Chapter 193 - Questions of the heart

Jos thought over his words carefully. {Even if I asked something and he answered it, how would I know if it's the truth? He answered similar questions before and lied without the slightest hesitation as if the answers had been practiced...} Then it hit her, the first question she needed answered lie or not. "How did you come up with the distorted story you told me in Florida?"

Arei frowned. "The second Ry told me you were going to be in Florida and that there was a possibility you were in danger; I knew I wouldn't be able to keep myself from you. I know we would meet. I wasn't sure then exactly how much of it you remembered, so, I through together the basics so that you would trust me and come along with me without putting up a fight. It is true, I had followed Ry to your island. He had told me all about you, his 'beautiful little monster' when I'd came back later to visit. He had talked about you often in letters and any time I visited. I knew he loved you in his own way, hell he still does. He did ask me to stay and finish out your training because of your love confession, but it was because he knew it wasn't him you wanted... that he could never feel the things that I felt for you. Jos, as much as I hate to admit it, I fell for you almost immediately. That night that you attacked me, seeing you, hearing your reasoning... I felt something that I'd never felt before. That was the first time Zeus interfered with our relationship. It should have been me there every minute of your training, but I was called away the very next day. He disguised himself as an old man back then and tricked us... more than once. He was there the night you walked in on Ry. Jos, he watched the whole thing go down in his sick ass swan form from a distance."

Jos's stomach dropped. "I... I remember something of a swan... It led me to the cabin that night..." Her eyes widened as she met his. "Do... do you think it was him?"

Arei nodded, "I know it was him! He probably planned the entire thing."

She frowned. "He's not going to stop, is he? He'll be back again... and do the same things..." Tears began to trail down her cheeks again. "And possibly hurt the other people in my life..."

Arei brushed away her tears a worried frown spread across his lips. "Those lotus seeds Peg gave you will keep you from losing any more memories, but as for him trying to force you into his claim..."

Jos thought it over for several minutes. "Arei your dad... do you trust him?"

His frown deepened. "Only so far, why?"

She studied him. "If it were between his claim and Zeus's which would you freely choose?"

"Father's of course. I plan to go back to his courts as soon as this business with the council is over." Arei answered without much thought needed.

She nodded. "Then maybe it would be best if I let him have the claim to me." She held his gaze. "If the worst happens with these trials and he has a claim over me wouldn't it help at least a little?"

Arei thought over her words. "It could. Even if you were proven guilty on all accounts and got the full punishment, he would have last say over where you were to serve that time and who would be in charge of you. Even if I wasn't released to his court yet, he could still choose me as one of his sons to protect and guard you... but I'm not sure if he would have much say over Shelly."

"Would she be able to choose you as her protector?" Jos asked as her brain quickly worked through her new plan.

Arei gave it some thought before shrugging finally. "You know, she could... but she would have to do so in human form or in some way to give consent."

Jos gripped both his shoulders. "How soon could you contact your father?"

Arei's eyes widened. "He could still be in the building. Do you want me to call and find out? Hell, at a chance to claim one of the most powerful creatures left free in the seas I'm sure he'd make a special trip here just for the occasion." Arei lifted his hip bringing her up with him as he fumbled for his phone. When she tried getting off his lap, he held her still. As he scrolled through his contacts, he whispered. "Please, just let me hold you for a little while longer. If Father does come tonight, I'll let you down then." When Jos stopped struggling against him, he shot her a smile. He held her nervous gaze as he waited for Poseidon to answer the phone. "Rest your head back on my shoulder and you'll be able to hear everything he has to say." He whispered.

She nodded knowing well enough he could have also placed the call on speaker. As long as he wasn't asking for anything more, she was willing to oblige him for the night.

[Hello, miss me already?] Poseidon answered after the third ring.

"Are you still in the building?" Arei asked as he held Jos's stare.

[I'm not in the building, but I am still in the city. What do you need?] He asked skeptically.

Arei sent Jos a questioning look. When she nodded, he replied. "Jos wants to talk to you... about possibly being claimed under your court." The words had barely left his lips before the man had materialized out of thin air before them.

Poseidon eyed their positioning curiously as he ended the call and placed the phone back in his pocket. He arched an eyebrow as a smile began to curve his lips. "Will she be joining as friend or family?"

Arei didn't fight against her this time as she scrambled off his lap and into the seat beside him. He turned his body toward her and placed his arm protectively along the back of the sofa behind her head as she struggled to straighten her skirt. "She has some questions for now, that's all."

Poseidon's smile didn't fade. "Very well, dear, what are your questions? I'd be more than happy to answer any that you may have." His gaze moved to his son's as his smile widened in insinuation.

She cleared her throat as she smoothed her hands down the knee length dress she wore. "I stand accused of murder on several accounts... some involving the kraken form... some not..."

"Go on, dear." Poseidon encouraged when she fell quiet.

"I could be facing several hundred years imprisonment... I was wondering if..." she shot a look to Arei. When he nodded, she forced herself to continue. "If allowing you to claim me would somehow help the situation."

Poseidon studied her before moving his curious gaze over to his son. "Exactly what did you have in mind, dear?" He asked Jos as he turned his focus back to her.

Jos sent a nervous glance to Arei, before moving her focus down to her hands that were now fumbling with her skirt. "She wants to know if you could have control over where her sentence was carried out and the person left in charge of her." Arei answered as he placed a hand over hers to soothe her.

Poseidon set back in the armchair as he thought over this information. "I could. I would have to pull some strings as far as getting a certain person assigned to you, but the placement of your imprisonment would be simple enough."

She searched Arei's eyes for an answer as she bit her bottom lip. "It's your call, not mine." He answered.

Jos nodded and turned her gaze to Poseidon. "What all goes into a claim?" She asked.

He sent another look in his son's direction. "It all depends on the relation of the person. If you were already involved with Arei here," He smiled widely at her. "As it appeared you were when I got here, then it would be a relatively quick process." He shrugged. "Made a small bit more complicated by Arei's current claim statues of course."

Arei let out an irritated grunt. "You could claim her regardless of my involvement."

Poseidon smiled. "I suppose I could... Just looking out for you, son." He winked at Arei.

Arei rolled his eyes. "Don't." He locked eyes with his father. "Tell me you will do what it takes to help her if she does this. You know good and well what could happen if this isn't done."

Poseidon nodded. "Yes, but unfortunately if it's found out before the task is done, Zeus could still have more of a claim on her. If you were to reclaim your relationship status with her, then the claim would be almost instantly granted."

Jos shook her head. "I don't understand, why?"

"Because he is your great grandfather, and I am no relation thus I have no actual claim. It helps that you want to join willingly, but there would be loopholes to dive through in order for the claim to be processed." He held his hand out toward Arei. "If he were to claim that the two of you have rekindled your relationship with the hopes of an engagement to come, that would fast track it."

Jos turned toward Arei who seemed to be forcing a stoic mask over his real feelings, before turning her attention back to Poseidon. "We will have to talk this over and get back to you. I want to do it through..." She said taking Arei's large hand in hers and sending him a pleading look.

He nodded. "Give us an hour or so?" He asked his father.

Poseidon nodded. "It's getting late, which one is your bedroom?"

Arei pointed to the one closest. "Shelly is in the back room watching TV and possibly asleep."

Poseidon scratched his chin as he studied the hall. "I'll check on the girl. If she's still awake, I'll see if she'd like company. If not, I'll wait in your room." he smiled back at them. "Unless you'd rather I wait out here and you... discuss this matter in the bedroom..." He waggled his brows.

"Here is fine for us, Father." Arei growled.

Poseidon laughed. "The two of you were always so odd when it came to bedroom affairs." He winked at Jos. "I'm sure it will be less scary for you now." He chuckled as her face turned red. "Well, apparently that part of her memories isn't gone!"

"Dad!" Arei growled. He narrowed his eyes as the god brushed them both off with a flick of his wrists as he headed down the hallway.

"Come find me when you've finished." He called over his shoulder. Poseidon walked to the end of the hallway and tapped the door lightly before opening it. His eyes met the wide, curious eyes of the wolf almost instantly. "Would you like company little one while our dear friends in the other room discuss their future plans?"

Shelly arched a brow and studied him for several long moments, until the god finally chuckled. "Not to worry, they asked me here. I'm to wait until they 'talk it out'." He made air quotes with his hands before rolling his eyes and laughing. "I just hope it doesn't take them another 500 plus years to work their issues out."

Shelly sent him a wolfish grin as she moved to one side of the bed and nudged the bag of ch.i.p.s toward him with her nose.

Poseidon smiled back at her as he made his way to the bed. Lifting the bag as he sat down, he studied it for a second before dipping his arm in and taking out a handful. "Doritos, Arei must have chosen these."

Jos waited until the door down the hall had stayed shut for several long minutes before she turned her attention to Arei. "I haven't changed my mind about where you and I stand or about Russ-"

"Jos-" Arei began to interrupt her, but she cut him off with a hand to his lips.

"No, listen to what I have to say first... then you can say whatever afterwards." She waited for him to nod before she lowered her hand. "I'm not stupid, Arei, and I'm not so selfish as to want Russ to ruin his life trapped in a relationship with me against his will. He knows that as well; he and I have discussed it on more than one occasion. That doesn't mean that I will run back into your arms automatically regardless of the outcome of Russ and I's relationship or the trials. Whatever we agree to here tonight or in a few days... whatever... it will be only as much as is needed, and I would prefer if you were not dragged into this and bound to it any more than you are already."

Arei released a long, heavy breath. "You heard what Father said, if we claim to be together then it would expedite his claim... but I understand and respect your wishes. If you would like we can wait until after your first trial in two days to give him an answer. Go ahead and start taking the lotus seeds." He stood and pulled her up beside him. He held her gaze for the longest time not saying anything before finally pulling her into a tight embrace. "I figured I should get as many hugs now as I can before your memories begin to return and my very presence begins to cause you pain." He whispered against her ear.

Jos pushed away from him. "Does being around me cause you pain?"

Arei smiled lovingly down at her. "Every second of every day, Kitten." He ran his hand through her hair before bending and placing a light kiss to her forehead. "But I would endure all the pain in the world as long as you are happy."