Page 41 of The Cursed Chalice

Was he flirting with me? No way. I step deeper into his office.

“Thank you for today. I wanted to find out about Nisa and school.”

Ares nods. “Yes, Hecate is taking care of that. She will be going to a new private school.”

I nod. “I have to get some more supplies for school. I can do that tomorrow.”

Ares scratches his beard with the back of his hand. “I will take you tomorrow. It’s my day off.”

“No, I can do it.”

Ares taps the side of his scar. “I wasn’t asking your permission, Ms. Maude.”

“Oh, okay. I?—”

Then a scream sounds throughout the house.

“It’s Nisa.”

Both Ares and I race to her room. As we open the doors, we see Phobos and Deimos also rushing to the room.

Without thinking, Phobos kicks the door open, and all four of us stand at the door looking at Nisa.

“What’s wrong?” Ares asks.

Nisa turns with ugly little dolls in her arms. “Labubu! Someone got me Labubus. A hundred Labubus.”

Phobos, Deimos, and I turn to Ares. “Labubus. You got her one hundred?” I ask.

Ares looks cornered. “She said she wanted it, and I didn’t know which one I should buy?—”

He cuts off when Nisa runs to his thigh and hugs it. “Thank you, Mr. Monster.”

His entire body goes rigid, his hand hovering in the air as if he is forbidden to touch her.

“It’s the best gift ever.”

Slowly his as if she were a glass doll, he brings his hand down and pats her shoulder softly .

“Enjoy.” Ares mutters.

“Mr. Monster?” Deimos blocks his laugh with his fist. Phobos smirks.

Ares looks at them, and the laughing stops.

“Go play, little one.”

Nisa runs off and dives into her Labubus.

“I am going back to the office. Are you two staying for dinner?” He stuffs his hands in his pockets.

“Who’s cooking?” Phobos asks.

Before Ares answers, I raise my hand. “Um, I can cook.”

The three men look at me like I grew an extra head.

“Did I say something wrong?” I ask.