He still hadn't awoken by the time we came to the River Styx. Charon was waiting for us with his boat by the shore. He offered me a nod as I stepped into his boat. I nodded back and sat down with Dion still in my arms. The transparency was slowly subsiding, and I could barely see my arms through his body now.

"Dion," I said softly.

He tiredly opened his eyes and looked up at me.

"Look, we're on the River Styx."

He looked around for a couple of seconds before his eyes closed again.

"He'll be tired for a while," Hades said and tried to smile a little. "But he'll be alright."

I nodded and clenched my jaw hard. "Where are we going?"

"Someone called in a favour for this little one. And for you. We're going to the Elysian Fields." Hades leaned forward a little. "He has friends in sunny places."

Apollo. Apollo had done this for us. I couldn't believe it. It was absolutely unfathomable that he'd do anything for me. Not so much for Dion, but this deal apparently included me. I'd be with Dion forever like this.

I mean, I had promised I'd be where he was, but I hadn't been thinking of how, exactly. But that issue had been solved before it even became an issue. By Apollo. I wanted to thank him. It wasn't like I'd kiss his feet or befriend him. He still annoyed me beyond belief, but he had won some points here.

We crossed the river and Charon stopped the boat by a small harbour. He offered me another nod as I exited the boat and I gave him a nod back. He got two coins from Hades and then he went back, using a long stick to push himself through the water.

"The Fates said he'd like a place by the ocean," Hades said. "A nice and bright house. With lots of room."

I looked down at Dion. He looked a lot more relaxed now. "He'll like that."

"Take him there. He'll wake up and he'll need your support. If you need anything, you know where to find me. Pers wants to see you too." He put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I hope you find the happiness you dreamt of here."

"Thank you. Truly."

He smiled and then looked to my father. "Keep an eye on him."

"I know, Master," Dad said and bowed. Hades sent me a saying look and started towards the dark palace. It was looming in the horizon, surrounded by Persephone's forests. Next to it was the Elysian Fields. And that's where me and my dad were going.

"Remember to have him eat something when he wakes up."

"I know," I muttered.

"And come see your siblings. There'll be a new litter soon too. You always liked being around the pups."

I snorted a bit.

"I'm glad to have you home again."

I glanced at him. "What if Dion doesn't like it here?"

"He will. It's paradise after all. He'll get everything he wants."

"Not everything," I whispered and looked ahead again. We wouldn't be able to start a family here. Not the way we wanted.

But maybe we'd still be able to find happiness. I truly hoped so.

I woke up with an intense ache in my chest. I groaned and reached out for Arlo, only to find the bed empty. I opened one eye and didn't recognise the sheets. Neither the bed. The room wasn't ours.

"Arlo?" I said hoarsely. I cleared my throat. "Arlo!"

I heard heavy footsteps coming very fast to the room and then Arlo appeared in the door, topless and dressed in his sweats.

"You're awake," he said and smiled, looking so relieved.

"Yeah..." I sat up and looked around the room. It was very bright and white. Soft-looking white curtains were swaying in the wind coming in from the open doors leading to a balcony. I rose from the bed and walked out on that balcony. The ocean was rumbling close by and there was a nice garden beneath my feet with a pool and everything. The sky was clear of clouds and almost too blue. Everything was too perfect.

I looked down at my bare chest, a round scar on my skin. Right where I was sore. I looked back at Arlo, who was sitting on the bed.

"Where are we?"

"The Elysian Fields."

"What happened?"

"You were shot." His voice shook.

I came back into the room and stopped in front of him.

"I-I tried to stop the blood, but it... It just kept coming and it wouldn't stop." A tear trailed down his cheek. "I tried but... I failed."

"Oh Arlo," I said and sat down in his lap, taking his face in my hands, tipping it up. I stroked my thumbs over his cheeks. "It wasn't your fault."

He circled his arms around me and hugged me very gently. Maybe he knew I was sore, but it felt nice. He hid his face against my shoulder and just held me as I stroked his hair.

"I'm sorry, I should be stronger."

"No, it's alright."

"No one I've loved has ever died before and..." He pulled back and looked up at me. "It's heart breaking."

"It is."

"I'm so sorry, Dion."

"it's not your fault." I ran my hand through his hair. And then I needed a hug, so I leaned forward and hugged him. He hugged me back immediately and we just sat there for a while. We needed healing. We were mourning and we needed each other.

I didn't blame Arlo. Not one bit. I knew it wasn't his fault because he would've dived in front of the bullet if he had been able to.

"You need to eat something," he said softly then.

"I don't feel hungry."

"No, you actually need to eat something." He pulled back and looked up at me, cupping my cheek with his hand. "Everyone who comes to stay here, need to eat the food. It's part of it."

"Oh. I thought that was just a... Myth."

"We're just myths too." He rose to his feet and carried me out of the room as if I didn't weigh a thing. No matter how many times he did this, I still revelled in feeling small and well protected. My big gentle giant would always be here for me.

The house was bright. The walls were white and the tiles on the floor were this sandy colour. The kitchen was absolutely magnificent. A kitchen island was placed in the middle with counters around half of it like a horseshoe. And it was marble countertops.

He put me on one of those countertops and handed me a plate. "I made you breakfast."

There was a nice omelette on it. He had made this for me. And he poured me a tall glass of orange juice.

"When I eat this, I can never leave, right?" I asked and cut a piece off the omelette, looking down at it.

"True. But you'll disappear if you don't eat it."

"What a terrible ultimatum. Either, stay forever in hades or straight up disappear," I muttered more to myself than to him. I flicked my eyes up and met his gaze as I shoved the omelette in my mouth. It was delightful. He had added some kind of spice that made it slightly burn in my mouth, but it was perfect. He had become such a good cook.

"Disappear forever, or stay forever with you," I said after I had swallowed. He perked up and smiled. "It's really no hard ultimatum at all."