Lexi knew Hades was more nervous than a scarecrow at a bonfire as he walked her up the path, but he was the god of the underworld, for pity's sake. He commanded the element of fire, ruled over an entire domain, and oversaw every soul that passed through the gates, more or less. He also knew how to elicit such erotic feelings within her that it brought her to her knees, literally. He was kind, witty, attentive and flawed, which made him perfect, and Lexi felt there was nothing more she could do to prove her love other than to stay with him for eternity.

The gates opened and Thanatos greeted them with his usual impassive, humorless expression. He reminded her of a nightclub bouncer, with the exception of the wings. Truthfully, he was a hunk, but his personality left a lot to be desired.

"Good day, Thanatos," she said, ruffling his feathers on her way past.

"Is it? I hadn't noticed," was his dry response.

Lexi stepped up to him, looking directly into his handsome, stiff-jawed face. "When I return from Olympus, you and I need to have a chat about your people skills. When was the last time someone played with your ding dong?"

Thanatos cocked his head, offering his sterile version of surprise. "If by ding dong you mean my dick, then it was this morning. Can I count myself?"

"No."

"Oh. Then I do not remember how long it has been."

Lexi was unable to hold back her laughter, although she couldn't help feeling sorry for Thanatos. It was such a waste of hotness.

"It's about time you two showed up." Kade's voice bounced off the cavernous walls as he stepped out of the shadows. His chest was bare and his black, feathery wings were tucked against his back. He draped his arm affectionately over Lexi's shoulder like they were heading onto the basketball court to shoot some hoops. "Are you ready for the ride of your life?"

Hades cleared his throat. "I hope you are not forgetting our agreement, Kade. You are to act as Lexi's guide and protector. There will be no rides other than the one necessary to see her safely to Olympus."

"That is exactly what I meant, of course." The devious grin Kade offered clearly indicated he enjoyed tormenting Hades. "I'm willing to bet Lexi has never been carried through the air by a winged god before."

"Are you sure you can manage it, Kade? I think my travel bag weighs more than I do." Lexi teased him as she shrugged his arm off her shoulder. She was still mad at him.

"I have yet to come across a goddess or her accessories that I couldn't handle. Shall we?"

Kade opened his wings, stretching them out to an impressive length. Lexi had not expected him to show up without a chariot, although she probably should have. She didn't doubt his strength or ability to deliver her safely to her destination, but she didn't completely trust him to behave, and the idea of flying to Olympus in his arms triggered a nervous chill across her skin. Her hesitation had him chuckling.

"I gave my word to your lover that I would be on my best behavior throughout your stay on the mountain," Kade said, using his buttery smooth voice, the one that reminded her of Hades.

With a resigned sigh, she turned to Hades and placed a kiss on his lips. "I will send word to you as soon as I am able. I love you, my prince charming."

Hades pulled her against his chest, which smoldered with the heat from his personal furnace. "I will take nary a breath until your return."

Lexi heard Kade snicker but she ignored him. His cocky attitude could never prevail over Hades' cultivated manners, and Lexi felt a renewed sense of purpose as she stepped into Kade's arms. "To Olympus and beyond," she joked as she tucked her bag into her chest. The jest may have been lost on the two gods, but she used it to lighten the mood and the task that lay ahead of her.

Without a single grunt of effort, Kade took flight, his wings cutting through the air like a swordsman readying his blade. The metaphor fit him well, and his strong grip around her torso reassured her. She didn't even close her eyes as they jettisoned deftly through the darkness. 

"How do we get to Olympus?" she asked, distracting herself from the pressure of his endowment on her back.

"Through this tunnel."

"But I thought this tunnel led to Nova Scotia."

"Only if you want it to. If you're heading to Olympus, it takes you there instead, or to Victoria Falls in Africa, or the Columbia River in Oregon."

"Is that all it takes? You just picture where you want to go and you're there?"

"Not exactly. You also need a password."

Lexi was tempted to ask Kade if he knew the password to her favorite noodle soup vendor in Vietnam, but she didn't want to derail him from their mission. Maybe she could find a decent bowl of noodle soup in Olympus. According to Hades, they had everything. Lexi's heart rate picked up as the pitch black gave way to gray, revealing the outline of the entrance as it grew larger, and she couldn't help grinning when the ice blue sky greeted them.

The tunnel shrunk down to a mere shadow in the rock, and the stark emptiness was replaced by a panorama of mountains that encircled her like a Bob Ross painting. Cool moisture clung to her cheeks as Kade dipped below a bank of fluffy clouds, making Lexi grateful she had worn her warmest dress. This was definitely not the gorge she had spent most of her childhood exploring. There was no river rushing below them, or black tar roadway packed with tourists. Instead, a congregation of white peaks welcomed her, and a lake that glistened like an aquamarine gemstone shimmered among a blanket of evergreens. Ranches bordered the lake, teaming with cattle and goats, all grazing on fields freckled with snow.

Ahead of her, a castle spire rose toward the heavens. It appeared to be molded out of gold, undulating under the sun like a mirage. Or did she see lightning crackling around the peak? She stared at it long enough to cause spots before her eyes.

"Welcome to Mount Olympus," Kade said, his voice resonating with pride. "The most beautiful place you will never find on earth."

"But there's a Mount Olympus in Greece," she pointed out. "I've been there."

"Was it as resplendent as this?"

"No."

Although Lexi could not see his face, she knew he was smiling. These gods seemed to think their mountain was better than everyone else's. Lexi hugged her travel bag as they dove through a cloud, and when they emerged on the other side she nearly dropped it. An entire city stood before her, dazzling her eyes with its incandescence.

Gold and white structures crawled up and around the mountain, topped with terra cotta roofs and accented in glass. Everything glistened, from the street lamps to the marble statues standing in the center of market squares. Even the streets were adorned with symbols embellished in gold. Seeing it reminded her of the Emerald City from the movie The Wizard of Oz, only in gold. Hades wasn't kidding when he said the gods were obsessed with the stuff.

"I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted by your silence," Kade said as they descended toward a pair of enormous golden gates.

"You should be flattered. I'm speechless."

"I knew you would be. Once we get you settled at the palace, I can take you into town and show you around. My daughters own a dress shop. I thought we could have you measured for something to impress your lover."

Lexi didn't like the way Kade referred to Hades as her lover. Hades was so much more than that, but she wasn't going to take issue with it now. She was enjoying herself too much. "That sounds nice. Hopefully, I'll be able to fit it into my bag."

"If not, we'll just get you a bigger bag. My sister, Kylie, owns a shop that sells accessories."

Lexi did a quick scan of her brain and remembered Kylie was Melinoe's daughter, the Kylie who hated her mother's guts.

"What is your form of currency here? Wait, let me guess. Gold, right?"

"Yes, but goods and services are also used in trade. You won't have to worry about any of it. You have connections at the palace."

Although Kade made it sound like she was somebody special because she was Zeus' daughter, she would hazard a guess that three quarters of the population were related to the mighty god. Kade landed with ease and a good amount of finesse, setting Lexi on her feet a few yards from the gates. It was then that she realized her legs had gone a bit numb, and she stumbled into him, stepping on his foot.

"Sorry, about that. I'm not used to flying without two hundred tons of airplane under me," she said.

"No problem." He swept his wing around her shoulder to steady her, and her hand brushed his feathers. They felt sturdy yet velvety soft, and chills bristled her skin as she allowed herself a moment to enjoy the feeling of being wrapped in gossamer wings. His bare chest was mighty inviting too, and when she realized Kade was staring at her, she stepped away, checking the zipper on her travel bag to hide her sudden blush.

"Don't you think you should put on a shirt? Aren't you cold?"

He grinned, as if he knew she was impressed with him. "No. My body temperature is not affected by the climate. It has something to do with my winged nature. C'mon, there's someone I think you'll enjoy meeting."

Kade led her toward the gates where an incredibly tall god with bulging biceps stood guard. Lexi quickly noticed his biceps were not the only things bulging. Every muscle appeared to be sculpted from bronze clay, and the lightweight toga he wore offered an unhindered view.

"Lexi, may I introduce Heracles. God of strength and heroes, and gatekeeper to Olympus." Kade motioned his arm toward the god as if he were introducing the king of the world. No doubt, Heracles could make a decent bid for the job. "Heracles, this is Lexi, daughter of Zeus."

Heracles bowed, treating Lexi to a smile that highlighted his full lips and chiseled jaw. Definitely easy on the eyes. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lexi. I have heard many good things about you from your father. He is immensely proud of you. I hope you don't mind if I escort you and Kade to the palace gates. I have a pressing engagement with my nephew, Jules, out on the javelin field."

"I don't mind a bit," Lexi said as she admired how easily Heracles opened the gates.

Kade leaned in to whisper at Lexi's ear. "Stop staring. You're embarrassing yourself."

Lexi popped Kade on the arm and he pretended to be wounded, pulling an overdramatic face, but they both smiled innocently when Heracles looked down at them. Heracles set off at a swift pace, forcing Lexi to lengthen her strides to keep up. Kade took advantage of his wings to help propel him. Lexi wondered how long he would walk around shirtless. He seemed pretty damn proud of his feathered assets.

The road leading up to the palace had been fashioned out of white marble stones, trimmed in towering Italian cypress. There were patches of snow here and there, but Olympus didn't seem to be suffering from the harsh effects of winter yet. As expected, the gates to the palace were made of gold, and a pair of centaurs stood in front of them. Each one wore a thick leather vest adorned with an official-looking gold badge.

"Here we are. The palace of the gods," Heracles announced. "You will have no trouble getting past these two. They're friends of mine." He saluted the centaurs at his chest, and they offered a similar gesture in return. "Enjoy your stay, Lexi. I hope we will see each other again." 

Heracles strode away, his calf muscles bulging with every step. She was starting to think togas were a good idea for gods.

As Lexi stared, Kade spoke into her ear. "You're embarrassing yourself again."