Page 18 of The Trickster's Heart

“I was waiting for you to get here, scoundrel,” a woman’s voice echoed through the air. Hercules looked for the source of the sound and shivered. Hecate’s presence consumed every space that she was in, and even for a mortal with very little respect for the gods, Hercules felt compelled to go to one knee in deference.

You’re getting much too friendly with the gods. Hercules chided himself almost immediately but managed to keep the inner conflict off his face.

The goddess emerged from the doorway and stepped into the courtyard, a purple peplos swaying around her feet as she walked. Hecate had shining auburn hair that glowed in the setting sun, and while her expression was twisted in disdain, her eyes were filled with warmth. Hermes stood and gently pushed the dogs off him.

“Who is this?” Hecate raised an eyebrow in Hercules’s direction by way of greeting.

“Hecate, my maiden of manslaughter,” Hermes cooed, holding his arms out wide as he walked towards the goddess. Hercules bristled and frowned at Hermes upon hearing the familiarity in the god’s voice. Hecate caught his reaction, and her eyes got even wider, curling her lips in a smirk.

“Careful, Hermes.” Her gaze never left Hercules. “It seems like your companion doesn’t like it when you use nicknames for other people. He’s pouting.”

Hermes looked at Hercules, who blushed crimson and tried to cover his expression with a scowl.

“Oh, isn’t that sweet?” Hermes turned devious. “Is that jealously, Hercules? I could bottle that look on your face.”

Hercules made a grunting noise in response, crossing his arms over his chest. Hermes went to embrace Hecate while keeping his eyes on Hercules—undoubtedly to test his reaction—when another booming greeting interrupted them.

“Hermes! I knew it wouldn’t be long until we saw you again.” A tall glowing demigod emerged from the same doorway, clapping his hands in delight. He whistled a short command, and the dogs disappeared back inside the house as he crossed the courtyard.

“Aeëtes,” Hermes grinned, “I’m glad to see you’re alive after suffering a few wretched days away from your consort. Although, I was shamefully hoping for an opportunity to tap in if it presented itself.”

Hercules’s eyes went wide, and he growled. Every eye in the courtyard turned to him in surprise. Hermes only looked more delighted, and Hercules’s reaction quickly turned to shock as he realized everyone had heard him.

Hecate slid past Hermes, ignoring his open arms, and stopped in front of Hercules.

“Aeëtes, Hermes, go inside,” she commanded shortly.

Hercules watched in awe as both of the immortals hastened to do her bidding. In a few short seconds, they were alone in the courtyard. Hecate placed a hand on her hip and unabashedly began looking him over.

“Persephone told me you were coming.” Her voice was flat, and Hercules did his best not to flinch under her gaze and match her nonchalance.

“That was quick.”

“Gods move quick. Hermes moves quicker. Are you sure you’re the sort that can keep up?”

“Are you his mother?” Hercules took a step closer to Hecate, frowning. “Or an ex-lover? Either way, you don’t need to interrogate me. Hermes can choose the company he keeps.”

“Undoubtedly,” Hecate’s voice lowered, “but Persephone said he seems attached to you. I’d hate to find out that it was undeserved.” The threat in her voice was apparent, but Hercules felt his heart leap in his chest, and his facade cracked.

“You think he’s attached to me?” he whispered, almost pleading.

Hecate’s demeanor changed, her face brightening as she threw her arms around Hercules’s neck in a motherly embrace. Hercules was taken aback by the gesture; he had been consumed by an emptiness that haunted him since his mother died and found himself hugging the goddess in return. His hatred for the gods was crumbling with every new interaction he had, and he didn’t know what to think of it.

“Oh, this is lovely,” Hecate crooned, detangling herself from Hercules with a wicked gleam in her eye. “I was so hoping that Hermes would find someone.”

Hercules stammered, “What? I mean, we’re… I don’t know… It’s only been a few days… That’s a bit mad, isn’t it?”

“You like him though, don’t you?” Hecate’s strict expression returned.

“Y-yes.” Hercules blushed again, embarrassed but unable to keep secrets when Hecate looked at him like that. “Don’t tell him.”

“Don’t tell him?” Hecate scoffed. “I think he knows, but if you want him for more than a night, you’re going to have to beat it through his fucking helmet before he gets a clue. If I were you, I’d start telling him, repeatedly.”

“What does that mean?” A million different thoughts started running through Hercules’s head.

He’d given up on trying to rationalize his own emotions after such a short whirlwind trip. When he woke up in a cave, covered in honey, he decided there was no fighting the pull he felt towards Hermes.

“I figured I’d take whatever time with him I can get.”

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