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This wolf had been sniffing around Juniper, to the point that my brothers had already warned him off. Clearly, I would have to discuss this further with them, to make sure we were all on the same page.

Especially when it came to enforcing the consequences, should he persist in his ‘hunting’.

As I disappeared to meet with Diana, one thought cut through the muddle in my head, making my already cold blood turn to ice.

Juniper had to die in order for Pride to find her in the Underworld. What if she hadn’t just died?

What if she’d been murdered?

And what if her murderer had never faced justice?

I needed to talk to Diana.

The birds sang sweetly asthe perfume of lavender and hyacinths hung in the air.

Hyacinths.

Fuckinghyacinths.

My patience snapped as I found her, sitting in her perfect garden with her perfect tea outside of her perfect cottage.

“Oh boy. What is it now?” she deadpanned.

“Cut the shit, Diana,” I snarled. “I’m not a precious goddess, but I can hear the murmurs. I can feel the rumblings. You sense it too.”

She sighed, letting the porcelain tea cup clink on the delicate plate as she set it to the side.

“You know, you used to be so polite and charming—dapper, even.” She stood and glided toward me, her dress trailing perfectly behind her. I resented every perfect blonde curl piled high on her head, and the pink blush of her cheeks, and how her eyes–

“Fuck, Clio really did a number on you,” she whispered.

I drew back as if she’d struck me.

How dare she mention that backstabbing bitch. I wasn’t a goddess, but I was an ancient vampyre with the boosted magick of a sin. I couldn’t kill Diana, but gods could I make her hurt.

Like everyone made you hurt.

My hands clenched into fists as I shoved the rage down, down, down.

You deserve it. You’re nothing. The only thing you have left is to control the raging

monster inside of you.

“Gluttony.” Diana’s hand landed softly on my shoulder, her magick soothing mine down. Despite her bluntness, I knew Diana meant no harm. She was one of the few who knew what had happened with Clio.

“I told you dating a Muse was a bad idea...” She sighed and gently drew me down to the chair across from the one she’d been sitting in.

I wouldn’t let myself be distracted. Not even by badmouthing my ex-lover.

“Diana. The rumblings. Is Hades due to return soon?”

For a moment I wondered if she even heard me; she picked up her teacup and took a sip, her eyes closing as she relished the herbs.

I gritted my teeth and waited.

“Hades’s absence might be why therearerumblings, and they’ll simply cease when he returns,” she said simply.

I clutched the arm rests of my chair. “And that will be...?”