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appeared almost translucent.
    “Maybe for a minute.” She leaned back, settled on the pillows and released a sigh. She placed the stones she’d chosen around her and then gripped her wrist once again. Lines of pain bracketed her mouth and eyes.
    He covered her bare legs with a throw and tucked the edges in around her. He felt more helpless than he had since the early days of the curse that had imprisoned him for five thousand years. He hated feeling this way.
    Behind him, he heard Sabrina moving around. It wasn’t long until the scent of sage and sweet grass filled the air.
    Jessica’s eyes had closed and her breathing was even. She’d fallen asleep, exhausted by the pain and the physical exertion of getting a shower.
    “She asleep?” Sabrina asked.
    Mordecai nodded.
    “I can sit with her.”
    He shook his head. “I’ll sit with her for now. You check on Tilly. Maybe she knows something that can help.” He’d once underestimated the strength, wisdom and resilience of humans, but never again. He’d seen too much, been through too much to doubt them.
    “Call if you need us or if her condition changes.” Arand squeezed his shoulder and led Sabrina from the room.
    Alone with Jessica, he studied her features. When had this human woman become so precious to him? Was it solely because she’d given him back his animal half, his soul? He didn’t think so, but he couldn’t be certain.
    What he was sure of was that he’d do everything in his power to defeat this latest curse of Hades and see her well again.
    Nothing else mattered.

Chapter Four
    Jessica woke slowly, aware of another person lying next to her. Mordecai. She’d know his earthy scent anywhere. But why were they in her bed together? And they were in her bed. She could smell the herbs she’d planted perfuming the space and the scent of incense on the air. Feel her soft sheets against her skin. She opened her eyes, surprised there were shadows in the room.
    She frowned. The sun had been shining only moments ago. Hadn’t it? Now it was going down. She remembered sitting in Jackson Square and tipping her head back to enjoy the warmth on her face.
    She turned her head slowly and studied Mordecai. Even in sleep, there was no softness to his features. Tough and uncompromising. Those were the two words that sprang to mind. And, okay, ruggedly handsome. His dark hair fanned over her pillowcase and long black lashes were swept downward. It should be a sin for a man to have hair that silky and eyelashes that long and thick. But it didn’t diminish his masculinity in the slightest bit.
    As if he sensed her regard, his eyes popped open and he was totally alert. He started to reach out to touch her face but abruptly pulled his hand back. She tried not to let her disappointment show. Obviously nothing of a sexual nature had occurred between them because they were both fully dressed.
    “How do you feel?”
    She frowned and automatically did a mental check of her body. It was only then she realized her left arm was throbbing from wrist to elbow. “My arm.” She went to touch it, but he caught her hand.
    “Don’t.” His fingers were warm and strong against hers. “Do you remember what happened?”
    Now that her brain wasn’t so foggy with sleep, she did remember. “The woman in the Square.”
    “Yes. Hades has found a way to harm us without directly attacking.”
    “Tilly.” Jessica sat up in bed and threw aside the covers.
    “Phoenix has her,” Mordecai assured her.
    “But is she okay?”
    “I haven’t heard any news, so I assume that’s a good thing.”
    “I need to talk to her.” Jessica would rest better if she knew Tilly was okay.
    Mordecai reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. Several of her healing stones sat beside it. She had a vague memory of holding them in her hands at some point.
    He plucked his cell phone off her nightstand. “Call her.” He handed her the phone and she quickly placed the call. It rang and rang and rang again.