After a Thanksgiving meal Lexi would not soon forget, she helped Hades up the stairs and into bed. He had clearly indulged in more champagne than his body was used to, and she suggested he take a nap when he began slurring his speech. He wasn't too drunk, however, to grab her around the waist and yank her onto the bed with him.

"You smell more deli...shus than a sus...stain...able turkey roasted to perfect...shun. If you will permit me... I would like to baste you and taste you."

Lexi chuckled at his silliness. He was endearing when he behaved badly. "I doubt you would be able to get your own pants off in the condition you're in."

"Then, I appoint you my official pants remooo...ver. Do not worry, I will not accuuuse you of taking advan...tage of me."

He pulled her in for a kiss, and she felt his erection growing against her thigh. She rubbed her pelvis over it. She couldn't help herself. He was like a drug she wanted filling her veins, and other parts of her anatomy, but she enjoyed it more when he was completely present.

"I promise to take advantage of you after your nap. I will see you soon my silly, drunken prince."

Lexi blew Hades a kiss before leaving the room. She really did love him, especially when he showed his vulnerable side, and she carried the taste of him on her lips as she joined the others in the living room. Zeus noticed her first and hurried over, although he slowed his pace before reaching her, probably reminding himself that the father of the gods did not hurry.

"Lexi, I want to apologize for leaving the table without waiting until everyone had finished their meal. It was inexcusably rude."

His apology sounded rehearsed, but she knew how difficult it was for him to be sorry for anything. He had been her Uncle Z from the time she was old enough to utter his name, and he always had trouble admitting his faults. Now that she knew he was the god, Zeus, she gave him even more credit for it.

"I appreciate the apology, but I am not the one you should be..."

"I apologized to your mother and Charles as well. But your positive perception of me is of the greatest importance. The last words we spoke to each other before you disappeared into the underworld were not exactly complimentary."

"You mean the last words you spoke to me were not exactly complimentary."

He pursed his lips as he was forced to admit she was right. Lexiremembered his last words, and she could recite them back if he neededconfirmation. Land that horse immediately or you will feel my wrath!

"Once again, I am sorry. Those words have haunted me since you left. May we start anew, on even footing?"

"I am willing to do that if you will explain to me why you invited Clary here this weekend. Was it to hurt Hades or me?"

He crossed his arms over his chest and jutted out his bushy chin. She had become quite familiar with this stance. "I was not trying to hurt anyone by inviting Clary, but I did think she might offer useful advice for surviving in the underworld. I am not sure you're aware of this, but she spent thirty some years as Hades's consort." His granite face didn't fool her. She knew he was hiding a smirk as he waited for her to go to pieces at his big reveal.

"I know all about their relationship," she lied. "I also know it has been thirty years since they broke up. And they have both moved on with their lives."

He shrugged as if the subject was of no consequence, but Lexi knew better. Within moments, Zeus was flagging down Clary with a broad wave. Clary excused herself from Dion's company, who looked completely dejected as she walked over to join them.

"Clary, I thought you and Lexi could spend some time chatting," he said as he patted Lexi on the shoulder. "If Lexi is to find happiness in her new home, she will need the help of a fellow goddess who has lived down under."

It took a lot of effort for Lexi not to roll her eyes. She wanted to believe Zeus was trying to help her find happiness in the underworld, but she had a difficult time buying it when he had tried so hard to keep her out of it. Nobody changed their tune that quickly, especially not a god with an ego the size of Canada.

"Of course, Zeus. I have been anxious to get to know Lexi. I have heard so much about her from Mnemosyne." Clary smiled at Lexi, looking genuinely happy at the prospect of meeting Hades's new love interest, although Lexi suspected Clary was merely using the distraction to escape Dion, the foolish mortal.

"Excellent. I will leave the two of you alone, then." Zeus inclined his head and strode away as if he was the cleverest god on the planet. He may have had the strength of the mightiest god, but Hades had Zeus beat in the cleverness department, hands down.

"Why don't we sit down, Clary." Lexi gestured to an empty couch, and she watched Clary navigate the coffee table before making herself comfortable against the cushions. Lexi couldn't help noticing how graceful she was. While Lexi didn't consider herself a klutz, her body maneuvered more like an athlete than a goddess. 

"Let me cut right to the chase," Clary said. "Zeus asked me here to convince you that staying in the underworld is a bad idea."

Clary's candid confession had Lexi liking her straight off. "I kind of figured that. I also thought he did it to upset Hades."

"I'm sure Zeus considered that an added bonus, but his main intent was to have me tell you how much better your life would be if you chose to live in Olympus. He really does care about you, Lexi, although I imagine he has difficulty showing it at times. I have noticed he doesn't always consider the interests of others before considering himself. You will find many gods behave similarly. I also don't think he realizes that asking the goddess of honesty to help him accomplish his little scheme was ill conceived."

"Your godly gift is honesty? That must make for some awkward conversations." Lexi chuckled to hide her sudden bout of anxiety. Now, she would be second guessing every word she spoke to Clary.

"It is a blessing and curse, as some would say, but I have learned to alter my speech to allow my honesty to come across as a life lesson. It proved quite useful while I was in the underworld. I was able to help counsel some of the souls who came through the gates."

"Really? I've been asking Hades to let me help him, but he's worried I'm not strong enough. I had a bad experience when I first arrived."

Clary looked thoughtful for a moment, as if she was reliving an experience with Hades. Maybe remembering what a loving and compassionate god he was. It made Lexi's chest hurt. "I completely understand his apprehension. It took me several years to become comfortable counseling the souls. Some of them are quite frightened, and when they hear the truth about how they lived their lives, it can make for, as you call it, an awkward conversation. I ended up pairing with Melinoe as she counseled the more tortured souls about their transgressions."

Clary's lips pursed, like she had bitten into something bitter, and Lexi nodded her understanding. Just being in the same room with Melinoe had a similar effect to having blood drawn.

"How long did you work with Melinoe?" 

"About seventeen years, but I had to stop when the nightmares got to be too much. It was affecting my relationship with Hades."

"That sounds terrible. Did they go away when you left?"

"Yes, almost immediately." Clary cocked her head as she stared hard into Lexi's face. Clary's eyes were beautiful but intense, and Lexi struggled to maintain eye contact with her and not flinch. For some reason, she wanted to prove to Clary she was capable of meeting her gaze. Did her gift also include reading minds? "Lexi, I know we haven't had much opportunity to get to know each other, but my gift allows me to sense things that others might miss. I sense something in you that is unique from the other gods I have known. I am a demigod, as you are, and I believe our humanness gives us an advantage over true gods. Maybe it is because we know we aren't of pure blood that we don't allow our arrogance to get the better of us. We think of ourselves as fallible, which I believe makes us more honorable." She leaned into Lexi's ear and whispered, "Please, do not tell Zeus I said that."

"Of course, not. I'd like think of myself as honorable. My debate coach used to say I had enough honorability and bullshit ability to make a decent politician."

Clary chuckled. "I can easily see you in a leadership position. You just need to spend some time figuring out what makes you the happiest. You seem to have a passion for animals."

"I have always loved animals. We would probably have a house full of dogs and cats if my dad didn't have a dander allergy." Lexi's breath caught when she remembered her dad wasn't actually her dad, and she tried to cover the moment by rambling on. "I especially love horses. They're extremely intelligent and regal. I think I was a horse in a past life."

"I wouldn't doubt it." Clary reached for Lexi's hand as she captured her eyes again. "I think you are a good choice for Hades. He needs someone who is sure of herself but who has compassion for others without the need to judge. He bears a great responsibility that not many of the gods acknowledge him for. My mother and I know him intimately, and we both care for him very much. We want him to experience happiness for more than one season a year."

Lexi swallowed as she suppressed the anxiety growing inside her. She was sure Clary had noticed it. "Clary, what was your relationship like with Persephone?"

Clary sighed, letting her fingers drift away from Lexi's hand. "Persephone is a very powerful goddess. Along with her mother, Demeter. Together, they control nature and the seasons. It is a great responsibility, and it seems to absorb her more fully with each passing year. She has a deep love for Hades, and he for her. But she also has a strong bond with Eros, and there is no doubt among the gods that her relationship with Eros has overshadowed the one she shares with Hades. As for my relationship with Persephone, I love her like a mother, because that is the persona she chooses to embrace most passionately. She is generous and kind, but she is also extremely committed to fulfilling her gift to the best of her ability, which often means neglecting her relationships with loved ones."

"Did you ever feel compelled to tell her this?" 

"Oh, I did tell her this, and it was not long after the conversation that I left the underworld to return to Olympus. There are very few gods who appreciate being handed the truth about their methods for conducting themselves."

"I can imagine." Lexi bobbed her head as her mind reeled. She wasn't sure yet whether this new information would benefit her or derail her when the time came to meet Persephone. But it seemed the more she learned about Hades's mate, the less she thought the goddess deserved the title of queen of the underworld.