Page 96 of Shadows and Vines

As she pulled the plug in the drain and grabbed her towel, she looked at herself in the foggy mirror. For the first time she wondered what a man saw when he looked at her.

Running a hand through her long black locks, she wondered if Devon found her beautiful. She knew what she looked like, lean, pale, dark hair, and blue eyes. At times, she found herself comparing her looks to some of the ghostlier souls, wondering if she came across that way.

She shook the thoughts away. This was something she did not have the time and energy to dwell on. She needed to be happy with what she saw and not allow that happiness to hinge on another person’s perception of her. It was none of her business what they thought when they looked at her.

Walking past the balcony, she saw that all seemed to be well in the Underworld as everyone was winding down for the day.

That was a relief after putting out one too many fires in the Asphodel Fields this past week. The souls were anxious and there was no explanation as to why, which she was sure had more to do with the gate attack than anything.

She put on her most comfortable night gown, one that brought her back to her days when the Greeks still worshipped Gods. The straps came down into a low-cut neckline that only covered her breasts and an open back with the waist cinched in below her chest.

It made her feel like the Goddess she was and that brought her a small bit of comfort in these most recent nights.

Grabbing her brush, she went out to the balcony that overlooked Elysium. Brushing through her hair, she watched people dancing and lovers running off for a tryst. It brought a small bit of happiness to her soul on occasions in the past to see this, but now she just felt a sense of jealously. She would love to just run off with Devon. To give herself to him; body and soul.

A knock on her door pulled her away from her thoughts.

As she shook her head at her ridiculous desires, she walked back inside, putting her brush down as she crossed the room to open the door.

Something was amiss. She assumed it was a servant since that was normally who would knock this late at night. However, Thanatos had seen how drained she was and offered to handle any issues in her absence. Perhaps it was something more than he could handle.

She sighed. She knew she was too tired to think, but she had duties to attend to no matter her state of mind.

As the door opened, she found it was not a Reevka but Devon on the other side. Her nerves lit up when she took him in. His eyes seemed so much clearer than they had been since he had first entered her realm. The shadows in his eyes were not as prominent. It was almost as if his will to fight for himself was back.

He looked at her in a way that made her hands catch fire and she stepped back as Devon stepped forward, catching her hands in his. She swallowed as she watched the flames dance over their skin, not harming him one bit.

“I’ve waited for you for so long. I walked in the forest until I knew for a fact that no matter where I went in this world, my soul belongs here. With you. You are my always and I never plan to leave your side, so I hope you are prepared for a whole lot of Devon.” He smiled, squeezing her hands.

She felt like she was spinning, and then it all too abruptly stopped, taking her off balance. As her brain tried to reason out what Devon had just said, Devon moved forward to grab her face and kissed her.

Her brain was random impulses and fire. She allowed him this, opening her lips to him as the kiss became hotter than any Godfire.

“I feel desperate for you. I’ve held back for far too long and I need you like my next breath,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck.

“I feel the same,” she replied on a shaky breath as she ran her hands up and down the planes of his back, feeling the muscles moving under her palms. He looked down into her eyes, the glowing green penetrating her soul.

“What you did for me was more than anyone has ever done.” He moved his hands to her jaw, covering her hands with his. “The fact that you did that, knowing that I might walk away, was completely selfless. How did I ever do anything to deserve you?” He stared right into her eyes with so much emotion, that it scared Persephone to breathe.

“I want you to be happy, Devon. That’s it. With me or without me, but I had hoped with me,”

she whispered, not looking away. Her fingers moved along his hands that still held her jaw.

“That’s the thing, Goddess, there was no choice. I knew it as soon as I got here that this is where I belong. I didn’t realize why until I met you, got to know you.” He leaned his forehead against hers as he whispered, “You tell me the Moirai say ‘balance’ every other word, implying my powers, but you balance my soul. My soul was a dark room, one I was stuck in, terrified of what was in there. You came in shining a light so bright that all the monsters in there with me left. You saved me, Persephone. You took me, a broken man, and made me whole. Made me yours.”

She could feel the hot tears as they ran down her cheeks. His thumbs wiped them away as she had done his in the forest.

“I did nothing but stand by you when you needed someone. Something I will always do.” She felt emotions far bigger than herself fill her chest. Devon leaned forward and kissed the tears from her cheeks.

“We make each other whole... stronger,” he whispered against her cheek. He was quiet a moment before he continued, pulling back to look her in the eyes.

“Persephone?” He smiled the most gorgeous and sincere smile she had ever seen on this man. “I’ve never said this to anyone in my life, well the one I can remember at least, and I need you to know that,” he told her.

She grew concerned, but he held her face still.

“Persephone, I love you. My heart is absolutely yours. It was before I ever even laid eyes on you as Devon.”

Her eyes closed as the tears fell freely now. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and finally her lips. She threw her arms around him in a hug, as he pulled her closer in return.

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