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Lust and I turned to see Hades standing there patiently, arms crossed over his chest.

“Er...thank you?” I said.

Hades chuckled darkly. “Thank you for helping locate and fix Hecate’s mirror. She will be overjoyed to have it back, and the one responsible for stealing it. We always suspected, but could never prove it.”

“Oh, uh, you’re welcome,” I managed. “How was your vacation?”

His smile was blinding. “Magnificent.” Then his expression soured. “I heard things are complicated back down below.”

His glare was directed at Pride, who withered before him.

“It was my fault!” I piped up. “There was...I mean, a lot happened,” I said lamely.

“You are supposed to keep things neutral while I am away. Not awaken a new Sin, upset the shadowcat demons, and agitate the gods,” Hades growled.

Pride started sweating. Physically. Giant drops beaded down his neck and back, and he tore his jacket from his body.

“I won’t apologize,” he panted. “She’s part of us. We needed her. I tried to contact you. I–”

He fell to his knees, choking under an invisible heat none of us could see. My own Sin flared in my veins at the injustice.

“Stop it!” I screamed, magick exploding out of me toward Hades.

He batted it away with the back of his hand, lips thinning at me.

Oh shit. Oh fuck.

“YOU FOUND IT!”

The Sins and I flinched as a female appeared out of nowhere, flinging herself at Hades. He grunted at a woman with crazy brown hair streaked with gray threw herself at him, hugging him around his chest.

Gluttony stared.

Pride made a weird choking noise.

She grabbed the mirror and it up in front of her nose, squealing with joy.

“Hecate, I–”

“Ooh, wonderful work. It wreaks of...Wrath.” The woman–Hecate–spun and stared at

me. “Oh! Hello! You’re...Wrath.” She stepped back and stared at the rest of my Sins, who stepped forward to surround me protectively. Her eyes danced with mirth. “Oooh...kinky. We must invite them all down for a party!”

Hades made an irritated sound in his throat. “Hecate, I’m determining how to punish Pride for his dereliction of duties in my absence, not invite to a–”

Hecate waved away his arguments.

“She is their mate, Hades. Calm down. And she led you to my mirror! Surely we can forget about such nastiness when the result was positive?” She reached up and tweaked his cheek.

“And thank you for the new plaything. I haven’t had a minor god to bully in ages. Toodles!” She blew us all a kiss and disappeared, leaving us flabbergasted. Including Hades.

Pride coughed, looking at the ground.

“Shall I...report Monday?” he asked tentatively.

Hades bared his teeth for a moment, but it lacked any real vehemence. “Next Monday. Settle in with your mate first,” he grit out.

And then he was gone.