“Uh-huh.” Circe was wholly unconvinced. “Then why does he look at you like you’re the sun? Which is an impressive look to pull off as a sheep. Why did you take on a life debt for a mortal man that you didn’t know?”
“It was the right thing to do. I couldn’t let Hera win.”
“Sure,” Circe conceded, acknowledging that that was valid. “That’s not the only reason, though.”
“I assure you, it very much is. He is the worst kind of man, utterly spoilt and always walking around with that stupid grin on his face. Do you know that he always has a retort foreverything?The things he says, my god, another goddess would’ve struck him down, and he’s so... He’s ridiculously tall.”
“You haven’t said a single thing to convince me that you aren’t into him,” Circe interrupted her, turning her head to the side as she encouraged Hecate to go on.
“Now, that’s not fair. I’m only involved with him because of…”
“Yes, I know.” Circe smiled, not believing Hecate in the slightest. “The life debt. It’s just an observation.” She took another sip of her wine, clearly pleased with herself as Hecate let out a puff of air.
“He loves his freedom. He ran from your adoptive parents in Colchis. He’s always on the run…” Hecate’s voice trailed off. “Men will always choose their freedom, Circe, remember that.”
“I live on an island with a lion.”
“Fair point.”
“Come on now,” Circe smiled, grabbing both of their cups and putting them down on the counter. “Let’s go turn your prince back into a man.”
“He isnot…”Hecate started to defend herself, but Circe waved her fingers again, breaking the privacy wards that she had put up around them. It effectively cut Hecate off, who merely scowled at Circe. The latter was laughing into her hand as she walked over to where Pelias and Aeëtes were having their midday nap.
“Alright, let’s get this underway, so you can be on with your journey.” Circe cleared her throat, stirring both men to attention. “Are you ready to be a man again, Aeëtes? Or should I say,brother?”
15
Aeëtes made what Hecate assumed to be a cheerful noise, standing up on four legs. Pelias stretched his arms out behind him, looking rather well rested, smiling at Circe as though she was the most magical thing that he had ever seen. Which was also true. Circe merely looked him over once, stopping where his feet were propped up on the bench and raising an eyebrow.
“Feet on the floor,” she said sharply. “My home is not a ship.” Hecate liked Pelias but had to stifle her own bout of laughter at the mortified look on his face. He scrambled to get his feet off the bench so quickly that he nearly tumbled off it entirely. Circe was unamused, turning her attention back to Aeëtes, who was fidgeting back and forth on his hooves.
Hecate did not admit to herself that it was rather cute.
She did not.
Circe stepped closer to Aeëtes, holding her hands out gently with her palms facing down.
“Stay still, Aeëtes,” Hecate said aloud, looking at him with a stern glance.
“Is this going to hurt?”He turned his head over to her and nodded in Circe’s direction, looking up at her hands.
“Are you a child? No, it’s not going to hurt.” Hecate’s mouth settled into a thin line as she stared down at him, looking utterly unamused. Circe turned back to face Hecate with a little shrug.
“Well, I couldn’t tell you to be honest. It might.” She cringed slightly and turned back around to Aeëtes, rubbing her hands together as if they were cold.
“Hecate!”Aeëtes’s bleated loudly, the sound echoing in Hecate’s head so loudly that she held a hand up to her ear and sat down.
“Stop screaming!” she snapped. “Goodness. Men always love to talk about their bravado, but the threat of a bit of pain, and you’re no worse than a babe.”
“It will be fine,” Circe reassured Aeëtes. “This might be the first time I’ve changed an animal to a man, though.” She paused, tilting her head as if she was running through an internal list. “Yes, yes, I think it is. I’ve really only ever changed men to animals, not the other way around.”
“Let’s get on with it,” Hecate sighed, reaching back over the counter and grabbing the wine. “The sooner this is over, the sooner we can get to Colchis, and then…the sooner this can be over.”
“You certainly don’t want to be rid of me that quickly, do you, witch?”Aeëtes’s voice was warm inside her head, almost coaxing. Hecate topped off her cup and took another large sip, refusing to answer.
Circe straightened her shoulders and rubbed her palms together, standing taller. The simple motion changed the atmosphere of the home, and everyone turned their attention to her. Hecate watched carefully as Aeëtes stamped his feet a few times, as if mentally preparing himself, and stared up at Circe with wide eyes.
All at once, the oxygen seemed to be ripped from the room. The fire in the hearth went out, tendrils of smoke beginning to pour out from the embers. Pelias looked out the window, swearing that even the sun had dimmed slightly. Circe swayed on her feet, her eyes fluttering closed, but suddenly, they flew open. Her neck snapped back, now staring at the ceiling, while her arms extended out in front of her, and her palms faced down over Aeëtes. She began muttering something under her breath, similar to what Aeëtes had seen Hecate do when she practiced magic.
