Lexi waited until the scrying mirror had gone dark before uttering another curse. Why had Hades made such a reckless decision? He knew it was a long shot that she would convince the council to abolish the hunt. Clearly, he had been under a lot of stress, with the threat of a minotaur rebellion, her trip to Olympus, Persephone's illness. Even a god made stupid choices, apparently. Had Hades told anyone else about his blood offering to the minotaurs? Surely, Hecate knew about it.

The emergency council meeting was set to happen any moment, and Lexi would use it to make another point about the minotaur hunt, but she had to come up with an iron clad case to present to them. She just needed to find a quiet place to come up with it.

As she turned away from the mirror, she walked straight into Poseidon. He had donned his blood red robe, which didn't surprise her, but his grim frown and downturned gaze threw her off. Was it a look of shame? Was it remorse? Whatever the emotion, it was highlighted by a purple shiner around his left eye.

"Lexi, will you permit me a few words in private?" He spoke softly, almost reverently, and Lexi studied him for a moment to make sure she had not mistaken him for some other, less selfish god.

"You're asking for my permission? I didn't think that was something the mighty Poseidon was capable of."

"Please, Lexi."

"Pleading? Now that I have heard." Lexi sighed, wishing she had the nerve to knee the arrogant, sex-obsessed jerk in his dick, but she wouldn't stoop to his level. Besides, she was still feeling the high of resurrecting a god, and she refused to let Poseidon ruin it. "Fine, but nowhere too private. You'll want someone to find your body if the conversation takes a bad turn."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, a painful maneuver based on the grimace that followed. "Let's just sit in this courtyard."

He waved them toward a row of pillars dividing the main palace from an outside patio. Lexi took a seat in a high backed rocker next to a shrub pruned into the shape of a swan and Poseidon sat next to a deer. Several moments of silence passed, in which Lexi thought of a few choice words she wanted to hurl at him, but she let him have his say first.

"I am not sure where to begin," he began. "Apologies do not come easy to me. I have been at this game a long time, during which I have had command of immense power. It takes a great deal to get my attention, and you have gotten my attention. It would be a lie to say I was not first struck by your beauty, the grace in your stature, the friendliness in your smile, and those eyes that remind me of the sea. From that moment, I wanted to possess you. Now, before you judge me for being a shallow prick, I want you to know that those are not the reasons I felt compelled to come to you today. The reasons I was drawn to you last night."

Lexi reached up to her shoulder, touching the place where she had imagined Hades biting her in the heat of passion. Poseidon noticed this gesture and hung his head like a dog being shamed after misbehaving. "Lexi, I will not offer excuses for my behavior. You have every right to turn me away and never speak to me again. Believe me, other goddesses have done worse, but I cannot live with the guilt of having thrown away the chance to bask in your divine presence. To have you smile at me with the warmth you offer anyone fortunate enough to receive it. To be your friend. I come to you asking not for forgiveness, because I know my actions were beyond the pale of what is due a goddess of your virtue and benevolence. I come to you asking for your mercy."

Poseidon left his chair and lowered himself in front of Lexi, pressing his forehead to her knee. She was stunned that a god of his might and imperious reputation would make such a show of submission, and she glanced around to see if anyone was watching. This would be what some might call a fortuitous situation. When he said he was asking for her mercy, did he also mean he was at her mercy? She tapped Poseidon on the shoulder, and he slowly lifted his head.

"I don't play petty games with people, Poseidon, no matter how powerful my opponent is, and I concede that you are right. Your actions were outside the bounds of acceptable behavior. In the human world, your punishment would range from life imprisonment to castration to beheading to death by firing squad. Personally, I was prepared to give you a demonstration of the gifts I inherited from Zeus. Something that would remind you of your fuck-up every time you took a piss." Lexi sharpened her eyebrows as she stared him down, all the while picturing him jumping into the ocean with his pubic hair on fire.

"Hence, where the mercy aspect comes into play, my lady."

Lexi continued to hold Poseidon's gaze, delving as deep as she was able through his impish, blue eyes, now accented by a shiny, purple bruise. Even as he begged for mercy from his unforgivable actions, she saw lust simmering behind them. This was the essence of the gods. An element that featured heavily in every story she had read. He was acting according to his nature, and she needed to either accept it or fight against it for the rest of her eternal life.

"I have never been one to hold grudges. It's bad for the soul," she said, finally releasing him from her scrutiny. "But you will have to work very hard for me to see you as anything other than an arrogant, self-serving god and a shallow prick, although I expect Hades will be even less forgiving."

Poseidon nodded his silent agreement just as a bell rang out; a call to the council members, and Lexi let the conversation die there. Before she could leave her seat, Poseidon stood and offered his hand. She knew the gesture was his first attempt at repentance, but she was still working out how merciful she wanted to be. She stood without his help as she contemplated the ways his guilt might prove useful. The council meeting could offer him an opportunity to pay some penance.

All the usual suspects had gathered in the meeting room, with the addition of Hecate, who wore an expression of curiosity when she saw Lexi and Poseidon walk in together. The term nosy fit better, but Lexi didn't react other than to acknowledge Hecate with a smile as she walked up to her, letting Poseidon find his own seat.

"How are Persephone and Alex?" Lexi asked.

"Their recovery is better than anyone could have expected, thanks to you. We would be planning a funeral instead of attending a council meeting if you had not stepped in to help."

"I'm just thankful I figured out what needed to be done. It was as if I had known how to do it all along."

Hecate smiled and patted Lexi's shoulder affectionately. The matronly goddess had been behaving uncharacteristically humble ever since the excitement in the infirmary. Someone pounded loudly on the podium, and Lexi didn't have to look to know who was responsible.

Zeus cleared his throat and addressed the assembled gods. "Greetings, fellow gods. I apologize for calling you away from your activities for this emergency meeting. A few of you already know the topic we will be discussing, but many do not. I will take this opportunity to enlighten everyone. It seems my daughter, Alexandra, has found herself in possession of a unique gift, the likes of which the gods have never seen."

Zeus gestured to Lexi and she smiled at the gods gathered around the table. Some smiled back, while others looked unimpressed. She typically didn't mind being the center of attention, but not when she didn't know what the hell was going on. All she cared about was taking advantage of the assembly to say her piece about Hades' predicament with the minotaurs.

"Lexi is responsible for reuniting the stillborn son of Persephone and Eros with his spirit. While I did not witness this myself, there were plenty of others who did, including Hera. I, however, have witnessed Lexi resurrect an earthly horse from a deceased state, so it appears her gifts know no bounds among mortals and gods."

A murmur broke out at the table. A few gods leaned in to whisper to their neighbor, all while glancing warily at Lexi. She didn't like the way some of them scrutinized her, especially Ares. It wasn't like she had called the meeting to boast about her amazing abilities. She would rather be on a chariot heading home.

"I have called this meeting to discuss the nature of Lexi's gifts and whether she would be better suited to residing here in Olympus where her abilities can be developed and properly utilized. Of course, protocol dictates all new inhabitants be approved by the council."

Lexi's jaw just about unhinged from her head as she stared at Zeus, although he seemed reluctant to meet her gaze. What kind of crap was he trying to pull?

"You dragged me away from Persephone's sickbed to get permission for Lexi to live in Olympus?" Hera said, the indignation in her voice as clear as glass. "Of course, she can. She is a credit to her breed with a genial disposition and entertaining wit. Is there some other point you wish to make, Zeus?"

Lexi wasn't sure she liked the way Hera used the word 'breed' when describing her, but she appreciated her compliment anyway, and the look on Zeus' face at being put in his place was priceless.

"Well, I suppose part of it was to have Lexi hear the opinions of her fellow gods, so she may be convinced of the benefits of such a choice."

"Why would Lexi need to be convinced?" asked Hermes.

"I concur. Olympus is the only logical option," Apollo added.

"Perhaps it is because she is in love with Hades and wishes to remain in the underworld with him," offered Demeter. She smiled at Lexi, although she seemed to be alone in her support of Lexi's feelings.

Lexi glanced around at the expectant faces. The conversation had taken an uncomfortable turn, and she wondered if revisiting the plight of the minotaurs was such a good idea. That's when Hecate nudged her with her elbow.

"Lexi, I believe this is your cue."