Jericho

I may have failed in protecting Eden from these filthy bastards, but just as I promised her, not a single ghoul takes a breath as I watch the sun rise over the tree tops as I clean their putrid blood from the blade of my scythe. The night was long as I pierced the silence with their screams.

Even as they retreated, I followed until I knew I had slaughtered them all. I make my way to a nearby stream and clean off as much of their blood as possible before deciding to make my way to Eden.

I place my hand on the ground before summoning a portal. You can't teleport to the underworld, it's forbidden. You must use the portal gateways so anyone who enters doesn't go unnoticed. If you try to teleport you'll end up straight in the depths of the pits, the most unholy of places.

"Ad infernum!" I command as warmth spreads up my arm before a large portal appears before me. I stand and step through the portal and into the Kingdom of Hades.

I inhale deeply, longing for the sweet smell of my woman to calm me down after my fight with the ghouls.

But I do not smell her. I don't sense her. And I don't fucking sense Ajal. He was supposed to bring her here to Hades, he has the best healers in the underworld.

"Jericho!" A familiar voice echoes through the large room. "My boy, what are you doing here?" Hades asks me as his inky eyes take in my form with scrutiny.

"Don't play fucking games with me, Hades. Where is my mate?" I demand of him, growing increasingly mad by the second, knowing he would have sensed her presence the moment she entered his realm, and he would have known exactly who it was, Hades knows the name of all souls, living and deceased.

"Your mutt took her straight to Melinoe, as you know she's been staying at your home for the past century, Jericho." Hades says before making a tisking noise at me.

Annoying old bastard.

"Then my business here is done, I have nothing else to say to you, old man." I say as I turn to leave in search of my mate before my idiot fellow reapers make their way to her.

Ajal, you little shit. Never listens to me.

"You still haven't gotten ahold of Aries yet, Jericho. Your window of time to do so is growing slim each passing day." Hades says to me, momentarily stopping me.

"You mean your daughter? No, I haven't gotten her yet, I'm aware the darkening hour grows near if the light doesn't balance it out soon." I say, not caring to turn to face him again.

"The spirit realm is in chaos, too many souls coming in by the second. Too much depends on your success in capturing Aries, and your mate is a useless distraction, Jericho. She will keep you from completing the task at hand." Hades says to me, the way he says mate almost like a curse infuriates me, and before I can stop myself I'm turning on the old man.

My hand reaches for his throat, but Hades is too quick, and he easily dodges me while laughing at my attempt to harm him.

"Genua." The command in his voice is absolute as I'm forced to drop to my knee in front of Hades. "Foolish boy. You are no match for me. You're my creation."

"Fuck you, Hades." I state calmly, knowing no matter what I do, I'm forced into a useless kneeling male in the presence of a god when it comes to Hades.

"Leave my sight." Hades says to me as he turns to walk away. The ultimate form of disrespect, turning your back on someone means you're not afraid of them in the slightest. You never turn your back to a threat. I stand and silently begin making my way to one of the many portal rooms housed in Hades home.

"Jericho," Hades calls after me. "don't disappoint me, your punishment will be far more severe if you fail me again." I ignore his words and continue my way towards my mate. He doesn't matter. Nothing does. Nothing but her.

I practically break the door off its hinges as I find the room I need to enter, uncaring of the freighted faces sitting in the room, I don't know who these demons are. Don't care. I stride right past them to the portal at the far end of the room between two large book cases and walk right through it. I look around after I enter, no one in sight, but I can fucking smell her, even if it's faint.

I come across Damien first, only a few of my fellow Reapers choose to permanently stay here in the Palace gifted to us by Persephone.

"Where is she, Damien?" I ask.

He gives me a fake hurt look before responding. "Damn Jericho, I haven't seen you in over two decades and all I get is a 'where is she'? Didn't miss me at all?" He jokingly says to me.

"I'm not in the mood, we can catch up later, I know you know where my mate is." I say while inhaling deeply. "Why the fuck do I smell her on you?" I question while approaching him.

He holds up his hands as I draw near. "Calm the hell down, I picked her up off of Ajal to lay her in a fucking bed so the healers could help her you shithead." He says to me, his statement calming me. "Fuck, Jericho, you know I wouldn't touch your mate without your approval of it." He says to me, seeming truly offended.

"I apologize, it's been a rough day.. Now please, take me to her." I'm about to just sniff her the hell out like a damn dog at this point.

Damien turns and begins heading down the hallway towards the medical wing. "You smell horrible, and you're filthy. You sure you don't want to clean up before seeing your mate?" He asks.

"Shut the hell up. Like I said I've had a rough fucking time, I just need to be near her." I admit.

Her scent continues growing stronger, and I know exactly what room she's in before we're even halfway there. I pass Damien, feeling as though he's walking too slowly. He blatantly laughs at me, but I could give a fuck less.

I need to see her, need to know she's okay. I burst through the door and am met with the sight of my sleeping woman wrapped in a pile of blankets. Only one person is in the room, a healer with the look of utter shock on her face as she takes in all the blood and filth that covers me. I choose to ignore it and offer no explanation.

"How is she?" I ask quietly as I shut the door, closing Damien out.

"She's doing well, where she got here so quickly after the bite we were able to completely drain and stabilize the wound. Our best healer has been coming by every thirty minutes to apply healing auras to her, she should be as good as new by morning. Though she insists she's already fine, trying to turn away the healer the last two times he stopped by, saying it's a waste of our time." She informes me, a ghost of a smile on her face.

I nod my head once in her direction before making my way to the side of Edens bed. "You may leave, if there is nothing else to be done for now."

The nurse bows her head slightly before leaving the room. "The healer will be by in about fifteen minutes or so." She calls over her shoulder.

She shuts the door behind her, leaving me alone with the beautiful sleeping woman in the bed. I can't help myself as I take in her beauty, the idea that such a beautiful creation could be my mate still leaves me in awe.

As if sensing my stare, Eden slowly opens her eyes, though as soon as she registers it's me she's sitting up straight and practically jumping into my arms.

"Jericho! Oh, Jericho I was so fucking worried, I'm so sorry, I should have been more help, I should have-" I stare at her lips before deciding that yes, this is the perfect way to stop her rambling.

I kiss her with blatant need and desperation. The thoughts that haunted my mind after sending her off with Ajal were driving me to the brink of insanity. I break away slightly, resting my forehead against hers. "Do not apologize, it is I who should be saying sorry. My only goal was to protect you, Eden, and I failed." I say, the guilt weighing heavy on me.

"Jericho there were so damn many of them, and it was dark.." she trails off. "Don't make excuses for me. I failed you, but I swear, Eden, I will never fail you again. You have my word." I say to her.

"Lay with me?" She asks. I look down at myself, knowing I really should get cleaned up first. "If I lay with you, you will be covered in ghouls blood.. The sheets will be ruined." She rolls her eyes at my words before reaching a hand out and placing it on my chest.

"Mundare." She says in her whimsical voice, effectively cleansing me of my filth.

I smirk at her before climbing into bed with her. "I'll never get tired of that. Though I will take an actual bath at some point today." Though I like her cleansing spell, there's just something about actually getting in water to get clean after a bloody fight. I wrap my arms around her as she lays her head on my chest, before suddenly wrapping one of her legs around my waist. Dangerous little game to play with me.

And just like that I smell her arousal, which instantly triggers my own.

"Eden.." I growl out at her, wanting her body but knowing she also needs to heal more after what happened.

"Please, Jericho?" She whimpers to me.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck.

I inhale deeply, trying to settle myself, which leaves me realizing that was the worst thing I could possibly do. I can smell it, her body fucking wants me.

"God damnit, Eden.. Fuck." I say as I begin rubbing my throbbing cock on her leg that's wrapped around my hip, trying to relieve some of the ache.

Eden slowly reaches a hand out and begins stroking me on the outside of my pants.

I lean my head back, enjoying her touch as she slowly lowers them, releasing my cock from its confinement. I take great pleasure in the way she looks at my dick, and the increase in her arousal as well.

She wastes no time before bringing her mouth to me, sending waves of pleasure through my body like I've never experienced before being with her. I've been with many females throughout my existence, but none have even come close to Eden. She's superior in every way.

She works her mouth up and down me, what little she can fit in her mouth, while her hands cover the the rest, working together in the most sinful of ways.

I look down at her, her eyes closed while her full lips grow puffy from her performance on my throbbing cock.

As much as I enjoy this, I can't let her finish me before I touch her. I thrust into her mouth, making her pop off to momentarily gag, my laughter filling the silent room. "Jericho, you almost-!" She starts but is quickly silenced as I flip her on her back before quickly doing away with both our clothes.

Eden lays beneath me, beautiful and bare. I take my time admiring her magnificent body before I reach a hand down between her legs.

I watch her face as I slide a finger into her pussy, then a second one, my mind always wanting to stretch her tight hole till she screams out in pleasure. I begin pumping my fingers in and out of her as her breathing grows loud and uneven, her body begins squirming, indicating I'm hitting all her right spots.

Slowly, I slide my fingers out of her and bring them to her mouth, she eyes me curiously before opening her full lips, and I slowly slide my fingers in and out of her mouth, the sight fucking erotic as hell. I pull my fingers out of her mouth before adjusting my body between her thighs. "Jericho, wait, I thought-" she starts to say. "I'm not fucking you. Not yet anyways." I say. "Trust me."

She lays her head back down on the pillow, and I take that as all the encouragement I need to begin sliding my cock between her wet pussy lips.

Fuck.

I look up at her to find her eyes closed, as usual. I draw my attention back to where our bodies are sliding against each other.

The sight is almost enough to do me in as I watch my dick slide through her arousal. I press my cock down hard on her clit as I go, knowing it's her sweet spot. Her breathing and moans start coming out louder, and I know she's close.

"Jericho!" She cries out my name loudly, her orgasm finally reaching its peak.

At the sound of my name coming from her I finally let go, a low growl coming from me as I spill myself on Edens stomach.

That's when I hear it.

The door slowly opens, and in walks the lead healer. He takes in me and Edens current situation in the bed, his face turning a bright red.

"Oh goddess!" Eden shrieks out while trying to cover her exposed body covered in my cum.

"Out." I growl at him.

The healer literally runs out of the room without a word, fear plastered across his face.

I look over at Eden to see her horrified expression. "It'll be fine." I reassure her.

"It's still embarrassing.." she says quietly.

"It's not like everyone in this palace couldn't hear you, minus the healers, their senses aren't as strong." I realize saying this to her was a mistake as Edens face reddens beyond reason with embarrassment.

"Jericho!" She squeaks out at me, and I can't help but laugh at how adorably cute she is when she's angry.

"I don't care who hears me pleasing my mate. But I will try to keep your feelings in mind from now on concerning the matter of being heard." I assure her.

I climb out of the bed before yanking my pants back on. "Come, I'll show you my room, the healers can come there to treat you. We could both use a bath." I say while taking in her body covered in my cum. I wrap her up in the blanket before picking her up in my arms and making my way through the palace to my room I haven't seen in over two decades.

Eden catches me off guard with her question I wasn't expecting so soon.

"Who is Melinoe to you, Jericho?" She asks me.

Stupid Ajal, I'll fight you for bringing her here, you over grown dog.

(Edited on 11/26/24)