Mother smiled smugly at them. “Everyone thought that I was favoring Zeus as the ruler of the heavens. He’s still waiting for me to step down. The boy still hasn’t proven to me that he can handle it as well as I can, but at least he’s making a start. Poseidon … is Poseidon. The oceans calm him, but he has a temper. Sadly, they both take after Chronos. Hades has always been my favorite.” She gave a wink. “That’s just between us three. Now, we must hurry. Hades and I can’t be away long. Have you asked her yet? Everyone is waiting.”
“How could I? You won’t stop talking long enough for me to ask.” He gave her a glance of mock irritation.
“I’ll give you a few minutes.” Mother watched them expectantly.
“Mother!” Hades gave her a harassed look, and Zerina started giggling into his shoulder.
“Fine!” Mother turned toward the beauty of Shambhala. “I knew he was in love with you when he brought you here. I created it for him, so he could always visit a piece of home.”
“Mother!”
“I’m going.” Mother harrumphed, moving farther away.
Hades looked down into Zerina’s twinkling eyes. “I missed you.”
“What would you have done if I hadn’t wanted to return?”
“Given up my kingdom. I couldn’t have stayed another day without you. It took everything I had to watch Mother carry you home. That’s why I didn’t return to the battlefield or attend your aunt’s burial rites. I knew I would ask you not to go with Mother afterward.”
“Why didn’t you? I know you heard me arguing with her that I didn’t want to go.”
“I want you to have your powers back. You would only get them back by going home. You deserve them back. You can use the Hall of the Death’s doorway to carry out your duties and return to me when you deliver your souls.”
“You won’t mind?”
“No. That’s why I wanted your powers returned. You will be able to bridge the gap between light and darkness.”
Zerina sighed. “I get the best of both worlds.”
They turned their heads at the sound of Mother tsking, seeing her tapping her foot impatiently.
Looking back down at Zerina, he saw her looking at him expectantly.
“Do I have to ask?”
Zerina smiled, curling her fingers under the collar of his suit. “It would be nice.”
“Will you marry me?” he hoarsely managed to croak out.
“Yes.” Her sweet answer left him humbled.
“I love you. I can finally say it and mean it. I couldn’t tell you with the responsibility of the stone weighing me down. When you told me what Maxi said to you, I knew you were in danger and had to get you out of my kingdom. I thought you may have been searching for the stone. I had promised Mother to keep it safe. If Chronos had found it, I would have lost you forever.”
“I had touched it without even knowing I had done so. I thought he had gone mad. Instead, his vision was right.”
“He was wrong. It wasn’t the stone you held in your hand. It was my heart.” He tangled his fingers in her hair, tugging her head back to kiss her. “The moment Mother placed the stone in my heart, it stopped beating. My soul lost sight of the light, becoming a demon who survived in the darkness and became afraid of love. It was only when Grimm brought you to me that the light touched my soul again. I didn’t hold you captive. It was you who captured this demon’s soul.” Hades lifted Zerina’s hand, placing a kiss into the palm of her hand, then closed it tightly into a fist. “A soul that is yours for eternity.”
He stared down at her lovingly, admiring the gentle soul that Mother had gifted him. She had promised him a reward for hiding the stone and keeping it safe. He had told her he didn’t want a payment for doing his duty, so she had given him the treasures of the earth, which he had given away because they meant nothing to him. By taking nothing, he had ended up with the greatest treasure of all—Zerina.
When he would have kissed her again, Zerina nodded over his shoulder. “I think everyone is getting tired of waiting.”
Hades lifted his head, seeing his Mother and Zerina’s family watching them.
“We can just say the words, if that’s what you want,” she whispered as they started walking forward to where their family had gathered in a circle.
“No. This time I’m doing it right. Would you mind if Mother—”
“She already asked. Father performed Cara’s and Broni’s wedding. He’ll understand that Mother wants to marry us. He can give me away.”
“He already doesn’t look happy.”
“That’s because Jinx is here. I had to invite her. If she hadn’t pretended to be sick to warn Mother …”
Hades felt her hand tremble in his.
“She sneaked Zeus into my domain.”
“Jinx has always been a sucker for a handsome man. If you hadn’t dangled her over that fire pit, maybe she would have trusted you.”
“Do you want to argue on our wedding day?”
“No.” She snapped her mouth closed.
“Good. We can save this fight for another day. We haven’t had make-up sex yet. We’ll save it for when we get bored.”
“You think you’ll get bored with me?” she teased him impishly.
“Not for a few centuries at least,” he joked, releasing her hand to give to Valentine.
Jinx winked, proving she and everyone else had been listening. “I made a batch of love potions if he grows bored. It will make him fall in love with you all over again.”
When the smiles on everyone’s faces disappeared, Jinx rolled her eyes.
“Why is it that, when Hades cracks a joke, everyone smiles and laughs, and I make a joke and everyone acts like the world is about to end?”
Mother held her hand out. When Jinx didn’t move, Mother wiggled her fingers. “Hand it over.”
Jinx reluctantly waved her hand and a vial appeared in Mother’s hand, which she casually tucked into her bosom.
Mother opened her mouth to begin the ceremony then paused, taking Jinx’s arm and shifting her to the other side of Rhys, who was standing next to Broni, leaving her standing on the other side of Hades. Rhys took her arm, moving her to the other side to stand next to Jinx.
Mother glared. “If everyone is finally ready, I have other … Cara, move before Jericho punches Hades. It would ruin their wedding day.”
Jericho reached out to snag his wife back. She had been leaning past Zerina to get a better look at Hades.
“Did you smell him? What is that smell?” Cara whispered loudly to Zerina, just as Mother was about to begin.
“It’s brimstone,” Mother snapped, drawing everyone’s attention back to her. “For the last time, are we ready?”
Seeing their nods, Mother sighed in relief, her face going soft and tearful. She didn’t grace many by performing their matrimony. She hated to preside over them unless she knew it would last. Zerina and Hades’ would last. Hades would see to that. If not him, then Fate would.
Giving her best friend a conspiratorial wink, she cleared her emotion-clogged voice. “My beloved children, we are gathered …”
Epilogue
ONE
Standing silently in the hospital room, Zerina watched the couple stare in awe and fascination at their newborn. It was heartwarming to see the family share the special moment of first seeing each other.
Zerina then left through the doorway, returning to the entrance of Hades’ castle. She lifted her eyes to the sun, enjoying the sunshine beating down on her. She was about to go inside when a hand slipped around her waist.
“What took you so long?”
Zerina smiled, leaning back against Hades’ chest.
“It was a first-time mother. The child was comfortable where he was. He kept his parents and me waiting.”
Hades turned her around in his arms. “I missed you.” Bending down, he ran his tongue over her lips. When he would have used it to part her lips, she jerked away from him in fury.
“How dare you!”
Hades stared at her in astonishment. “Since when do you begrudge your husband a kiss?”
“When it’s not my husband kissing me!” She stared him furiously. Then she raised her hand to smack the smug grin off his face. However, a hand stopped her mid-swing.
Zerina’s eyes darted to see who had stopped her, seeing her husband with a clenched jaw, holding her back from striking the imposter who had dared to touch her.
“Let me deal with my brother.”
Before she could protest, he moved her to the side to confront his mirror image.
“Show yourself, Zeus,” Hades commanded.
Zerina crossed her arms over her chest as Zeus transformed, tempted to pick up one of the rocks to bash both male heads. She was furious with Zeus because he believed she was stupid enough not to know when another man was kissing her, and she was just as mad at Hades for not letting her defend herself.
“I was just testing her, Hades. I didn’t want you to have another Persephone on your hands. It’s better to know now before you waste centuries with her as you did—”
Zeus’s head jerked back at the force of Hades’ fist smashing into his mouth.
Gaping, she saw Hades strike his fist out again, hitting Zeus on the nose.
Zeus took the first hit, but when her husband threw the second punch, he started hitting back.
Zerina watched in amazement as they fell to the ground. For a second, she thought of trying to break them apart, but then she decided to leave them to finish it on their own.
Muttering, she pressed her hand to her armlet on her upper arm. Hades had given it to her so she would always have access to his entrance.
When the entrance appeared, she walked through, still muttering to herself about men’s egos. Once inside, she waved her hand, transporting herself to her and Hades’ bedroom, surprising the wraith cleaning the room.
She was dusting the large portrait hanging over the fireplace. It was the only one that remained in the castle. She didn’t even notice the rest had disappeared, used to keeping her eyes to the floor so she wouldn’t see them. It was only when the wraith that was now dusting her portrait with meticulous care mentioned it. She was the one who had given her the advice on how to deal with Hades.
“You cleaned our room yesterday,” Zerina reminded her.
“Hades hates dust.” Zerina saw the wraith shrug under the dark cloak. “Since he sent his concubines away, I don’t have much to do. I like to stay busy.”
Taken aback, she moved closer to the wraith. “He sent all of them away?”
The wraith glided away to plump the pillows on the already made bed. “He sent them away when he sent Jinx away, or those he could. A few of his concubines have permanent residences down here. He made other arrangements for them.”
“It wasn’t in his fire pit, was it?”
“No.” The wraith crackled with laughter. “If that is all, I will see to my other chores.”
Zerina waved her away, confused as to why Hades hadn’t told her that he no longer had concubines, that he hadn’t for a long while.
She was drying off from taking a bath when Hades appeared. Zerina looked him over critically.
“Did you heal your wounds, or wasn’t Zeus able to leave a mark on you?”
“My brother is too concerned with his looks to put up much of a fight.” He smiled down at her as he swept her into his arms and she wound her arms around his neck,
Instead of carrying her to their bed as she expected, she felt the room swim dizzyingly around her. Looking around, she raised a questioning eyes to see they were still in Hades’ bedroom.
“Did Zeus knock your sense of direction out of you?”
“Look around. Can’t you tell the difference?”
Zerina stared around the room, seeing her portrait was gone.
“I decided to have a do-over.” Hades carried her to the bed.
Zerina raised herself onto her elbows to watch as he elegantly removed his clothes. “A do-over?”
He grinned wickedly. “A do-over.”
Zerina looked down, seeing her towel was gone and she was wearing the same gown she had been wearing the first time she and Hades had sex.
His smiled curled higher. “That’s the do-over. This time, I’m going to do it right.”
“Really?” Zerina licked her bottom lip. “That would have to mean I am still a virgin.”
“Exactly.”
She shivered at the desire he wasn’t even trying to hide in his eyes or body.
“What if I don’t want to relive all of it, like … the pain?” She throatily whispered, lying back on the bed.
“The pain’s the best part.” Hades slowly lifted the hem of her gown, revealing an elegant thigh. Just as painstakingly slowly, he uncovered her other one until he teased himself by leaving her pussy covered.
“Maybe for you. Not so much for me.”
“It’s all going to be for you this time.” His stared down at her adoringly. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“Oh, Hades, you don’t have to …” She smiled at him with a watery smile.
He knelt on the bed beside her. “You are truly a gift from Mother. How could I not worship at your altar?” He tugged her gown higher, exposing her mound to his gaze. Then he splayed a hand out, covering her.
Arching, she felt the intensity of his touch within her, and he hadn’t even moved his hand. Then she realized it wasn’t his hand he was using. It was his tongue. She felt the imaginary tongue inside of her, brushing the walls of her pussy with slow strokes, going places he wouldn’t be able to reach. His touch wasn’t a scorching heat; it was a slow burn that was gently wooing her into relaxing and enjoying his seduction.
As he investigated her with his tongue, he dipped his fingers between her thighs, delicately parting the lips of her pussy to rub the pad of his thumb over her clit.
“I have held diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, yet none of them were more exquisite than what I’m holding now.”
He erotically licked the crevice between her breasts, nuzzling downward to bare her breasts. Then he moved her body, taking his time to lull her into wanting him instead of taking her in a heated rush. He built her desire that was never too far from the surface when he was near.
Clinging weakly to his shoulders, she gripped them when he started toying with her breasts. She wished she had the power to compel him to end his torment.
Lifting his head, Zerina realized she didn’t have to. He had read her mind.
His sleek body shifted until he rested between her thighs, her tight seam parting when he slid his cock inside her wet opening.
“I must be masochist to put myself through this again,” Hades groaned.
Zerina felt him shudder over her as he worked his way inside her narrow channel. The pain was there, as it was the first time she’d had sex with him, but this time was different. He was being gentle. So gentle it nearly brought tears to her eyes. He looked to be the one in excruciating pain as he angled his hips to stroke deeper.
She squirmed, trying to alleviate hers and his pain.
“Slow. If you don’t enjoy it this time, you’re not going to be able to blame anyone but yourself.”
Zerina moaned, biting down on his shoulder. Becoming impatient, she brought her hands to his ass, digging her nails in. Reflexively, he thrust, breaking through her virginity.
“Woman, I was trying to go slow.”
“You were going too slow. Do you think you can move faster now?” she taunted.
He pistoned his cock inside of her. “Like this?”
“Oh … yes.”
Zerina held on for dear life, twining her legs around his waist. Then she stiffened in shock when she felt him at her behind. Her eyes flared wide when she felt another cock thrust inside her clenching buttocks.
Her high-pitched scream had him covering her mouth with his. “Relax, Zerina. It’s not really in there. It just feels like it. Give it a second … Damn … so fuck
ing tight.”
Zerina didn’t have time to be embarrassed by the newness of what he was doing. It was always more than she could bear to be fucked in one opening. To be fucked in two was more than a goddess could handle.
She lost conscious thought, becoming a withering mass of nerves as he treated her with the debauchery that only he was capable off.
Pulling his cock out of her, he flipped her to her stomach. When she felt him at her ass, she realized the imaginary cock had only been a prelude to the real thing.
She tore the sheets off the bed when he pressed his cock inside her ass. Meanwhile, the imaginary cock resumed thrusting inside her pussy.
Hades pressed her deeper into the mattress with his chest while biting down on her shoulder, on the same spot she had on his.
Her scream filling the room would have had his concubines revolting if they had still been there and heard them.
“I love you, Zerina.”
She came out of the passion-induced daze to lift her head from the bed, seeing he was staring at her from her side. Turning, she narrowed her eyes on him, seeing his satiated grin. Climbing on top of him, she then stared down at him.
“Is that all you got, my dark king?” With a naughty grin, she took his hands, raising them over his head.
He stared back at her. She could see his surprise that she wasn’t panting in exhaustion, while his breathing hadn’t yet returned to normal.
“Zerina, I think we finally found a game you can win.”
Epilogue
TWO
The leaves in the majestic trees swayed when Mother appeared on top of a hill overlooking a grassy field. Moments later, others appeared behind her.
Giving them an approving nod, she turned forward, waving her hand again.
Zerina appeared with a doorway, her hand holding the door closed. Hades appeared several inches away from her, holding another door closed.
“Open them,” Mother ordered.
Zerina and Hades followed her command, opening their doorways.
From Zerina’s doorway, an ethereal soul walked through. Then, when Hades opened his, a dark soul burst out, stopping when Hades waved his hand.