“Me?” Luke gaped at Austin. “I'm the most un-terrifying person I know.”
Holly snorted.
Luke took Holly's hand. “Sweetheart, please tell that me I've never scared you.”
She laughed brightly and it lit her fragile beauty, turning it into something more robust. “Of course not. But I know you love me.”
“I'm a very nice person!”
“Yes, dear, you are. But that in itself can be terrifying for those who expect you to be otherwise.”
Satan sighed dramatically. “This is absurd.”
“Dad, you're the Devil,” Azrael said. “You rule Hell, command the Demon Horde, and accept evil acts as sacrifices. You're one of the most powerful and scariest gods in existence. The fact that you don't swear and bake cookies only makes you creepier.”
“Oh, pish-posh.” The Devil rolled his diamond eyes and said to Austin, “I'm a kitten. There's no reason for you to fear me.” He paused, then added, “Unless you betray or hurt any of my loved ones. Then there would be nowhere you could hide from my wrath.”
Austin visibly gulped.
“I brought home a case of Durat wine from the last shipment I ordered for Moonshine; I think we have a few bottles left.” Trevor got up and headed toward the kitchen, patting Austin on the back as he passed behind him. “I'll check on the food sitch while I'm at it.”
“And yes, Sephy, we can make margaritas,” I said.
“Then we're definitely staying,” Hekate said to Horus.
Horus tried to look beleaguered but his lips twitched. “As you like, my love.”
“We could watchThe Matrix,” Viper said. “It's been a while since we used the theater.”
“The Matrix?” Horus asked.
Pan and Hekate both rolled their eyes as Viper snickered.
“I should let the Pride know,” I said. “They'll probably want to grill something.”
“Zey vould grill ice cream if zey could,” Kirill said as he stood up. “I'll tell zem.”
“Thanks, babe.”
“Maybe we should move this outside now,” Thor said with a look at Torrent.
“Oh, we won't bother him.” Artemis waved his concern away. “But let's go outside anyway. I want to watch the dragon. It's not every day that I get to see a dragon flying children around like Puff.”
“Like Puff?” Horus asked Hekate.
“Oh, that's going too far, Horus!” Hekate stormed out.
“What did I say?” Horus looked around at the snickering God Squad.
“Puff's a magic dragon, dude,” Viper smacked Horus on the back. “Even I know that.”
“To be fair, it's a children's story, and Horus hasn't been a father very long,” I said.
“A children's story?” Horus asked. Then he looked Viper up and down. “Well, that explains why you know it.”
“Oh, slam!” Pan exclaimed while Viper made a face.
Horus walked out, looking dignified until he made it to the door, then he put on speed and called out, “Hekate, sweetheart, I was only kidding. I know all about the magic dragon.”
