“This,” I breathed. “I want a picture of us like this in our bedroom in Hell so you never forget who loves you.”
He groaned and turned me in his arms to kiss me ravenously.
The need for a break was the only thing that kept me from allowing him to steer me back toward the bathing pool.
“Food,” I said, tearing my mouth from his. “Really, really tasty food.”
He growled but took my hand and led me from the room.
Admittedly distracted by his backside, I didn’t notice we had company until Hades stopped and pulled me to his side in the living room.
“Daughter,” he said with a slight nod. “I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
I looked from Megan and Oanen to Hades and back again.
“How long were you waiting?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. You sounded busy.”
My mouth dropped open. “You heard?”
She smirked a little. “Pretty sure people in New York heard that last one.”
“Megan,” Oanen said in warning.
“Sorry,” she said, looking anything but sorry.
“I actually came here bearing important gifts.” She held up a familiar-looking bag. “The last phone we got was through the Council. Obviously, Adira messed with it so you couldn’t call me. These phones are under Grandma Irene’s name, and she paid a druid she knows to put a little anti-spell charm on them. One’s for you, and one’s for Zotera. Consider them backup phones, just in case.”
“Thank you, Megan,” I said, taking them from her.
“Irene,” Hades said. “She’s still here? On Earth?”
Megan nodded, and Hades frowned.
“It shouldn’t be possible.”
“Nothing’s impossible when you’re determined enough,” Megan said.
“Or stubborn enough,” Oanen said under his breath.
She quirked a smile at him.
“I know it’s early, but would you both like to stay for dinner?” I asked.
“Hell, yes,” Megan said. “Zotera’s been in the kitchen since we got here. She left the stove long enough to invite us inthen ignored us like a pair of unwanted friends.”The last part, said louder than the rest, was enough to elicit a response from the kitchen.
“Youarewanted friends!” Zotera called.
“Because you like me or because you just want me to bring food to Eugene?” Megan called back.
Zotera appeared in the opening of the kitchen. The apron she wore was still perfectly immaculate.
“Both?” she said uncertainly.
Megan grinned at her. “I’m just giving you a hard time.”
“It’s what Megan does best,” Oanen said.
