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“Yeah, Desi’s mentioned that a time or two.

” Hel tried but couldn’t hide the giggle in her voice.

More than a few times she’d thought about asking Destiny for information on Hopper, but she’d always stopped.

That would give Desi an opening to meddle in Hel’s life more than she already did, and that was not something the goddess of the Dead was prepared to navigate.

“A time or two?” Carys hooted with laughter.

“She has been teasing that boy and telling you all about it for centuries. She’s said it all so many times, I believe Hopper has a mansion full of Wrangler blue jeans, those sexy Justin boots, and Western shirts with those pretty pearl snaps.

Ya’ know, I often wonder if his boxers have rhinestones on them.

I really think that finding out these important little details needs to be on the top of your to-do list."

Laughing so loud that her pet Ravens, affectionately known as the Congress Conspiracy, jumped from their perches and flew in circles around the high ceilings of Castle Niflheim as if they were doing some intricate dance only they knew.

Their deep, musical croaks filled the massive structure with their irritation at their Mistress' outburst and made the goddess laugh even louder.

"Oh, hush, y'all," Hel teased. "Can't a girl have some fun?

" Returning her focus to Carys, she winked, "As for you, my dear Dragoness Queen, top marks for your description of the most irritatingly gorgeous Being in the universe.

I guess Netflix and GhoulTube will have to stay if you can throw out a one-liner like that with such flair. "

"Thank you. Thank you. I'll be here all week. Try the veal and remember to tip your waitress. Ba-dum-tsss."

With her shoulders still bouncing, Hel quickly put on her favorite lipstick, a very matte, vivid, blue red from MAC cosmetics called Ruby Woo, and then exhaled with a giggle. "And the hits just keep coming. Seriously, Carys, what would I do without you?"

"I feel the same about you. That's why I know it is time…"

"…to let everyone I love know that you exist, explain why I felt it was necessary to keep our connection, and more specifically you, a secret, and after they are all done making me feel like a huge butthead, reach out to Hopper and I don’t know… Invite him to dinner or for a cup of coffee."

"Exactly. Lookie there, you can be taught."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, when you're right, you're right. The minute I get home from this party, we’ll start planning, but I refuse to admit that you're as good a Genie as Robin Williams was in Disney's Aladdin."

"That’s a deal, my dear girl!" Carys whooped. "I agree to hold off on our great reveal until after this Halloween Hoopla, although…”

“Yes?”

“Well, it’s just that I think this party would be the perfect time for you to go as a Dragoness Queen instead of Princess Aurora. All you need are a few shimmering scales and…"

"And I think we need a little more of a plan.”

“Alright, but I’m holding you to it.”

“Whew! Thank you, Carys. I wasn't sure you’d agree without making my blood boil or my eyes turn red with flames."

"You know I have always got your back, even when you make me crazier than those Dragons of Fate make our Faye."

"Well, at least they're all Mated, and the women the Universe made for them are just as fearless as they are. Wasn't it cool how they all flew in and dropped down in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert just when we needed them the most? It was…"

"Beautiful and amazing? It made you realize what an asset it is to have a Mate, not to mention a Dragoness, at your disposal?"

"Do you ever stop?"

"Nope, not ever," Carys chuckled. "But I will give you a break from mentioning our Mate, Hopper, until…"

"Until after we tell every one of your existence and they get to meet you?"

"You got it in one. You know me so well."

"Well, as you keep reminding me, we do share a brain, a soul, and damn near everything else that comes with it."

"Which means that I know you're stalling.

So, get your cute little butt off that chair and to your cousin and best friend's Halloween party before you miss the whole damn shindig. You already look gorgeous. I just can’t wait to see that gown on your curves, and I will not allow you to waste any of it on the Ravens. "

"Yeah, I know you’re right. After all, Fate has been working her Omnipotent Being Magic to make sure I get there. Can't you feel it in the air?"

"Oh, yeah, she's been spreading it all around, just like she did for her Mating Ceremony. And here I thought she would be too busy with Ari making with the bow-chica-wow-wow to worry about anything else."

"Girl, me too! But Faye always has been good at multi-tasking."

"Ha! You know that's right. Now, come on.

Put some va-va-voom in your giddyap and get moving.

I don't wanna miss the hors d'oeuvres or the candy.

I was all ears when Desi said the caterers, Brownie Banquet Bonanza, are bringing smoked trout croquettes made to look like jack-o-lanterns, brie and prosciutto shortbread ghosts, stuffed baby portabella mushroom bats, and… "

"And that's enough. I haven't eaten since yesterday. You're making my stomach growl."

"Then let's get a move on."

Standing, Hel waved the hand of her live side through the air, and in the blink of an eye, she was dressed in an elegant champagne pink gown with a V-neckline cut almost to her navel but covered in soft, sheer matching tulle for her never-ending modesty.

Turning to the side, she looked into the full-length mirror, pleased to see that the hemline just brushed the toe of her heels in the front and that the small train in the back lay perfectly.

Running her hands over the Swarovski crystals sewn into all the right places, she couldn't help but smile at how they gave the perfect illusion of an hourglass figure–even on the dead side of her body.

She had to admit that her curvy figure looked damned good.

“It always amazes me that even my dead side still has curves.”

“And if you got ‘em, flaunt ‘em,” Carys cheered, her smoky contralto sounding more like the actress Kathleen Turner than the fierce Welsh Warrior Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd as it usually did.

Turning one way and then the other, she slowly nodded. "You are so right, Carys. And you know what?”

“Tell me.”

“I think I'm gonna forego the Spell that hides my dark side. I'm gonna let it all hang out tonight. Since we’ve decided to bring your existence into the light, I need to lead the way by showing everyone precisely who I am. I’m tired of hiding. Either they accept me, or they don’t."

“Well, yee-frikkin-haw. It's about fucking time. Now, get us the hell outta here before you lose your nerve."

For one of the only times in her very long existence, Hel didn't overthink it. She simply took the advice given and made with the Magic. A wave of the hand of her dead side, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared from Castle Niflheim and reappeared just outside Fate's Mansion of Realms.

Taking a deep breath and forcing her shoulders back, she stood tall and dare she say, proud.

Stepping forward in her four-inch stiletto Christian Louboutin's, she reached for the elegant brass handle, opened the door, and walked inside.

With every step, she felt more confident, stronger, and more at ease.

Letting the beat of the music lead the way, she bounced her shoulders as she made her way to the party.

She could feel Carys's love and support, and, most importantly, the Dragoness's pure, white Magic lending her all the strength she could ever need, and she mentally whispered, "Thank you, ffrind dewar."

"Girl, you got this."

Feeling as if she could do literally anything, Hel smiled as Carlton, Fate's butler and all-around miracle worker who was dressed like Lurch from the Addams Family, bowed. "Welcome, Mistress Hel. And might I say you look absolutely ravishing?"

"Yes, you may, Carlton, and thank you very much," Hel giggled like a schoolgirl. "You really are good for my ego."

"I only speak the truth. Never have I seen a more beautiful Queen."

“Oh.” She paused. “I’m supposed to be Princess Aurora from the Disney story Sleeping Beauty.”

“Yes, I caught the resemblance.” Winking, something she’d never before seen him do, Carlton reassured, “And it is perfect, but to me, you will always be a Queen.”

“Oh, my, thank you so very much.”

Hel couldn’t help but gush. It wasn’t that she was getting complimented, that was something she would never get used to no matter how many times it happened.

It was the fact that she could feel how earnest and honest, the usually taciturn and stoic butler was being.

He wasn’t trying to butter her up. He wasn’t just saying the words because it was expected, nor was he just trying to be nice.

Carlton really, honestly, and truly meant that in his eyes, she was beautiful–and that meant the world to Hel.

Then he reached out and took the hand of her dead side in his. Raising it to his lips, he gently kissed the skeletal knuckles never breaking eye contact with her.

After placing it back at her side, he smiled so brightly that his light blue eyes glowed with an inner light she’d never before seen coming from the butler.

Then he beamed, "You are truly a sight to behold.

It is always a pleasure to welcome you to the Mansion of Realms," and Hel quite literally felt weak in the knees.

"Thank you so very much, Carlton," she squeaked. “I know I keep saying that, but I really do appreciate your kind words. You have made my whole night.”

“Then my work here is done.”

Watching as the Butler stood to his full height, Hel’s throat was suddenly dry as he turned to the side and opened the door to the Grand Ballroom.

But there was no going back. She was going to walk into that massive room full of every imaginable Magical, Mystical, and Enchanted Being in the entire universe with her head held high.

No one was going to stop her from taking that vital first step toward the life she deserved.

Taking the flute of champagne–with a tiny rubber spider hanging on the side–that was offered by one of the Fairies buzzing about the room with trays of drinks and hors d'oeuvres, she saw the back of the Omnipotent Being known as Destiny as she talked and laughed with the Valkyrie, Liv and two of her sisters, Kelsey and Zuri. For the first time she could recall, Hel wasn’t nervous.

She wasn’t self-conscious. As a matter of fact, it was the only time in her whole life that she hadn’t compared how she looked to all the other women in the room–and that was most definitely saying something.

“I am so very proud of you, Merch Hardd,” Carys whispered. “Now, get that cute little ass in there and knock ‘em dead.”

“You got it.”

Making a beeline for the group, she was less than ten feet away when the low, rumbling Texas drawl of none other than the Omnipotent Being known as Hope reached her ears.

Tingles danced up and down her spine. Goosebumps did the Hokey Pokey all over her body–even her dead side.

Her heart skipped a beat, and then her pulse raced like she'd just finished the Boston Marathon–and Hel did not run.

She wanted to run. She wanted to hide. She wanted to simply disappear into the Ether.

"I can't…"

"You can."

“No, I can't."

"You will not run away like you did at the Mating Ceremony. You can do this, and you…"

But Carys's words were cut off as Desi turned and welcomed, "Get on over here, Hel. I need help givin' old Hopper here a hard time."

Doing an abrupt and hasty about-face, the Norse goddess of Helheim made a beeline for the closest door.

“No! Hel! Stop! You can…”

But it didn’t matter what Carys thought. She wasn’t ready. She couldn’t do it. She would quite literally rather walk naked through the Fires of the Lowest Level of Helheim for all of eternity than face the one man in all the universe who she already loved with all of her heart and soul.

“Please, Hel, it’s not too late.”

But she wasn’t about to answer the Dragoness Queen with whom she shared her soul. Hel didn’t want to hear what Carys had to say. She was doing what she had to do and that was all there was to it.

Exiting so fast she had to work hard not to lose her shoes in the process–after all, she was dressed as Aurora, not Cinderella, she ran like the Hounds of Hell–the big ass Canines in Lucifer’s domain, not hers–were on her heels.

Sweeping past Carlton without a glance in his direction, she raced down the hall with the exit in sight.

Faster and faster, she sped, but her charging footsteps almost faltered when she heard Desi whoop, "See? It’s just like I told y'all.

Hopper boot scoots in and scares the bejesus right out of the one made for him by the Universe.

Now, that's what I call a party! For the second time and in the very same room, he scared our beloved Hel right out of sight.

I gotta say, I'm thinkin' our boy's gotta snowball's chance in Hell of ever getting’ a kiss from the goddess of Helheim. Are y’all with me? Or are you goin’ with the old adage, Fate will not be denied? "