Eden

I look up at Jericho as he carries me down the hallways, waiting for him to answer me.

He sighs heavily before answering. "She's the Reapers appointed Seer.." He seems to trail off, indicating there's more to it than that. "And?" I say.

"And concubine.." He mumbles.

Jericho told me it had been almost twenty years since he'd been with a female. And everyone here is saying he's been gone for almost two decades.

"So you've fucked her." I state, not asking a question. "Put me down." I say to him.

"You're not even dressed, if I set you down the blankets will come loose around you." He says to me in a hushed tone. I wriggle against him anyways, trying to free myself from his hold, before he decides the fight isn't worth it and sets me down.

Just as he said, the blankets begin falling but I'm quick to pull them up around me again. I gesture for him to continue leading the way to his room. "Let's go before someone sees us." I say, growing more annoyed.

Jericho turns and begins walking again, realizing I'm not about to walk beside him. I follow him silently, feeling slightly embarrassed by my outburst and anger towards the fact he's apparently had a concubine just waiting in his house, ready to fuck him when he returned more than likely.

My irrational anger grows as I think on these things.

"Eden.. I can smell your anger." Jericho says to me.

"Well fuck your stupidly amazing sense of smell that can just read me like a damn book." I say to him, and instantly feel bad. "I'm sorry.." I mumble out, knowing I shouldn't be acting this way.

"Melinoe may be the Reapers concubine, but she wasn't mine, Eden. Not specifically. I've only been intimate with her a handful of times within the entire century she's lived in the Palace. And I haven't been with her in fifty years, the first half of the century we may have done a few things, but I never took an interest in her like the others who never found their mates did. The only thing I let her do was give me head." He says to me.

"Then who was the last woman you fucked? You said it was twenty years ago." I state, thinking the timing is all too perfect for it not to make sense he fucked her before leaving for two decades.

"Damnit Eden, this was all before I met you. As soon as I left this realm to begin my search for Aries I slept with some random human whore who I wouldn't be able to point out if I saw her again at this point." He says, I feel as though he's trying to ease my anger, but it only increases it.

"Do you just fuck around with anyone? How am I any different?" Jericho stops walking and turns to reach out to me, but I take a step back from him, discouraging him from touching me.

A knowing look crosses his face before he answers. "Because you mean more than some lowly concubine I couldn't give a fuck less about. Because you mean more than some sad whore, or any of the other females I've been with. Because sex with you isn't going to be meaningless to me, because that's what it was with them, meaningless. Because you are my mate, damnit, Eden. If I have sex with you I'm not fucking letting you go. Once I enter you that's it, you're mine. You need to be sure you're ready to take me as your mate, before I take you in every way possible and grow possessive over what I've been dreaming of my whole existence. Once I take you, you're mine." He growls out, the possessive side of him showing itself.

My body reacts to his words in a shameful manner. "I'm not something to own." I simply state, ignoring my hearts excitement at his possessiveness over me.

He steps closer to me before wrapping his arms around my blanket covered waist, bringing his face inches from mine. When I don't pull away he brings his lips to mine, the feeling any time he kisses me is nothing short of magic itself.

He kisses me sweet and slow before bringing one hand to the back of my neck as he deepens our kiss, his movements growing more urgent before he begins biting my lower lip softly, trailing his tongue where he bites me, slowly sliding his tongue into my mouth to dance with my own.

Jericho brings my back against the wall, before grabbing one of my legs and wrapping it around him. He rubs himself between my thighs, and I can't help the small moans that escape me as our lips part.

He brings his hand between us, finding a spot to get his hand through the blanket I have wrapped around me. He wastes no time as he brings his thumb to my clit, rubbing it in small circular motions, causing my moans to grow louder before I bite down on my lip to silence myself.

What am I letting him do? We're still in the hallway.

I'm about to say something when Jericho slowly pushes a finger inside of me, making me let go of the loud moan I'd be holding in. He adds another finger, before he starts to move them in and out in smooth, quick motions, the actions causing me to lose control as I begin panting loudly, and I don't even want to think about the filthy sounds leaving my mouth as Jericho works his magic on me.

"Tell me, Eden. Tell me this is mine." Jericho growls in my ear as he thoroughly fucks me with his fingers.

His thumb presses against my clit again as his two fingers work their way in and out, I can feel my orgasm starting to build as I hear how wet I am as Jericho's fingers work me.

"Tell me, who does this belong to?" Jericho growls in my ear just as my orgasm comes crashing down on me. "You!" I basically scream out as he slows his pace, letting me finish coming down from my momentary high before sliding his fingers out of me. "Good girl." He whispers to me.

He swiftly scoops me back up into his arms and continues his way down the large hallways towards his bedroom.

His pace seems to quicken suddenly. "Is something wrong?" I ask him curiously. "It's not that anything is wrong, it's that I can sense Ozul and I don't want him near you in such a state of undress, and smelling of arousal." He says, instantly making my face warm.

"Jericho." A tall male stands at the end of the hallway we're currently making our way down. Though he addresses Jericho, his eyes linger on me.

This must be Ozul. I've only met Damien and Melinoe since arriving, minus the healers who check up on me around the clock.

"Not now, Ozul." Jericho growls out at him. From the way they address each other I'd say they're not on good terms.

"What's the matter, you not gonna share? Just gonna parade her around naked and make all of us listen to you pleasure her?" Ozul says to him.

I cringe away from his insinuation, pressing myself further into Jericho's arms. "She doesn't even want you, Ozul. Fuck off. Plus, you damn well know I'd never fucking share my mate with you." Jericho says, his voice coming out low and menacing.

"You didn't mind sharing Melinoe with me on multiple occasions, how was I supposed to know you'd be selfish with your mate?" Ozul says as he shrugs his shoulders.

"Shut your fucking mouth, Ozul! That was half a century ago, and Melinoe is worth nothing to me. You know for a fact I'd rip your head from your body before I let you touch my mate." Jericho growls out at him. I grow increasingly more uncomfortable as I'm left just cradled in Jericho's arms as he argues with one of his fellow Reapers.

"What if your mate wants to though? You never even asked her, did you?" Ozul is clearly just trying to piss Jericho off, but I'm done with this increasingly awkward situation.

"I'm not interested in being shared with you." I say, not having any interest in what Ozul is suggesting.

"Then by all means, don't let me keep you any longer." Ozul practically purrs out at me.

Jericho holds me close as we pass Ozul, though I don't miss the smile he shoots my way along with a wink, right before Jericho kicks his legs out from underneath him.

"Watch yourself, Ozul." Jericho spits out as he looks down at him on the floor. "I can beat your ass even while holding her. Don't test me." Jericho walks away before Ozul can get up or even reply with a remark of his own again.

We finally come to a stop in front of large wooden double doors with intricate detailing carved into them. Jericho pulling one of the doors open in a swift motion before walking through and closing it behind us.

I look around and take in the magnificent room, it's large with high ceilings. Grey marble floors with golden details, the walls are a simple cream color except for one wall that's a deep red color. Against the red wall is a large bed with black bedding on it. Tall windows with flowing black drapes, and a magnificent chandelier that hangs in the middle of the room.

"Persephone gifted the Reapers this palace, she designed each room herself." Jericho says to me as he watches me look around his room in awe.

"It's beautiful, truly." I say to him, the situation with Ozul temporarily forgotten as I take in the far wall with a large stone fireplace, with bookshelves as tall as the ceilings on either side of it.

I drop the blankets, uncaring to be naked in front of Jericho any longer. I make my way over to the bookshelves and begin reading the titles of a few of them, before I'm suddenly being scooped back up by Jericho as he roughly kisses the back of my neck.

"You can't walk away from me naked with your hips swaying in such a sinful way." He growls out to me.

"I just wanted to see what books you had." I laugh out at him.

"It's mostly history and magic, but I can get you any books your heart desires." He says to me, his words instantly making me smile brightly.

The rest of these walls would be covered in books if he allowed such a thing.

He runs his hands up and down my body while kissing the back my neck gently. "Jericho.." I start, but can't bring myself to ruin this moment. I still haven't accepted him, and yet I'm imagining making a home for myself here with him, and it seems he is, too.

I have to tell him soon. Even if it means he'll reject me.

"What is it?" He asks when I don't continue. "We should go ahead and bathe and get dressed. It's been nice taking a break, but we both know we need to get back to tracking down Aries. We should rest up, probably pack some more supplies, and get moving quickly." I say instead. The look on his face indicates he knows I'm not being entirely honest, but he doesn't call me out on it.

Instead he nods his head slightly and turns towards a door on the other side of the room. "This is the bathroom. I'll request new clothes for both of us for the journey ahead." Jericho says to me as he opens the door, revealing a large bathroom with a very tempting looking bathtub.

Big enough to fit an overgrown Reaper comfortably.

"The clothes I packed are fine." I say as I watch Jericho begin filling up his huge bathtub. "They are, but we're going to be traveling up the mountains, it will get colder the higher we travel, and I noticed you didn't pack anything warm. I'm sure one of the healers already got your measurements when you arrived." Jericho says to me, warming my heart with his thoughtfulness.

I'm falling too hard too fast for him, I know it's the soulmate bond encouraging my feelings. But I can't keep letting things go on like this..

"What's wrong?" He asks, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Do I wear my emotions so openly?" I ask while trying to fake a smile.

"You do, even if I didn't have heightened senses, you wear your emotions on your face. What's troubling you?" He asks before grabbing my hand and leading me to the now full bathtub.

I climb in and submerge my body in the hot water, instantly feeling a bit more relaxed. Jericho is quick to join me after removing his pants, and he sits behind me so I can rest my head on his chest as we enjoy the hot water together.

"I'm afraid if you knew the truth about me you'd change your mind about accepting me." I say, relieved to have it spoken out loud, though I'm not ready for the conversation that I know has to follow.

Jericho begins lathering up a soap bar that smells of lavender and amber. Slowly he spreads the suds all over my exposed body, before he starts lathering up my hair as well. I'll never get tired of the way this giant, beastly male takes such gentle care of me.

"And what is the truth?" He asks me as he rinses out my hair. "I find it hard to believe you harbor some dark, evil secret." He says.

I laugh without humor. "It's not something sinister. I'm not a bad person.. I'm just.. broken.." Tears begin to form in the corner of my eyes, I try to blink them away, when that doesn't work I splash some water on my face, trying to will the tears to stop.

"Eden.. you're talking to one of the most broken male's you could come across. People experience tragedy and trauma.. it doesn't mean you're broken." He tries to reassure me.

But he doesn't know. He doesn't know.

I remain silent at his words. Thankfully he says nothing more, probably sensing I'm not ready to continue this conversation at the moment.

Jericho stiffens suddenly before a large thud is heard. He's instantly getting out and grabbing two of the fluffy black towels that sit near the tub. I'm quick to follow him, after wrapping ourselves in the towels we make our way into the room to gather our clothes, only to be met with Damien apparently waiting. The thud must have been him busting into the room.

"What the fuck do you want? I come home and I can't get two gods damned minutes alone, even in my room, you fuck." Jericho says to him.

"Hades is here and he demanded your presence at once. You know I'm only following orders." Damien says. "I tried knocking but when you didn't answer I just busted in, at least I waited out here." He says to Jericho.

"I was choosing to ignore your annoying ass." He says to Damien. "And that's exactly why I did it. I knew you could hear me knocking, you shithead." He replies.

I awkwardly stand behind Jericho, using him as a shield. "Tell him I'll be out in a minute, after I'm fucking decent." He tells Damien.

Damien nods his head before turning to walk out the door. Before closing it he says over his shoulder. "He said only you. Your mate is not to be accompanying you. He's waiting in the study across the hall." At that he closes the door.

Jericho rubs his hand over his face before running it through his hair, seeming frustrated. Then he's walking over and throwing some pants on that had been set on his dresser, beside his clothes sits a more feminine outfit, I'm assuming for me.

"Please don't leave this room, I'll be back shortly." Jericho says as he walks over to me before placing a kiss on my forehead and leaving out the door.

My heart thunders in my chest as I look at the door he left slightly open.

Damien said the study was across the hall..

My curiosity gets the best of me as I quietly chant a silencing spell over myself before I stand and make my way to the door, trying to listen in on what's going on across the hall.

Living with nosey witches for so long has made me.. a nosey witch.

"She's a waste of time, Jericho. You should have already left, your time is running out. You can't let this witch distract you. She's not even worth anything. Does she even truly know what it means to be a Reapers mate, boy?" An unfamiliar voice speaks, and without even seeing the face the voice comes from, I know it belongs to none other than Hades.

"I'm giving her time to process things, Hades. And I'm leaving after I fucking rest up. If you wanted me to function like a brainless zombie you should have done so while creating me." Jericho says to him.

What does it mean to be a Reapers mate?

"If you're not out of my realm within eight hours, I will send you out myself." Hades says to him. "You call me foolish, but it is you who are the fool. You will give up your greatest power to be with this female? What if she cannot grant you your offspring, Jericho? What happens when she refuses to carry your child, when a Reapers mate is the only one who can give such a thing to you?" My heart shatters at Hades words.

His child? I slowly back away from the door, not needing to hear another word.

No.. goddess no.. Theia.. you have betrayed me.. you have cursed me.. you have left me to suffer.

The tears falling from my face are uncontrollable as I silently make my way back into the bathroom, locking myself in as I sink to the floor, wrapping my arms around myself as I sob silently.

I'm not sure I can grant you what you want, Jericho.

I don't know if I can grant you a child.

I'm a broken woman.

(Edited on 11/26/24)