"Look at the length of her toes," Hecate said as she leaned over Juniper's crib. "See how the second toe reaches further than the first? That's a sign she'll be a ruler someday."

"Good. She can have my job when I retire." Hades engaged Hecate as he rested a shoulder on the banister of his four-poster bed. She arrived early to dote on the newborn, and he was more than happy to indulge her. Lexi's moods had been all over the place lately, and he'd been thinking of various ways to approach her since she woke.

"I'll let your fatigue excuse you for that comment," Hecate said as she followed Hades's gaze to the balcony where Lexi stood alone with a cup of tea. "Go speak to your mate. I'll keep the young one occupied."

While Hades wasn't always comfortable with Hecate's keen intuition, he was grateful for it today, and he nodded his thanks as he walked outside. He approached Lexi slowly, like the night arriving to cloak the sun, and when he knew she had sensed him, he slipped his arm around her waist. His breath stilled when she leaned into him.

"How are you feeling, my love?" he asked, hoping for the truth.

An easy smile came to her lips as she blinked against the morning light. "Exhausted but happy. And you?"

"I have my loved ones close. I could not wish for anything more." He dropped a kiss onto her nose, taking a moment to brush an auburn curl behind her ear. He felt her quiver, and she turned in his arms, slipping both hands beneath the hem of his shirt.

"I miss you," she said as she drew a shiver from him with her skilled fingers.

"I am never far away, but I know what you mean. Once your body heals, I promise to give you a day in bed. Hecate has offered to keep Juniper while she's here. Why don't you get some rest?"

"I don't want to rest. There's too much to do."

"Okay. You can work on your painting. It's nearly finished."

Lexi offered him a suspicious head tilt. "Oh, Hades. You know I don't have an artsy bone in my body. I just don't have the heart to drop out of Clary's painting class. She thinks I have a shot at winning a prize at the winter solstice festival."

"And you don't believe her? She is the goddess of honesty, after all."

Lexi pinched his buttocks gently. "The prize she's talking about is 'most improved', which is not the same as winning first prize. You know how competitive I am."

"Yes. I'm quite familiar with your dauntless nature. Come inside and I'll massage your feet by the fire. I've added something I think you'll like."

"Rosemary?"

"Lavender. It does just about everything."

Someone cleared their throat, and Hades turned to find Sella standing on the balcony threshold. "Lars is here with a gift for the new babe," she chirped. "He insisted on waiting on the bridge. Should I tell him you're occupied?"

"Tell him we'll be down shortly," Lexi said.

"Very good, your grace."

Sella hurried away, and Lexi grinned as she tugged on Hades's hand. "Maybe it's another pomegranate tree. That would make three. They seem to be the minotaurs' gift of choice when babies are born at the palace."

Hades had to agree. While the palace had been home to many children over Hades's lifetime, the minotaurs had not been friendly for most of it. Lexi changed all that, building a bond between the gods and the beasts, particularly one beast - Lars. There was a time when Hades was jealous of the young minotaur's friendship with Lexi, but Lars had helped deliver Elm and Ely, gaining Hades's trust and allegiance.

"If we're not careful, we'll have a grove to rival that of the minotaurs themselves," Hades said. "And I would love to have such a grove."

Hades's comment earned him a kiss before they retreated indoors, and Hecate shooed them away as she rocked Juniper in front of the fireplace. Lexi made the trip downstairs with ease, using Hades's arm for guidance but not support, and he marveled at how quickly she had regained her balance and fortitude. Hades would like to see Z give birth and get on his feet as quickly. Even if Lexi's body had wanted to stay in bed, her will would not have allowed it. And, of course, she was right. Lars had brought them a pomegranate tree.

"Greetings, Lars." Lexi placed her hand on her heart as she bowed, a greeting she and the minotaurs implemented years ago, and Lars did the same, blinking his large brown eyes as he held out a pomegranate sapling in his beefy hands.

"From the herd to your family," he grunted. "A gift of friendship."

Although Hades wasn't dressed to receive something covered in dirt, he took the tree and held the root ball away from his clothing. "Thank you, Lars. The others have done well on the east side of the palace. I'm sure this one will be equally successful."

Lars nodded, although Hades suspected he only understood part of what Hades had said. The minotaur still struggled to interpret the subtle nuances of their language, and Hades tended to use every nuance available to him.

"How is the young one?" Lars asked.

"She is thriving," Hades told him. "We have named her Juniper."

Lars offered his version of a smile, which never came out right and usually looked like a scowl. "Juniper is very nice. And the other children are well?"

"Yes."

"I have seen Elm with Melinoe," the minotaur added. "They have become friends?" Lars spoke his comment as if it were a question, and Lexi assessed him with a critical eye.

"Do you think we should be worried about Elm being friends with Melinoe?" she asked.

Lars cocked his head, pursing his thick lips as he glanced between Lexi and Hades. "I do not understand."

Hades had a feeling Lars did understand but was worried about giving his opinion. "Have you seen Elm engage in unsafe activities with Melinoe?" Hades asked bluntly.

"I would never let Elm be unsafe," Lars said. "I wish to see her learn in the proper way."

Hades tried to hide his frustration behind a pointed gaze. He needed to know if Lars was hiding something, or if he truly did not understand. "Lars, if you have any reason to believe Elm is in danger, it is your duty as a subject of your lord to advise me of such."

Lars lifted his chest fully until Hades could barely see past the minotaur's hairy chin. "I do not believe Elm is in danger. I have seen the two goddesses doing ceremony in the Asphodel Meadow. One time, I saw a spirit with them, but Elm did not appear frightened."

Knowing Lars valued the bond between his herd and the palace, Hades had to assume this was Lars's ignorance coming into play, and Hades bit back the impulse to scold him for failing to come forward with the information when it happened. "Spirits should not be wandering the meadow. That is something of great importance to the underworld and your lord and lady. If you see another spirit in the meadow, you will inform the palace immediately. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord. I will inform you if I see another spirit in the meadow." Lars bowed so low his spear scraped the stones of the bridge. "I will tell the herd. Pleasant day to you both."

As soon as Lars was trotting noisily across the bridge, Lexi turned to Hades, showing him her worried brows. "How are the spirits finding their way to the meadow? I thought once they entered Port Oceanus, they couldn't leave."

"Not on their own." Hades tried to hide his concern, but there was no use keeping it from Lexi, and he allowed an aggravated huff to escape him as he admitted his suspicions. "My guess is, they're being summoned."