EMMA

"Absolutely, nothing. Happy tears," I whisper, afraid to say anything else. How can I explain that for the first time, I feel my anger and fear dissolve into calm. For the first time in my life, I tasted the sweetness of serenity and it terrifies me. Now, I have so much to lose.

He studies me for a moment before he rises and pulls me to my feet. Reaching in the shower, he turns on the water, leaving his hand under the spray until it get hot. I rise on my toes and place a kiss on his neck. It's as far as I can reach without him leaning down. I taste the maleness of him and sigh before stepping in under the hot water. Turning my face up, I let the water cascade over me, hoping it washes away some of my fears. His arms come around me, and I lean back on his chest, savoring the strength of him. We stand like that in silence. After a while, he reaches for the soap and rubs it over my skin. His hands linger on my breast and core, and I smile as I feel him harden behind me. I'm going to be unable to walk if we repeat what we just did. Honestly, I have no problem with that. I giggle at the thought, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel to dry off.

"What's so funny?" I hear the humor in his voice as he moves in behind me again.

I turn, pressing my breasts into him, sliding my hand between us to cup him. I revel in his swift intake of air and the growl that follows it. "I was only thinking that I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow."

"Emma." One word, but a pain shoots through my head and I glare at him.

"What did you just try to do?" I step back a little but tighten my hold on him, daring him to lie.

"Fuck! I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. Well I was, I was thinking I wanted to make you come over and over without causing you any pain. Your hands on me scrambled my brains, and I forgot my power doesn't work on you. If they did, I could simply whisper your name and you'd come or I could take you to the edge and keep you there for hours, heightening our pleasure." I release my hold and move away a little, my body swaying at the thought. His eyes glaze over with lust and my core clenches. I'm suddenly really fucking pissed at that fucking fever. I imagine spending a day with his breath and power whispering over my skin and I shiver. He notices and grins.

"Well, since you can't use your power, you're just going to have to use other things." I raise my eyebrow in challenge, stepping further away, and his eyes narrow. Challenge accepted.

His hands snake out to grab me, and I yelp in excitement, jumping back. We are both laughing when there is a gentle knock on the door. He growls in frustration, and I dive for my clothes. Perséphone's voice calls out, "I need your help."

I glance at him and sigh. "We have a lifetime. Right?" A rumbling growl is his answer as he grabs his jeans, pulling them on over his wet skin. Then he moves to the door, leaning back on it to watch me dress. The girls on Bourbon would be proud of my performance and his eyes flare red, letting me know both he and beastie are happy with it, also. I'm buttoning the leather pants, which were a bitch to get on in a sexy way while I was still damp, when he opens the door.

I gather my wild and wet hair and twist it up into a bun, looking around for something to pin it with. Perséphone holds out her hand and a large clip appears in it. "Man, that is wonderful. I don't know how much time I've wasted in my life looking for a rubber band or a clip." I grin at her as I put in my hair.

"You said you needed help." Jason's voice is aggravated when he speaks and I hit him, glaring.

"What can we do?" I ask smiling at her, moving in front of him to draw her attention from his scowling face.

"I built the prison, but I thought since you are the only one who feels any compassion for Arias, you could help me with the final touches." Her voice is hopeful as she says, "Hades decreed that it be a prison a place of punishment, but you can decide the punishment."

I am floored and disgusted. I don't want to chose his eternal punishment. And yet a part of me does, the part that was raped, threatened, and had some bitch screw with my mind. The last part has my gaze whipping to Jason. My eyes widen, as I realize they have no idea a goddess had been helping him.

"Emma? What is it." Jason's voice is filled with concern as he moves in front of me, his hands cupping my face.

"He had help..." I whisper, my eyes darting around, "Aphrodite. She stole my memories from me, made me believe I loved him." I let the bomb drop. The look on their faces let me know it was atomic.

"Hades!" Perséphone screams it, her hair floating around her head in her anger. I shift closer to Jason, and his arms come around me. Hades appears in front of his wife, and the concern and anger on his face startles me. I shiver, a tiny part of me feeling sorry for the Goddess I just outed. I listen as Perséphone tells him my revelation, and his eyes grow glacial the blue turning almost white. His skin has blue flames dancing over it. Jason's beast rumbles within him, and from one second to the next, his arms are gone and the Hellhound stands beside me.

"Come, Hunter." Hades’ voice is lethal in its quietness, and I shiver.

Persephone moves to my side. She draws in several deep breaths until her anger calms. I look up at her, and she rubs her hand over my back. "I'm sorry, it is unheard of, unallowed for such things."

"I'm sorry I didn't remember sooner. She made it sound like they had been doing such things for a long time." I grimace at the thought of those they tormented.

"Hades will send Jason after her. I have a feeling we need to ready the prison. I also know you need not worry picking Arias’ punishment, as Hades will choose now. They will both regret the things they have done to you." Her voice is full of venom.