Book Seven: Chapter 179

Eulalie shook her head. “You could, but you shouldn’t. There are so many of them and they’re all armed. You weren’t here when...they wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in you on sight.”

“That’s right. I wasn’t here.” Mike stared at his feet. “I should have been.”

Soft fingers caressed the back of Mike’s neck. Naia placed her lips against his ears and whispered, but the words resonated with the power of a goddess.

“I need you to come with me,” Hestia told him. “It’s a matter of grave importance.”

Mike lifted his head to see that he was suddenly alone. Behind him was a majestic fountain, spraying water high into the air. When he stood, it was to see that he now wore Hestia’s body in the garden of the gods. Their shared mouth opened, and it was Hestia that spoke through it.

“Another player wishes to speak with you.”

***

Cyrus stood over the toilet, his hands braced against the stall walls as he contemplated the mess in the bowl before flushing.