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She hits me with a pillow as she cringes. “That’s awful!”
“Ye can’t get mad at me for thinking that ye’re sexy.”
Penny cuts her eyes at me. “Yes, I can.”
A knock sounds on the cabin’s front door. Tensing, I turn toward the sound.
“Who knows we are here?” Penny asks, drawing on a robe.
I shake my head. “Can’t think of anyone other than Magda.” Grimly, I peek out of the bedroom door. Because of the angles between here and the front door, I can’t see the person responsible for knocking. “Do me a favor. Get dressed just in case.”
She nods as I pull on slacks and a button up. While I’m stuffing my feet into my combat boots, the knock comes again.
“Hades? Persephone?” my mother’s voice calls out. “It’s Magda…”
As if there was a chance in the world that I wouldn’t recognize her voice. Hastily tucking in my shirt, I close the bedroom door behind me and hurry to yank the front door open.
My mother looks mildly surprised, tucking a loose strand of hair back. She’s holding a black leather medical bag and looking at me with a strange expression. Like she’s shocked but pleased to see me here, even though she knocked on my door and not the other way around.
“For fuck’s sake. Do ye want to broadcast to the entire world just where we are?” Casting a glance around to make sure there is no one watching, I gesture for her to come in.
Magda enters and I am quick to close the door behind her. She fidgets, swallowing.
“Are ye hiding from someone in particular?”
Crossing my arms, I ignore her question.
“Is there a reason ye are here, Magda?”
Penny pokes her head out of the bedroom, warmth lighting up her features when she sees Magda. She steps out, wearing a loose black caftan and nothing at all on her feet.
“Magda. So nice to see you.”
Magda clears her throat, her gaze sliding between us. “I came to follow up with Persephone. Ye know, make sure she was getting over her illness.”
Frowning, I narrow my gaze. “Seems like a paltry excuse at best.”
Penny intercedes immediately.
“Hush, Hades.” She goes over to Magda, taking her by the elbow and leading her to the couch. “Thank you for your concern. I’m feeling much better. Without medical intervention, I’m not sure I could say the same, though. So thanks for that as well.”
Magda inclines her head. “Of course. ‘Twas nothing.”
Penny darts a glance at me, licking her lips. Before she even opens her mouth, I have a feeling that she’s about to meddle.
“I think you two should talk. Hades seems to believe that he knows the truth about your… family situation. But I was thinking that you could shed some more light on it.”
I shoot Penny a look, letting her know just what I think about her meddling. As I open my mouth to tell her so, my mother lets out a stream of words at the same time.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I would love to… talk.”
An awkward silence fills the air. I glare at Magda, already certain of just what she’ll say. Penny looks between us.
“Should I leave?” she asks.
“No,” Magda and I both insist at once. I drop onto the couch beside Penny, draping a casual hand around her shoulder.
