Hades paced the room while Lexi slept. He had woken before dawn, beset by thoughts about their visit to the home and family Lexi abandoned to spend eternity with him. Z would be there with his fat head and big mouth, lording his position over everyone. Hades wasn't one to worry. It had been a long time since he had reason to, but this was important. Even Cerberus knew the weight Hades carried as he watched from the foot of the bed, although only one head could be bothered.

Hades's love for Lexi had grown so strong, the thought of losing her affection troubled him like a plague, but what more could he do to show how much she mattered? How could he secure her love? A rejection from Lexi would hit him like a fatal blow. To fail her would mark his end.

A gentle rat-a-tat-tat pulled Hades from his thoughts, and he walked to the door, giving no regard to his nudity. His staff of nymphs had become immune to it, or at least they let him think they had. Blythe stood in the hallway, attempting a curtsy as she held out a short stack of freshly laundered clothes. He immediately recognized Lexi's colorful silk shirt.

"As you instructed, Lord Hades. The clothing you and Lady Lexi wore on last evening's outing. Washed and dried by the hearth. Our lady's shirt was handled with special care, of course. Does my lord require a morning beverage? I could not help noticing you have been awake for some time."

A small smile tweaked Hades's lips. The nymphs had a keen awareness of his needs, which they claimed was part of their sensitive nature. "Have you, now? That wouldn't be because you have been standing outside Lexi's bedroom waiting for her to rise, would it?"

Blythe's blue eyes twinkled as she offered a shrug. "I knew you both were preparing to leave the palace today, and I wanted to be at your service the moment you had need of me."

"I believe Lexi has her travel bag packed already, but a beverage would do quite well. Something with sedative properties, I think. To settle the nerves. What would you suggest?"

As if the sun had risen to shine on her face, Blythe's expression brightened. He knew the nymphs enjoyed offering their own ideas, and he took opportunities to indulge them. "Well, the oranges are starting to ripen, and Fiona was preparing to serve freshly squeezed juice for breakfast. Would mimosas do?"

"Excellent choice, Blythe. Your intuition is a blessing to us all. I expect Lexi will be awake by the time you return."

"As you wish, my lord." She offered another curtsy and flitted away down the hall, skipping like a youth despite the fact she was nearly as old as Mikhail, his third born. Hades closed the door and padded quietly across the room, setting the clothes on the armoire before posing in front of the mirror.

He and Lexi had fallen asleep immediately following their tryst in the river. This showed prominently in the way his cowlick lifted off his forehead. It always rose from sleep before he did. Rubbing his hands together, Hades slid his fingers through his unreliable hair, but when his attempts remained futile, he gave up. The stubborn cowlick would stay until his bath.

"There's no need to fuss with yourself," came a sleepy voice behind him. "You look handsome just the way you are."

Lexi was watching him from the bed when he turned to smile at her. "Now, where have I heard that before?" he said.

"I believe they were the first words you ever spoke to me."

"Are you sure I called you handsome? You may not have talked to me if I had." Hades walked back to bed and slipped between the sheets, wrapping his arms around Lexi and snuggling up to her warm breasts. "I may have used the word enchanting."

"I don't think you called me enchanting. I would have thought you were trying too hard and shelved you with those preppy clods from the party."

Her comment steered him back to the source of his anxiety, and he didn't try to stop it. "Well, you won't have to deal with them on this visit. It will be just your family and one overbearing god from Olympus, although he's likely to behave like a clod."

"And Kade, of course." She rolled onto her back, intertwining her fingers with his. "Has my family ever met him?"

"No."

"Does Zeus get along with Kade, or is it a love-hate relationship like you and Zeus?"

Her playful smirk had him grinning. "They have no qualms with each other, and you will find Kade very easy to get along with. As for Z, he assures me he has no plans to talk you out of staying in the underworld, but I will believe that when I see it, as the saying goes."

Lexi frowned. "Is that why you've been pacing for the past ten minutes?" He wasn't going to correct her and say it was closer to sixty, and she didn't give him a chance to. "I'm in charge of my life, and Zeus needs to find a way to live with that. Eternity is a long time to have a stick up your ass." Lexi leaned in for a kiss, soothing him with soft lips and causing his manhood to swell. Or was it her determination that aroused him? Lexi's will was like an aphrodisiac, although he knew it could also lead to his ruin.

A light tapping interrupted them, and Lexi called to the door. "Come in."

Blythe waltzed into the room with two champagne flutes and a silver carafe on a tray. "Good day, Lord Hades. Lady Lexi. I hope you both slept well." Her eyes settled on Hades, and they exchanged a knowing glance that Lexi did not appear to notice.

"What have you brought us this morning, Blythe?" Lexi sat up, letting the sheet fall away to expose her breasts. They beckoned to be kissed, but Hades resisted out of deference to Blythe.

"It was suggested that mimosas might be the perfect beverage to start this special day," Blythe said as she filled their glasses. "I hope you approve, my lady."

"Oh, how nice. Did you use the oranges we picked from the orchard yesterday?"

"The very same, and I expect we will be picking more when you return. The trees have produced early this season. We usually don't have our first harvest until after Persephone arrives."

Hades watched Lexi's expression carefully at the mention of Persephone, half expecting to see a grimace, but her face brightened as she reached out to accept the glass Blythe handed her. "Then Persephone will be able to enjoy them as soon as she gets here. That's sure to please her."

"Yes it will. Is there anything else you need before I return to the kitchen? We are preparing a hearty meal to see you and his lordship off."

"This is perfect, Blythe." Lexi looked almost smitten as she smiled warmly at the nymph. "You are like a ray of sunshine. It amazes me that so much positive energy can come from one being."

Blythe nearly fell over as she bowed deeply in front of Lexi. "You flatter me too much, my lady."

"That's silly," Lexi said. "You deserve every word of praise."

"I would listen to Blythe if I were you, Lexi." Hades winked at Blythe, and she giggled as she danced out of the room, her voice lilting into a tune as she closed the door. Hades shook his head. "You are going to spoil those nymphs, you know."

"And what's wrong with that? They are at our beck and call without fail and without complaint. They are like little angels and I love them all." Lexi lifted her glass and clinked it against his. "To the lovely nymphs who spend their lives tirelessly catering to the gods."

As Hades joined Lexi in her toast, he tried to remember the last time he gave thanks to his faithful housemates. He made a point not to become prosaic in his dealings with them, no matter how many days ran together. Whether he believed Lexi would spoil them or not, he knew the nymphs required praise to thrive.

A swell of admiration rose inside him as he stared at Lexi's thoughtful face. Her compassion appeared to know no bounds, and she possessed the kinds of gifts that eluded many gods. It gave Hades much comfort knowing she was there by his side. So, why did it feel like his life had become significantly more complicated?