“Because garlic is magic,” Hecate replied, and Persephone knew she meant it. The goddess used it for everything, even for healing.
“All right, children,” said Tyche. “Let Lady Hecate get back to work. You have cookies to decorate!”
“Cookies!” a few of them exclaimed and raced across the ballroom where they were piled along with an assortment of colorful icing.
Persephone took another shaky breath. The knot in her throat had grown and her mouth watered.
“Are you okay?” Yuri asked, frowning.
The doors of the ballroom burst open and Hades entered. His cheeks and nose were rosy, and strands of his dark hair stuck to his face. In just a few strides, he was kneeling at her feet. Apollo and Hyacinth were close behind.
It was dramatic but his worry was very real, always aware of how she was feeling. Sometimes she wished he’d turn it off and save himself the anxiety, but he claimed that was impossible.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said, squeezing his hands, gaze shifting to the Goddess of Witchcraft. “Hecate, do you think we can save the garlic for later?”
Her expression morphed into one of horror, and the garlic vanished from her hands, the scent of warm cookies and sweet icing suddenly permeating the air.
“Of course, my dear,” she said. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“You were doing such a lovely job explaining the Kallikantzaroi,” she said. “I did not want to interrupt you.”
“You should have,” said Hades, then he looked at Hecate, rising to his full height. “No garlic in the castle, Hecate.”
“That’s not necessary—” she began, but Hecate interrupted.
“It’s fine, Persephone,” the goddess assured. “I have other ways of banishing the Kallikantzaroi.”
Again, the doors flew open and this time, Hermes strolled into the room.
“What the fuck, Hades?” he demanded, hands on his hips. “We were in the middle of a battle and you deserted! Are you ceding victory to me?”
Hades held Persephone’s gaze.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Truly.”
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead before turning on Hermes.
“Not a chance, Puffball.”
Chapter 3
Hermes
For the last two hours, Hermes had soaked in the bath surrounded by candles and the scent of lavender which he’d taken from Hecate’s garden when she wasn’t looking. Having spent the entire day outside in the cold, battling the God of the Dead and his idiotic brother, Apollo, he had needed some time to unwind.
He stretched, naked, ready to dry in front of the fireplace and go to sleep.
He opened the bathroom door, letting thick clouds of steam into the adjoining room when he saw a dark figure and screamed.
“Oh, calm down, you silly scaredy cat!”
“Hecate?” he asked, squinting through the mist.
“Why are you naked?” she asked.
“Because I just left the bath!”
