that. Heat prickled through me, the bond sparking. I wasn't alone. A god loved me, and I loved him. And somehow that was changing me.
When Hecate came back to collect me, looking fierce in a white PVC corset dress and even more silver jewelry than usual, I felt ready to face the gods and all their guests. Including that douchebag, Zeus. I wanted to know what I would be facing next, nervous anticipation fueling my desire for the Trials to be over.
Sam was wearing a black toga, and even as his sister, I could see that it suited him. He was showing a smattering of chest hair and somehow looked even taller than usual.
'What do you think?' he beamed at me.
'Stay away from anyone Skop tells you to talk to,' I said seriously. 'He's a pervert and a pest.'
'Excellent,' Sam said, rubbing his hands together.
'I mean it, you should stay well away from the gods, Sam. Stick with Hecate.' He gave her a sideways glance, and I saw his eyes dip to the high hem of her skirt.
'Stick with Hecate. Got it,' he said. Oh no. Sam having a crush on the celibate goddess of necromancy could not end well.
'Ready to go?' Hecate said, and I nodded. I would have to have a talk with my brother later.
Eleven
Persephone
The announcement was being held in Hades' throne room, and Sam's face when he saw the huge colored flames made me wonder what my own had looked like the first time I was here.
'Geez, Persy, I can't believe this is real,' he breathed as he stared around himself. There were only a few guests already there, but a small group of tall women with skin like tree bark were fawning around an attractive man I recognized from previous meetings as Theseus, and seven or eight minotaur guards ringed the edge of the floating room. I scanned them quickly, looking for Kerato and spotted him by the throne dais.
'Stay here,' I told Sam, and made my way quickly to the Captain of the Guard. 'I'm so pleased to see you, Kerato,' I said as I reached him. He dipped his head low.
'And you, My Lady.'
'Thank you for trying to help me during the last Trial. I'm sorry you were...' I floundered for the right word.
'Killed?' he offered. The stern expression on his snouted face didn't change. 'It is my duty. I will be as strong as I was before in around a hundred years.' I looked at him in shock.
'A hundred years?'
'Yes.'
'Well, that sucks.'
'A hundred years is not a long time, my lady. And Ankhiale is very strong. It could have been worse.'
I considered his words, a weird anticipation buzzing through me. The notion of a hundred years not being a long time threw stark light on the idea of being immortal. I'd known when Hades had told me that we were only married four years how small that amount of time must have seemed to him but... Endless life. Surely there was no point unless you had someone to share it with? The same question I was trying and failing to suppress popped up immediately. Live without the man you love, or slowly lose your soul with him?
I shoved the thought away.
'Well, I'm very grateful. You are a credit to Virgo and Hades,' I said to the minotaur, unsure if I was overstepping my role but the words coming anyway. Something flickered in the creature’s eyes and when he spoke there was genuine warmth for the first time.
'I should like it if you won the Trials, My Lady.'
'I'll do my best,' I smiled back at him.
Slowly, more guests arrived, little bursts of light flashing around the room as we sipped from saucer shaped glasses and Sam gaped at everything.
'Can you all transport yourself around like that?' he asked Hecate.
'Nope, only powerful gods can do that. They've all been given an invite that lets them flash here for this event, created by an Olympian.'
'So, how powerful are you?' There was definitely a flirtatious tone to my brother’s voice, and to my surprise, Hecate echoed it as she answered him.
'You'll have to wait and find out.'
Oh gods.
'Is your brother into Hecate?' asked Skop in my head.
'If he is, you can be the one to tell him that she's celibate and he can't stay in Olympus,' I grumbled back.
'Woah, is that Poseidon?' Sam's awed voice drew my attention to where he was pointing, at the dais. Poseidon had shown up with his trident and watery toga,