Page 195 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

‘How Could You Hide This From Me?’

My voice was so small and broken,

I barely recognized it as my own.

‘We were trying to protect you,’

Styx whispered softly.

‘It’s true, Hekate.’

My uncle Pallas’ voice filled the room.

He had been watching

from the doorway all this time.

He glared at Thanatos.

‘I thought I told you to stay away.’

A controlled anger I had never seen

reverberated off him.

But the God of Death shook his head.

‘She needed help you were

refusing to give her, Pallas.’

His voice was so calm compared to theirs.

Pallas’ whole body was rigid now.

‘And you thought that you were the answer.’

‘I am simply not arrogant enough to believe

Hekate does not know what is best for herself,’

Thanatos retorted evenly.

My uncle frowned at his words

and turned to me.

‘How do you think

the Olympians would take it

if they learned you can undo

all of the Gods’ work

by a simple touch of your hand?’

My mind swam at this,

‘I… I do not understand.’

Thanatos gently reached for my hand.

‘Let me explain,’ he said softly,

casting a wary eye at my aunt and uncle.

‘The Gods rely on mortals dying.

Fear makes those mortals pray.

Those prayers make the Gods

they worship strong,

and the Gods they pray to most

are the ruling Gods on Olympus.’

The pieces began to fall into place.

And then Styx added,

‘Now imagine if Zeus found out

that a child of Titans had your

kind of power.’ Her voice dropped

to a soft whisper as though

even the walls of the palace

were listening, ‘What would happen

to you if they found out you

were a necromancer?’

So that is what I was.

Necromancer.