Hex Goddess (All My Exes Die from Hexes Book 3)

by Killian McRae

  “Let me guess.” Dee held up a finger. “A butcher.”

  Jerry grimaced. “Actually, a Phoenician who specialized in pottery showing erotic figures, but that’s not the point. At first, I was pissed off. I mean, if she loved me, how could she just move on without me? But as I watched, and saw their children born, growing up and happy, I found myself really thankful for that porn and pot-pushing bastard. So much so that I felt really guilty at one point for making him bald.”

  Dee tried to interject, but Jerry continued, cutting him off.

  “The point is, Dee, I realized that my wife didn’t find someone else because she never loved me. She found someone else because she did. She needed someone who could make her feel alive and loved the way I did. Clare would want that for you too, believe me. If you need to take it slow, then take it slow. But knowing you, after you get over yourself, that won’t be a problem. You may be a half-god, but you got a big, old, human heart somewhere beneath that beefy chest of yours.”

  Dee breathed in and replied, “You know, if you keep acting this way, I might end up liking you.”

  Jerry swooped a kiss on Dee’s forehead right before he fell back against his bed. “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to piss you off soon enough, I’m sure. Good night, Dee.”

  “’Night, Jerry.”

  The back of his eyelids darkened as the demigod flicked off the lamp, followed a few moments later by the sound of his hoarse chuckle.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” Dee said. “This vodka must pack one hell of a punch. I don’t feel that drunk, but when I walked in, I swore you were glowing or something.”

  Jerry pulled his discomfort and the blankets up to his chin. “One hell of a punch, indeed.”

  Chapter 25

  A servant greeted her at the door before leading Riona up a flight of stairs. The structure, the same one Riona climbed up before, during her viewing of the Parthenon, was an architectural nautilus. It spit her out at an outdoor terrace, lit by an open fire pit and warmed by three kerosene heat lamps. Zeus stood at the railing, looking out at the ebb and flow of amber caught by the light of the setting sun. As her footfalls echoed, he turned, beaming a smile that brushed away the forlorn keening he was observing.

  “Thank you for coming.”

  The Lord of Lightning motioned her toward one of four identical loungers near the fire pit.

  The witch felt the corners of her mouth rise. “No problem. Hades said you needed to see me.”

  “Indeed, indeed.” Zeus’ chest billowed before he exhaled a tunnel of frustration through pursed lips. “I wanted to tell you that I received some news from my contacts in the Balkans today. Apparently, a Pure Soul exorcised a vampire.”

  She felt her arms breaking out in gooseflesh. “They’re coming.”

  “Seems they’ve been forced to travel by land rather than by air for reasons, I’m sure, that are best for them. They’re not too far away, but I’m willing to bet it will take one more night before they get down this far. There was a snowstorm forecast today in the region where the slaying occurred.” Zeus fished a bottle of wine from a nearby ice bucket and poured two glasses. He passed one to Riona. “I don’t know how familiar you are with the relationship I have with my son at present, Miss Dade.”

  “I know you guys had some kind of falling out; but I also know despite that, he still loves you.”

  Amusement flickered across the king’s face. “I’m delighted to hear you think so. However, I’m not so certain it’s true.” He scooted to the edge of his chair. “I wish to ask something of you. When Dionysius arrives, he’ll be very opposed to speaking with me.”

  Riona swallowed the wine in a hard gulp. “I understand what you’re getting at, but I’m not sure there’s much I can do. I don’t want to put Dee in any situation he won’t like, unless I know there’s a good reason.” She set the glass on the table. Zeus did not hesitate in his replenishing duties.

  “I assure you, I’m not trying to coerce him. I just miss my son. In fact, I’ve arranged something special to show how much I love him.” The witch looked at him askew. “We’ll be having quite the soiree tomorrow night.”

  “We will?”

  “Indeed. A banquet, in honor of his return.”

  “Oh, yeah, that will totally melt him,” Riona said with a hefty dose of sarcasm.

  “Also, in your world, tomorrow night is a traditional night of celebration.”

  Riona’s eyebrows knitted.

  “New Year’s Eve, Miss Dade. It’s...” His voice and gaze trailed off, “...oddly fitting; out with the old, in with the new as it were. So, it’s settled. Tomorrow night, when your husband and my son arrive, we’ll ... what’s the term you young folk use now? Raise the roof?”

  “Yeah, we’ll totally get funky. But I won’t ask Dee to stay anywhere he doesn’t want to, I hope you understand that.”

  Zeus considered the statement for a moment, then nodded. “I understand. I shall simply have to take advantage of whatever fate allows me.”

  “Well, then, if that’s all...”

  “If I can make one more request?”

  With a snap of his fingers, another hooded figure Riona hadn’t noticed before materialized from the shadows. Zeus commanded the servant to show in the other two. A moment later, Persephone and Hades sat at the table. They exchanged a fretted, confused look with Riona, who only smiled her reassurance in their direction.

  “What’s up, Dad?” Clearly, Persephone was unique in her adaptation of modern informality, unlike her relatives.

  “Hades tells me he has agreed to release you from your contractual bond.”

  Persephone squirmed in her seat. “It’s called divorce, Dad.”

  “And can you confirm,” Zeus continued, “that he is doing this of his own free will? And that you likewise wish to terminate your marriage?”

  “Brother,” Hades interrupted, “there’s no need for this. We both know Persephone has wanted it for eons. I will no longer hold her if she does not wish it.”

  “Very well, then. Miss Dade,” Zeus turned to Riona. “In our tradition, when a marriage contract is dissolved, one witness is required for each party. I can serve as witness for my daughter. Will you be witness for Hades?”

  “Witness?” Riona asked. “What does that mean? That I just watch?”

  Hades pulled himself to the table and wrapped his hands around the wine bottle. “It requires that you sign a declaration. My scribes will need a day to prepare the document, so it can be handled tomorrow, before your husband arrives.”

  Her red curls bounced with the nodding of her head. “Yeah, I don’t see a problem with that.”

  “Then, it’s settled.” Zeus rubbed his hands and rose, the others following his lead. “Now, if you don’t mind, there is much yet for me to prepare. Miss Dade, given the occasion, I would like to host you as my guest tomorrow evening.”

  Riona felt a blush overcome her cheeks. “That’s very nice of you, Zeus, but I was kind of hoping to share a bed with my husband instead.”

  “And you shall, dear,” Zeus replied. “We will offer you a great bridal chamber, and make very certain it’s somewhere in the home where your privacy is assured. As to the woman Dionysius brings with him, I’m not certain if they are yet involved.”

  “Wait, the woman?” Persephone asked. “What woman?”

  Zeus headed towards the door, calling back over his shoulder, “The one with whom he’s going to spend the rest of his life.”

  Chapter 26

  She deserved so much more than the purple flowers he’d gotten her, but there wasn’t a neighborhood market anywhere for alternatives. Dee trudged out into the snowy storm before the sun even came up, and soon discovered the village on the mountain pass offered nothing more than a few coffee houses, a bakery, and a small general store. Too general. They’d never even heard of Baci chocolates, let alone, sold them.

  Anwen opened the door just enough to peek through a crack. Either she was w
atching for him and wouldn’t have given him the time of day, or she was scared the vampire might return. Dee remembered her demon aggressors, and wondered if she feared they’d track her down even there. He had no intention of letting anything unholy get close enough to even smell her perfume.

  “It’s you.” She didn’t seem too thrilled. “Knocking now? How common.”

  The corner of Dee’s mouth twitched as he held up the flowers for her to see. “I came to make peace.”

  “Are we at war?” The crack of the door widened as her eyes narrowed.

  “I am, but not with you. With myself.”

  “More than one man inside there? I didn’t think that was possible.”

  He restrained his smartass instinct to tell her about the time he’d been possessed by Jerry when he was still a demon. “You’d be surprised how much in this world is possible, including how much of an ass I can be.”

  “I don’t know if I’d be too surprised. You gave me a pretty good demonstration last night.”

  “Please, Anwen, can I have a chance to explain? Just a few minutes, and if you want me to leave after that, I will.”

  She glared, but he shot her a puppy dog pout. Bingo. Her brow softened as she closed the door and undid the chain lock. He handed her the flowers, and she looked at them as though he just handed her an armadillo carcass.

  “What happened last night... you didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “I know I didn’t,” she said sharply. “The question isn’t who screwed it up, but why?”

  “Why is kinda complicated.”

  Anwen crossed her arms and sat down on the corner of her bed. “Un-complicate it.”

  His fingers wove through his hair as he swallowed his nerves and invoked a sense of detachment. He had to get through this without crying if he still wanted her respect. “There’s only ever been one other person who called me Dio. I hold her memory sacred, and I tend to go off when someone steps too close to it.”

  Understanding tweaked her nose. “Clare?”

  Dee’s eyes went wide. “You know about Clare?”

  “Jerry told me a little something when he warned me not to be so sexy that I might distract you from the mission.”

  Dee’s morals zig-zagged. “One,” he said, holding up his index finger, “that busybody fuck better learn to keep his nose out of other people’s business; and two, were you trying to be sexy? It seemed like you could barely stand to share the same air with me.”

  “I wasn’t trying. In fact, I actually attempted very hard not to notice you so much, but...” Her head tilted to the side as she appraised him with wonder. “I keep telling myself the attraction I feel to you is irrational. We don’t even know that much about each other, but I can’t deny wanting you.”

  Great, now she’d done it. Honest, illogical truth. Anwen quickly looked for a way to diffuse the awkward moment and keep them talking. Her eyes fell on the flowers.

  “Where did you get these? Is there a florist way up here?”

  “No, I conjured those.”

  Her eyes gave three trembling blinks. “You what?”

  “Conjured them,” he repeated. “There’s a charm for invoking flowers. It’s pretty simple, but you must have a really good vision in your head of the flowers you want. These ones,” he pointed at the purple petals and the crowns of slender, bright yellow s, “are called goat’s beard flowers. They were... well, they were Clare’s favorite.” His eyes brightened. “Would you like to try it?”

  “Sorry, what?”

  “Try to conjure flowers.”

  The sound of her barking laugh echoed off the walls. “Don’t be silly. I’m not a witch.”

  “Come on,” Dee said, pulling her onto her feet.

  Of all things to hear, in the back of his head, Dee could have sworn his mother’s voice was nagging him about tricking the poor, nice girl this way. Dee wouldn’t deny having used the imagine flowers hoax more than once. Oh, the flowers appeared, because he conjured them, all while kissing his intended conquest in order to distract her from the magic. He explained away the few roses that appeared on the bed as having been there all the time, but unnoticed, because he was so enticing and sexy. Nevertheless, putting his hands on Anwen’s hips, he turned her around and drew her body against his, unable to convince himself there was anything wrong with his strategy.

  He lowered his lips to her ears, and felt her tremble when he spoke. “Close your eyes. Try to block out the background noise, the scents around us, and concentrate. Think only about your favorite flower. Get a really good image of it. Imagine its perfume, the hue of its foliage, the...” his thumb pulled across her bottom lip, making her mouth fall open, “...the silk of the petals as they caress you; the velvet of the bud as it’s stroked before it blooms.”

  He felt the heat rising in her cheeks as the backs of his fingers glided over them. Meeting no resistance as he angled her head to the side, he found eager reciprocity when he pressed his lips on hers. Anwen spun in his arms, and before he knew what happened, both of his hands were braced around the back of her thighs as she wrapped her legs around his hips.

  Goddess in gravy, he didn’t plan on making love to her; really, he didn’t. But suddenly, the GPS of his libido was mapping out the quickest route. His hands supported her backside, pulling her up and down the length of his godhood, now fully ready to go into battle the moment she said “Charge!”

  Only her twinkling laugh deterred him. Dee opened his eyes to see what drew Anwen’s attention away, and gasped.

  Every conceivable flat surface of her room was newly festooned with pink, yellow and red roses.

  “What the Jim Dandy?”

  She lowered herself from him, and trudged to the bed, after taking a bouquet large enough to fill both arms and tossing it into the air. The blossoms hung as if dangling from string. Dee blinked until he remembered her godly power: levitation. But the flowers? Where could they have come from? Being so engrossed in capturing her kiss, he forgot to invoke the charm. Even then, there should have been just a few, perhaps, a dozen at most. Not the hundreds he now saw that looked like a florist shop just exploded.

  “Have to admit,” she said, pushing the roses around like ping pong balls. “I thought that was just a line you used to seduce me. ‘Buds blooming!’ Please, can you get any more cliché?”

  Refusing to be separated too long from her lips, he pulled her back into his embrace and lowered his mouth on hers. “Try me.”

  This time, she moaned when his tongue begged entrance. Anwen laced her hands behind his neck, and pulled herself up, trying to get closer to him.

  “Cliché me, Dee.”

  “I want you so bad. I need you, need to feel myself inside you.”

  “I can do better than that. What you did to me last night?” She pecked his lips. “It was magical. No one else has ever done that to me.”

  “I knew you were a virgin, but seriously... No one? You’ve never, you know, made out at least?”

  She blushed, giving the red rose buds a run for their money. “I mean, I do it to myself sometimes, but it never felt that good.”

  “Just wait until we make love. You won’t believe what I can do with your body then.”

  Anwen bit her bottom lip and dropped her gaze. “Really?” She looked up at him through hooded eyes, now clouded with lust. “You’re that good?”

  Dee couldn’t help himself. Gathering up a ball of his intentions, he let the magic carry it, snaking up the inside of her thigh before teasing the juncture of her womanhood. He willed the energy to gather at her core, moving as though his tongue were lapping at her.

  Anwen gasped, losing her balance. Dee captured her body and her mouth at the same time. “I can do that without even touching you. Imagine what I’ll do to you once my mouth and my hands are involved.”

  “Jews for Jesus and Kibbles ‘n’ Bits! Did Elysian Fields throw up in here?”

  Dee groaned and Anwen huffed as Jerry pushed open the door. So much for knockin
g. The guy needed a remedial course on basic decorum with intense study of minding-your-own-fucking-business.

  “Jerry,” Dee growled. “We’re having a private moment here.”

  “Moment’s passed,” Jerry declared, an outburst of petals flying as he kicked his way through. “Shop says the car’s ready, and the snow is getting worse. If we don’t get going, we might get stuck. Or you guys might crush this whole town with a rain of petunias. Seriously, though...”

  Anwen recoiled under Jerry’s insistent glare. She grabbed her small bag off the table and shoulder-smacked the cockblocker as she left. “See you guys downstairs.”

  The moment she was gone, Jerry’s face brightened. “Dee, I know I said not to be afraid of getting into a relationship, but surely, you didn’t need all these flowers? What will the cleaning lady think when she comes in here?”

  Dee blinked, trying to get himself centered. “The weird thing is, I didn’t conjure these.”

  “If not you, then who?”

  Dee’s gaze on the open door provided his answer.

  “How is that possible?” Jerry asked.

  Dee shrugged. “Don’t know, and frankly, not really sure I care. There’s a lot of stuff with her that shouldn’t be possible, and I’m not going to question a single one. I’m scared it might disappear if I do.”

  Chapter 27

  Officially, the menu for the evening was some sort of lamb dish with roasted potatoes and herbs. Unofficially, the entree was awkwardness, dripping with tension and a mild silent sauce on the side.

  Riona decided if Persephone and Hades weren’t going to read aloud the visible lettering hanging over the table, she might as well take a stab at it.

  “He only wanted to tell me that Dee and Jerry were almost here.”

  As if someone just deflated an Olympic-sized balloon, both Persephone and her husband eased, their stiffness visibly ebbing.