Eden

I stare at myself in the mirror, unsure of how I feel about my appearance. Jericho told me it was a nice place and to dress up for it. But it's been a very long time since I've dressed up at all, I've gotten used to barely doing anything with myself any more.

The makeup covered girl who stares back from the mirror in a shimmering blue dress with bouncing curls is foreign to me.

Lilly basically skips around my room as Kiana finishes helping me put my strappy heels on. "I don't know, you two.. I don't feel like me. I feel over dressed. Is it too much?"

"You dare insult my work?! You look like a wet dream, you beautiful witch!" Lilly shouts at me, bringing a smile to my face.

"I never said I didn't look good, I just don't look like.. me." I laugh lightly.

"You look like you, you just look dolled up. Jericho will love getting to see you all done up for him." Kiana reassures me.

Kiana steps away from me so I can turn and get a good look at what they picked out for me. The dress is tight, hugging every curve I have and showing just the right amount of cleavage, flowing out beautifully towards the bottom, the back is daringly low, stopping right above my ass.

I admire myself for a moment before turning to my friends. "Thank you guys, it's actually been nice getting to spend time with just you two. I think we need more girl time, maybe we should have a girl's night soon."

"Yeah right, now that Jericho's back we'll be lucky to keep you off of him for even a night!" Lilly declares loudly.

"It's no secret we all heard you screaming his name before we even knew he was actually back."

I burst into loud uncontrollable laughter, not being able to hold back my amusement. "I'm sorry, truly I am. But I can't imagine how odd it must have been to hear his name and not even know if he's truly here or not."

"I assumed you'd finally lost it and were alone." Kiana says smuggly.

"Oh, okay, thanks."

"Hey, can't blame me. You were acting kind of crazy, Eden." She shrugs.

"I'm sorry.. I've had so much going on and.. I still do. I'm so overwhelmed." I feel awful as tears begin to spill down my face, ruining the makeup Lilly had just put on me.

Both girls come up to me, placing comforting hands on my back. "What's going on Eden? Shouldn't you be happy? Jericho is back finally." Lilly says to me.

"I am happy he's back, good goddess above I'm so fucking happy he's back. But he-" I stop mid sentence, not knowing if I should tell them.

"You can confide in us Eden, you know we've always been here for you."

Lilly nods her head, agreeing with Kiana. "And we can keep our mouths closed, too." She adds.

I pull away and look at them both in turn. "I don't know how to talk about this. I still have feelings for Damien, they didn't just go away once I got Jericho back. But.. Jericho.. he.. he suggested welcoming Damien into our relationship.." I say barely above a whisper.

"You lucky bitch! Oh what I'd give to have two big strong men all to myself!? Eden! What did you tell him?!" Lilly beams with unnecessary excitement.

"We never finished talking about it.. But I don't know. I feel like he's only saying it because he knows how I feel about Damien. I don't want Jericho agreeing to something just because of my feelings. Would it not be selfish to accept both men, but demand they both remain loyal to only me?"

"They're not like us, Eden. We're simple mortal women, even you once were nothing more than a human until you were gifted your witch abilities. Our kind treat things differently than those in the underworld. Taking multiple partners isn't unheard of, even in the mortal realm, but especially here in the underworld, where the Reapers spent most of their time. And from what you've told me, they enjoy polyamory relationships."

I look at Kiana as she speaks, trying to wrap my mind around her words. "Are you saying Jericho wants to share me?"

"I'm saying it's definitely a possibility. Not everything is about only you, Eden. Maybe this isn't strictly about your feelings towards Damien, but of Jericho's as well?"

I chew on my lip as Lilly wipes my face lightly with a cloth before reapplying a small bit of makeup.

"How do I get past these feelings of guilt? I fell for Damien while Jericho was away suffering. It's left me feeling uncertain.."

"If you truly have feelings for Damien, those feelings would have developed with or without Jericho, you can't let that guilt hold you back."

"How can I not? Jericho was barely even upset about it, though I could tell he was hurt.. Maybe that's what confuses me. He seemed hurt one moment that I had slept with Damien, but the next moment he seemed to like the idea of all three of us being together. I've never had this kind of thing happen, I'm lost."

"Maybe talk to him some more about it, I'd be confused, too."

"Have you even talked to Damien about this? Shouldn't he be included in such a conversation?" Lilly questions.

"Seeing as how Eden and Jericho are mates, I feel like they need to agree upon it first, and then go to Damien to discuss things."

"Would he even accept such a thing? After the way I pushed Damien away and refused him, how could I possibly go to him now?"

"You never know, Eden. That man has it bad for you.. He's not talked to anyone since Jericho returned. I think he's struggling."

My heart sinks at Kiana's words, feeling bad for enjoying Jerichos return while I cast Damien aside, as if he didn't comfort me for a month despite the heartache he knew it would cause him.

"Talk to Jericho tonight after your date, figure things out. If things are meant to happen, it'll happen. If Jericho says he's okay with Damien, and it's something all of you agree to, just let it happen, Eden. Just let things flow, you'll see. What's done is done, don't let it dictate how your future turns out."

I try not to tear up again as I nod at Kiana's words. "I just don't want to hurt anyone."

"Trust them, they're both adults, and have apparently done this before. Which makes me wonder why Jericho didn't approach this differently with you?"

"I'm not sure, he also ended the conversation shortly after admitting something to me. I felt like he was holding back when he talked to me."

"What did he admit to you?"

"Always so quick to ask the important questions, Lilly." I laugh. "But I'm not telling you. It's between me and Jericho."

"You never share the fun dirty details." She complains.

"Somethings are better left unsaid to those outside of the relationship." My mind goes back to what Jericho said, my mind automatically imagining such things taking place, causing my face to heat.

Lilly of course takes notice of it. "Yeah, maybe I don't want to know, you're as red as a tomato and you haven't even said anything out loud."

I roll my eyes as I tuck a curl behind my ear, revealing the teardrop diamonds that adorn them.

A light knock on the door signals Jericho has returned from Damiens room after getting ready. He agreed not to say anything to Damien about what we talked about until he and I could speak more about it. We also agreed not to talk about it on our date, tonight is just for us. No worries tonight. Just me and Jericho.

Lilly opens the door, revealing Jericho looking downright fuckable. I've never seen him dressed up in nice pants with decent shoes instead of his boots. His button down shirt and hair actually styled instead of a dreamy mess as usual. Goddess above, I think I'm weak in the knees.

Jericho says nothing as he stares at me with his heated gaze, longingly taking in every inch of me. "My mate, even the gods above grow jealous of your beauty."

I feel myself blush at Jericho's words, loving the way he compliments me. "You should take a look at yourself, I might have to fight off a few other women on the way." I smile at him.

"Nonsense, I wouldn't even allow them near me." He smirks as he walks up to me, sweeping me up within his arms.

"We'll leave you two, have fun!" Kiana says as she heads towards to door.

"Save the fucking for after you get back, I worked hard on her makeup and hair, Jericho." Lilly scolds him as she follows Kiana.

"I'll try my best." He says teasingly.

They leave out the door and as it clicks shut Jericho's mouth is on my neck. "How can I possibly behave when you look so fucking delicious?"

"Jericho!" I laugh breathlessly.

He pulls away, biting his lower lip as he looks at me. "I still think you look best naked, though."

I teasingly push him away, not being able to hold back my laughter. "I love you, my mate."

He scoops my chin up and kisses me tenderly, smiling against my lips as he does so. "And I love you, my beautiful mate."

I don't think my heart will ever tire of hearing him say those words to me.

"Let's go then?" He questions, a daringly handsome smile gracing his face as he reaches for my hand, intertwining our fingers. I never did like hand holding, but with Jericho it feels like everything is different as I lovingly squeeze his large hand.

"I'm excited to see what you've planned, seeing as how you had me get all dressed up." I say as we walk out the door and begin making our way down the halls.

"It's a surprise. Even if I told you, you wouldn't know what I was talking about anyways." He chuckles.

"Then why not just tell me?"

"For the slight chance you have heard of it."

I roll my eyes, he seemed sure I couldn't have heard of it just a moment ago.

I smile at him. "Okay, as long as I don't have to wait long. Is it far from here? Are we using a portal?"

"It's not far from here, it's within the Kingdom walls. This part of the underworld is where Hades lives, and Hades still enjoys living lavishly as most gods do. Within his vast Kingdom there's actually a lot to see and do, extravagant parties to be attended." Jericho informs me.

"We're not going to a party, right?"

He approaches the large front double doors of the Reapers palace, two large guards stationed on each side of it, both bow their heads slightly as they see Jericho approaching.

"We're not going to any parties." He says sternly.

The guards open the doors, revealing a dark sky and red crescent moon. The landscape in this area is always breathtaking, and now that I think on it Jericho is right, Hades does like to still live lavishly in his domain.

I wonder what it's like outside his kingdom walls, but I also wonder if I'd truly even like to know.

"Good, cause I have heard stories of those. Have you ever been to one?" I question him curiously.

"Why do you ask such questions?"

"Cause I'm curious."

"I've been alive a long time, Eden. I've done some stupid shit before, let's leave it at that. It's been many centuries since I've even thought about participating in such things." He assures me.

I can't help myself as I feel my mouth pucker slightly in disappointment. The idea that Jericho used to go to parties full of naked women doesn't sit right with me.

"I'm not the same man I once was, Eden. Please don't think of me differently because of things I chose to do so long ago. I promise you, I'm not that man any more, and I haven't been for a very long time. You are the only woman for me, the only woman I desire to see naked, the only one I desire to touch, to please. You are the only woman for me, Eden."

"I'm sorry, Jericho. I shouldn't be getting butt hurt over something you did before I even existed." I say, laughing at myself.

He stops walking and turns to face me, continuing to hold my hand within his as he wraps the over one around my lower back, resting it on the bare skin being exposed by my dress.

"You will always be enough for me, and I will never desire another woman, Eden. You're my soulmate, my other half. I love you with all that I am." My heart flutters at his words.

He kisses me softly on the forehead before beginning our walk again.

"Are we walking the whole way there?"

"It's actually not very far from here, I figured it would be nice to see outside the palace walls for a bit."

I smile up at him before turning my eyes to the surrounding area, watching as the beautiful dark foliage slowly gives way to lovely looking stone buildings with intricate detailing, some of the larger buildings have statues resting up on them. Dim lamps are lit along the cobblestone streets, the hot air kissing my skin as we make our way past all different kinds of beings, mainly different kinds of demons, but truly this place contains all kinds of creatures.

It looks like something out of a darkly beautiful dream.

"If you enjoy this, you will be amazed once we arrive at our destination." Jericho tells me, his golden eyes smouldering as he watches me excitedly take in the beauty of the place he calls home.

I smile at him. "It's beautiful, I never thought such things could exist in the underworld."

He returns my smile and shrugs. "Like I told you, Hades doesn't let living in the underworld keep him from living the way he desires."

I was so distracted by my beautiful surroundings, I didn't take notice of all the heads turning in our direction as we walked down the side of the street.

Eyes follow us along with whispers.

"Why's everyone staring at us?" I ask him nervously.

"Reapers are known and respected around here. Word has spread that the lead Reaper has taken his mate, this will be the first time anyone within Hades kingdom has seen the dark gods top warrior with his mate." He smirks at me, his eyes dancing with excitement, causing me to smile back at him.

He's excited to show me off. Oh goddess above, this man will cause me to physically melt one day.

"So you're showing me off?"

"Maybe a little bit." He begins slowing as we near a beautiful building with large black double doors adorned with golden handles, two demons wait on either side of the door, their inky eyes landing on us as we make our way up the stairs.

They wordlessly open the doors, instantly taking my breath away at the amazing view that awaits me behind the doors.

"Jericho, this place is absolutely magical." I say softly, turning to look at my mate as he smiles down at me.

"Just wait till you try the food, my love."

Ah food, this man knows me so well.

2,615 words.
A little fluff chapter before things get crazy again. Next two chapters will be in male POV's.