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Devon reached for some water and handed it to her as she sat up to drink it.
“I am perfectly fine.” He smiled as he took the water from her and set it back on the nightstand.
Scooting closer, Devon wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into him and breathed in the scent of her mate, letting the calm she always felt at his presence wash over her before reality hit her with the force of Hera’s lightning.
“It won’t be over. There are others,” she whispered. “Hestia, my other sister, the descendant
of the line that holds her power, is here in Halcyon.”
“A problem for another day when we have both recovered our strength,” he murmured into her hair as he pulled her closer.
“I thought I had lost you.” His voice was full of vulnerability.
“I told you that I am a Goddess and cannot truly die if I choose not to,” she mumbled against his shirt.
“In that moment, I was sure that wasn’t true. You were not breathing… no heartbeat,” his hand trembled. “I went unconscious and disappeared before… .Atlas.”
Silence blanketed them before Devon spoke again.
“I was so relieved when I found out you lived, but so angry you didn’t stay in the Underworld where you were safe,” he admitted.
“As if you would sit back if I were in trouble. No, we are to stand together.” She pushed away so she could look up at him. “I will not let you go charging into battle without me by your side. I never have and I never will. I will always be there when you have need of me. In the light and the darkness, I am here, my warrior. This I vow.”
“You and your oaths,” he replied with a smile.
Grabbing her hand, he put their wrists next to each other where the soulbond mark was tattooed on their skin.
“When you came back to me, our marks took on a less skeletal look.”
“Rebirth,” she whispered, noticing the word brought a pensive look to Devon’s face.
“So much of the world has died,” he replied. “I have the power to bring parts of it back.”
She saw the resolve in his eyes when she looked at him. The need to use his powers for something greater.
“You can help the land, and you should.”
He pulled her closer to him as he kissed the top of her head.
“Before I throw on my superhero outfit,” he whispered into her hair, “We have to speak with the Senate.”
He smiled at her as she groaned and fell back, putting a pillow over her face.
Her mood plummeted even more when she realized there was still one more loose end that couldn’t wait.
***
As Devon finished readying himself to leave, Persephone ordered the shadows to take her to Cocytus.
She walked along the shoreline to where Minthe was bound. Far enough away to not be able to reach the water, but close enough to see and smell it. Her body was dried out; her skin and lips cracking. Minthe was using the last of her energy in a desperate attempt to crawl to the life- sustaining current.
Persephone moved to stand next to the traitor and look out over the river.
“Looks refreshing, doesn’t it?” Persephone asked as she stepped between Minthe and the water, squatting down so she could see Minthe’s face. “You’ve been working with Crius a long time, helping him into the Underworld through the river system. You were scouting for Crius that night at the gala and you agreed to work with him because you thought it was your only way to get Devon back.”
When Minthe said nothing, she continued.
“A knife with hydra blood on it to make sure I couldn’t come back because Crius told you that was how Cronus killed me the first time. Should have done more research on whether that would actually kill me now that I am no longer mortal.”
