silent treatment, Hecate didn't utter a word all the way to her cabin, other than to tell Lexi to watch her step when they encountered a pile of centaur dung. Hades' horses were still in Hecate's stable, so Lexi was given one to fly home on. She did this as quickly as possible. The deathly quiet had turned into a form of torture, and Lexi hadn't been able to figure out if Hecate was simply carrying out the wishes of her colleagues or if she was pissed off at Lexi.

When Lexi reached the palace, her worries had grown. Why hadn't Hades come out to greet her? Why had he forgotten to send the horses to meet her and Hecate at the path? Where was everyone? The stable had nearly been restored, although it still smelled of smoke, and Lexi brought her horse into a stall next to Misty and Jackie O, spending a few minutes scratching their cheeks.

"You should meet the horses at Poseidon's palace," she told them. "He has Andalusian's and thoroughbreds. I think you two would enjoy yourselves there, but it will probably never happen. Your request to visit wouldn't get past the council. What a bunch of uptight..."

"Lady Lexi! You're back!" Blythe came rushing into the stable and threw her arms around Lexi's middle. "I saw you fly in. I'm sorry I didn't greet you at the bridge. It's so wonderful what you did for Persephone and her baby. It's all anyone can talk about. We have been preparing a special dinner for you and Hades. Of course, we can bring everything up to Hades' room if you are having too much fun saying hello to each other."

Blythe's face bloomed like a Henri Martin rose, a personal favorite of Lexi's, and she smiled at the nymph, feeling grateful to be home.

"Where is Hades? Is he well?" Lexi watched Blythe's face for signs that something was amiss, but Blythe's smile never faltered.

"He should be in his room. The last I heard he had taken a bath. If you hurry, he might still be in a state of undress."

She giggled as she gestured for Lexi to follow her, and they entered the palace through the kitchen, which held the savory scents of dinner. Lexi stopped to compliment the nymphs who worked tirelessly to keep the place running, but she wasn't allowed to linger, being ushered out of the room before she could see where the delicious smells were coming from.

The aroma of lemon and dill followed Lexi up the stairs to the second floor. She chose to travel the corridor she often avoided due to the number of portraits of Persephone. Now that she had grown to care for Persephone, the images didn't bother her as much, and she glanced at each one, wondering if she would be honored someday with her own corridor of portraits.

When she reached Hades' chamber, she hesitated at the door. Would he be waiting for her, lying nude on the bed with a big grin on his face? Was that why he hadn't met her outside the palace? She pushed the door open tentatively, forgetting to knock. Hades sat in front of the fireplace, hunched in his chair. He was naked, but he didn't appear to be making an effort to seduce her. When the door creaked, he turned to look at her, his face flushed red and his eyes filled with angst.

"My love, what has happened?" Lexi hurried over and knelt next to him, brushing away the wet strands of chestnut hair clinging to his cheeks. The pain she felt radiating from him had her stomach bunching up like a wrung out towel.

He forced a smile as he caught her hand and pressed the palm to his lips. "I intended to welcome you home properly. I thought we would start with a glass of wine. Then I would tell you all the reasons I love you. After which I would show you how much I love you. Alas, plans have a way of changing and knocking you on your ass."

"Tell me what happened?" Still holding onto his hand, Lexi pulled the neighboring chair closer and sat down. She was surprised at how easily she handled the task. A byproduct of being a god, she supposed.

"I was contacted by Zeus and Poseidon before you arrived home," he said. "They told me about your proposal to the council, that you were willing to spend time in Olympus if they would stop the minotaur hunt."

"That whole issue was up in the air when I left."

"I gathered that. There were other sensitive topics you brought up as well."

"Yes, I did, and Hecate refused to talk about any of it on our way home. I think she's pissed at me."

"I would not be surprised if she was. You pissed off the entire council."

"Shit. I was afraid of that." Lexi sucked in her lip and started nibbling at it. "I hadn't meant to go off on them, but they are so rigid and set in their ways. It's like talking to a brick wall."

"I know, but that brick wall is very powerful, and it does not like to be challenged. Although, the fact that you were able to get them riled up says something. If they did not consider you to be worth the effort, they would never have agreed to meet on your behalf." With an unwavering gaze, Hades looked at Lexi, and she stopped torturing her lip.

"Are you angry with me?" she asked.

"No. I am proud of you for speaking up. I suspect it will not be the last time you stand before the council to put voice your ideals, but there are a few things I need to tell you before you start preparing your next argument. The council agreed to a temporary cessation of the hunt."

"Oh, my gods. I can't believe it. Even after I pissed everyone off?"

"You can thank Hecate for that. She told them I had offered the minotaurs my blood as a promise to protect them from future hunts. When they realized the danger I had put myself in, they grudgingly obliged. But, as I said, it is only temporary until they get an agreement from you."

"What kind of agreement?" Lexi watched Hades' face contort, as if he had stuck his nose under the tail of a skunk. She feared the agreement did not lean in her favor.

"They want you to spend five days in Olympus to every five days you spend here."

"What? They're crazy if they think I'm going to agree to such an outrageous request."

Hades nodded. "They anticipated you would say that, but they felt it was the only way to get you properly trained to become a member of the council."

"A member of the council?" Lexi erupted into full-on laughter. She couldn't help herself. Had the gods lost their minds? "I wonder whose lousy idea that was. I'm sure it didn't come from Ares. That guy hates me."

"It was not a unanimous decision from what I understand, but it was suggested by both Zeus and Poseidon. They believe your forward thinking could bring a much-needed counterbalance to the table."

"Well, they can forget about it because I'm not interested."

"They anticipated you would say that, as well, which is why they have added the condition of a punishment if you do not comply."

"A punishment? What kind of punishment?"

Hades grimaced, which may have been from the pressure of Lexi's fingers as they squeezed his hand. "They are forbidding either of us from leaving the underworld until you agree to their terms."

Lexi snorted. These gods really thought their shit didn't stink. "They can't do that...can they?"

"Yes, they can. A password is required to leave the underworld, and that password is determined by the council. Without the password, the journey through the darkness never ends. Believe me, I have tried."

"But they shouldn't punish you. That's completely unfair."

"They are not thinking of fairness, Lexi. They are assuring they get what they want."

"Fuck them!" Lexi pushed out of her chair but Hades pulled her down by her hand, causing a spark to escape between their palms.

"Sit down and try not to set the chair ablaze." He shook his head but she could tell he was forcing back a smile. He loved it when she got fired up. "There's more I need to tell you. An alternative to the agreement was brought up for debate. Your friend, Poseidon, offered a counter proposal. He argued that your gifts could be passed to your offspring, as Demeter's did with Persephone, and if you are relegated to living in the underworld for eternity, the only offspring to benefit from this would likely remain in the underworld as well."

"Damn right, they will."

This time a smile broke through Hades' stoic features, but he quickly stowed it as he caught Lexi in his intense gaze. "Poseidon's proposal is to have you spend four days of each month in Olympus, learning the ways of the gods, communing with them, and taking pleasure in the abundance Olympus has to offer. Your only requirement would be to..."

Hades paused and his lips pursed, as if the words he needed to speak tasted foul and he didn't want them passing over his tongue. Lexi had a pretty good idea why he had trouble speaking them, and her thoughts carried her back to the previous night, when Poseidon had posed as Hades, taking pleasure in her without consent. If she remembered correctly, he had said, You are a goddess worth fighting for, and I will not give up the fight until you are mine.

"Before you go any further, Hades, I want to say something. Did you speak directly to Poseidon in the scrying mirror?"

"Yes."

"And did you ask him why he had a black eye?"

"I did."

"What did he tell you?"

"He said someone had inflicted the wound to remind him what a self-indulgent prick he is. My first thought was of the orgy and that he had pushed his advantage with an unwilling goddess. Then my mind told me not to make any more guesses. I take it, you know how it happened."

Lexi sighed, although it came out sounding more dramatic than she had intended. "Yes. Kade punched him. He did it to defend my honor, although by then...it was too late."

"What do you mean, it was too late?" The color that had tinted Hades' cheeks drained away, and all that was left came from the glow of the flames flickering in the fireplace. Lexi would rather swallow horse piss than tell him what she meant, but she knew it had to happen.

"Poseidon did not behave like a gentleman the entire night. After I returned to the palace of the gods and went to sleep, he came into my room, although I didn't know it was him. He was disguised as you, and he made it seem as if I was having a dream, or maybe it was just me believing it. I knew you wouldn't be in Olympus. Everything felt like a dream. Well, not everything. Kade spotted him when he was leaving my room and confronted him."

Hades' hand fell away from hers, and he raked his fingers through his hair, looking as if he might yank it out. He started rocking back and forth and his breathing came in short, convulsive bursts. The fact that he was naked made him look slightly insane. "What happened in your room, Lexi...while Poseidon was disguised as me? How far did he..."

"All the way."

Hades closed his eyes, his breathing still labored and erratic, his hands clenching and unclenching as if he wanted to punch something but there was nothing to punch. Lexi felt her heart break, piece by piece, as she watched Hades seethe with anger and pain. Hearing the truth again brought her humiliation back like a flash flood, carrying bits of her heart out to sea. With a savage growl, Hades stood from his chair, grabbed a wine glass sitting half full on a nearby table, and threw it with all his might into the fireplace. It smashed against the stones, forcing a hiss from the flames and littering the hearth with crystal splinters.

Lexi jerked her feet off the floor to avoid the spray. She had never seen Hades lose his temper, and she didn't move or even breathe as he remained frozen in front of his chair, cradling his head in his hands, uttering curses under his breath. She ached to hold him, to offer a calming touch, but she didn't know if it would elicit more fury. She had learned that men were like horses in that respect. If they weren't in the mood to be touched, you needed to back off and give them their space. So she waited, and when he finally took his seat, he leaned back and steepled his fingers under his chin, assuming his thoughtful pose. He looked too calm, and it made her afraid.

"You never have to speak of the incident again," he said, finally. "Neither of us will, but he wants you Lexi. Poseidon wants you as his consort. He bargained with the council, telling them they would all have a chance to vie for your affection should they agree to his terms. Then he bargained with me, saying he would never allow another god to touch you if I agree to share you. He vowed to guard you like a treasure."

"He really is a self-indulgent prick if he thinks I'm going accommodate him after what he did." Lexi kept her voice even so as not to incite Hades' anger again, but she felt like joining him in a savage growl. "He came to me this morning to apologize and beg for my mercy. I mean, he got on his knees and lowered his head and asked for mercy. What a load of bullshit."

Hades' brows furrowed as he scrutinized her with a disbelieving gaze. "He begged you for mercy? My brother, Poseidon, begged your forgiveness?"

"Actually, he said he wasn't asking for forgiveness because his actions were beyond the pale, which I agreed with whole heartedly. But, yes, he begged for mercy."

"And, how did you respond?"

"First, I told him I didn't care how powerful he was, I wasn't going to play his petty games, after which I said I was considering blasting his dick to the next world. Then I told him I didn't want to be burdened with a grudge and that everyone should be allowed one fuck-up. That's when the bell rang for the council meeting, ending our conversation."

Hades' chest rose as if he was attempting to chuckle, but he appeared too emotionally drained. All he could manage was a deep sigh. "While I have not spent a great amount of time in the company of my fellow gods, in all my years, I have never heard of a single instance of Poseidon begging for mercy, from anyone. You have earned yourself a mighty ally, Lexi, which you can use as leverage if you continue your compassionate approach to the underhanded bastard. However, the next time I see him, I'm going to break his fucking neck."