She saw the pain in Persephone's eyes as she took the ring from Geary's hand. Persephone's eyes shimmered from tears as she traced the scrollwork on it with her fingertip. "How was he doing?"
Kat gave her a sad smile before she answered. "Well."
Persephone placed the ring on her thumb before she nodded. "Well, there you have it. Neco is trading in his favor for this, so it's Neco you owe."
Who is Neco? Geary mouthed the words at Kat, wanting to understand exactly what was going on. And who she owed for this favor.
"Neco is D'Alerian."
Geary was floored by the news. "Why would he trade his favor in for me?"
Persephone brushed away her tears. "Because my brother is a gentle man. He doesn't like to see anyone suffer and he hates injustice. I imagine this is his way of making amends for something he feels they've taken from you."
Still, Geary didn't understand. "Isn't that hard to do for someone who doesn't have any feelings?"
Persephone didn't respond.
Kat, on the other hand, scowled at the much shorter goddess. "The curse on them is weakening, isn't it?"
Persephone gave a subtle nod. "But you can't tell anyone, Kat. No one. I won't have Neco punished again. Father was more harsh on him than the others because he was his son. If he ever learns this..."
"Don't worry," Kat assured her, "I won't tell anyone. Keeping secrets is what I'm best at."
"Good," Persephone breathed. "They've all been through enough."
Geary shook her head. "But I don't understand. I thought the Oneroi were the sons of Hypnos and Morpheus?"
"Some of the Oneroi are," Persephone said quietly. "Neco is my half brother. He was born of Zeus and D'Aria, one of the original Oneroi. So long as one of their parents is an Oneroi, then they inherit those powers and are given those duties."
Geary rubbed her brow as she tried to make sense of it and fit it into her mind. "You guys have the most convoluted family trees."
Kat laughed. "Believe me, we know."
"Yeah, and you don't ever want to try and figure out Kat's. It's scary." Persephone craned her neck to look around the yard. "Come on, guys, we have to hurry. If my mother returns and finds me gone, she'll launch a tornado or something."
One second they were in the sun-filled garden, in the next they were in a dark, stinking cavern. Geary held her hand to her nose in an effort to squelch the awful smell. "What is that stench?"
Screwing her features up in distaste, Persephone waved her hand in front of her face. "Cerebus's dinner.
We picked a bad time to come."
She led them down a narrow corridor and through a door that opened into a large throne room.
Geary paused in the doorway as she saw the glistening ebony walls. But what held her enthralled was the gorgeous man sitting on a black throne that was made of what appeared to be bones. With shoulder-length black wavy hair, he was absolutely stunning.
And ripped.
Dressed in black leather armor, Hades had a presence that truly suited a god of death. It sent a ripple of fear over her, but even so, she understood why Persephone had been attracted to him.
He was compelling.
And as Persephone neared him and he saw her, the look of joy on his face actually made Geary's heart ache. He rose slowly to his feet.
"Seph," he breathed as if he were dreaming.
Persephone ran to him.
Laughing, he scooped her up in his arms and twirled around with her. "Oh, my precious Seph." He laughed again before he kissed her soundly.
Kat cleared her throat. Loudly. "Sorry for the interruption, but before clothing starts to fly or disintegrate, I wanted to remind you two that you're not alone."
Persephone blushed at the same time Hades growled at them. He took a step toward Kat, but his wife stopped him. "She's right, Hades. We have to be quick before my mother finds me gone and thinks that you've kidnapped me again. The last thing we need is for her to call out my father."
Hades cursed under his breath. "Like I fear that bastard."
"Hades," Persephone chided.
He relented, but by his face Geary could tell he did so reluctantly. "So why are they here?"
"They come seeking a soul."
He scowled at his wife. "Whose?"
"Arikos," Kat said.
Hades looked even more confounded. "The Skotos?"
Geary nodded.
"He's not here."
"What?" Geary asked in disbelief, her heart sinking.
"Arikos hasn't made his way here," Hades repeated. "If he had, I would know it. I have a bone to pick with that bastard, too."
Kat ignored Hades' heated tone. "We were told he's on the other side of the river Styx and isn't able to cross. M'Adoc killed him and didn't bury him. Arik has no money to pay Charon for the crossing."
"Why would M'Adoc do that?" But before they could answer, Hades shook his head. "That little bugger.
Trying to pull one on me. He doesn't want me to know Arikos is here. Bloody, freaking bastard. And you." He looked at Megeara. "You're the human Arikos bartered for. You're supposed to be here in his stead. So have you come to exchange places with him?"
Geary couldn't speak as fear took root in her.
But before she could think of something to say, Persephone slapped Hades on the arm. "Don't you even start that."
Rubbing the spot she'd hit, he scowled at her. "Start what? Arikos and I had a bargain."
"So what?" Persephone asked in an irritated tone. "Do you mean to tell me that you are going to stand there and make her die to save him? How could you?"
"It was a bargain," he said defensively.
"Yes, and my parents made a bargain, too, and look how that's turned out. I can't believe you would do this to someone else. I thought you were different."
His features turned placating. "Baby, I am."
"No, you're not. You're just like them . You intend to break up two lovers and for what? A stupid, meaningless bargain. You who know how much it hurts to be away from the one you love, and yet you would do something so cold and mean. Oh, that's it. I'm going home to my mother's and I'm not coming back."
His dark eyes snapped fire. "You have to come back. You have no choice."
She narrowed her gaze on him. "You're right. I have no choice about coming here, but I have a choice about where I sleep once I'm home."
His face went pale as he realized he was on losing ground. "You wouldn't dare."
Persephone put her hands on her hips as she stared down the man who was practically twice her size. It would have been comical if Geary's future with Arik didn't hinge on the outcome. "You break these two up and it'll be a cold day in Hephaestus's forge before you enter my bedroom. In fact, I'll get Eros to make you impotent. Yeah. Forever. That'll teach you."
His face completely ashen, Hades looked at Geary. "Take him. Get his ass out of here and don't look back."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Persephone winked at Geary before she pulled her husband into a tight hug. "Now was that so hard?"
He answered her question with one of his own. "How long until your mother returns?"
Persephone turned to them. "You two better hurry along and claim him. Arik will be a Shade until you return to the sunlight in the human realm. Kat, you know the way. Once he's back in the world, he'll be human and flesh. But remember, Megeara, that you have to lead him out of here yourself, and you can't look back. If you do, you'll lose him forever."
Before Geary could even say "thank you," the two of them vanished.