"No, but that's not a problem for either one of us again, is it?"
Alexion smiled as he savored the sight of her bright brown eyes shining up at him. "Not unless we piss off a Charonte."
"Then I will make sure I never do."
He hugged her tight and picked her up in his arms, grateful that he had her back. This time, he was going to make damn sure that nothing happened to her again. "I love you, Danger."
Danger kissed him as her heart swelled with joy. "I love you too," she breathed.
And though this life with him wasn't going to be perfect, it would be really, really close. So long as they were together, nothing else mattered. Standing in the throne room, Simi stared at the other demon suspiciously as she moved her head back and forth much like a snake eyeing something it wanted to strike at. "What do you mean, she's my sister?" she asked Ash.
"Xiamara, do you not-"
"I am the Simi," she said, stomping her foot. "Xiamara is my mother."
Xirena was so confused that Ash actually felt sorry for her.
Simi came up to her slowly and poked at her. "You look real."
"I am real."
"Then why did you not come see me?"
Xirena was aghast at the question. "I couldn't. The bitch-goddess wouldn't let me."
"Artemis?" Simi squealed. "I hate her."
"No," Xirena corrected her, "the other bitch-goddess, Apollymi."
"Hey!" Ash snapped simultaneously with Simi.
Xirena looked even more confused.
"She a goddess, that Apollymi," Simi said reverently. "She always good to the Simi. She makes me horney-warmers to keep my horneys warm and she gives me lots of cookies when I come see her."
Xirena's jaw dropped. "She does what?"
Simi put her hands on her hips. "You heard me, deaf demon. She a good lady, that Apollymi, and the Simi will hurt anyone who says otherwise."
Xirena stepped forward and whispered loudly. "Will your akri let me talk to you alone?"
Simi blew a raspberry and waved her hand at Ash. "Like I care if he says no. He don't control me."
Xirena appeared horrified by her words. "He's your akri."
Simi blew her another raspberry. "He's my daddy."
"He's your akri," she said from between clenched fangs.
Simi frowned at Ash. "There's something seriously wrong with my sister. Why she keep saying you my lord and master when you're just my daddy, akri?"
Ash shrugged. "I have no idea, Sim. You need to set her straight."
"Hmmm." Simi wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders and led her over to the corner where she had her own television monitors. "See, in this world, Xirena, the Simi does what she wants and akri, he say, 'Okay, Simi, whatever you want, Simi.' Unless it involves eating people; then he usually says no, but that's the only time. Other than that, he do what the Simi says. See how that works?"
Xirena appeared completely baffled by her sister.
Simi popped her head up to look at Ash. "Where she staying anyway?"