"So, what do you want to do now?" Harlow asks us.
I look around the room at my daughters.
Before I answer, Rem speaks up. "We need to go kill our fathers. Once and for all.
"Death?" Death is so final. So absolute. "I don't know... The gods could have killed me so many times. But they didn't. It makes me think... they might still have some love for me."
Harlow's eyes widen. "They tried to murder us. Over and over and over again. I may look sweet. Cute. Fun and bubbly. But I'm not a fool. Maybe before I became a siren, I was more easily swayed. Maybe I'm bitter and jaded now. But I have my babies to look after. I'm not going to let anything or anyone come between us. Our fathers need to die."
"What if there was a way we can change their hearts?" I ask.
"After all this time?" Gaia asks incredulously. "You still want to salvage your life with them after they locked in a cage for two decades?"
I love deeply; love fiercely.
I am a fool in love.
And yes, after all this time I want to believe that they might still love us back.
The shift in their feelings was so fast, so swift and sharp.
I think we are missing something.
"We can't kill them. You've all tried. It's impossible. The only hope we have is to change their hearts. It doesn't mean we have to fall in love with them,” I say, "or be best friends, take a family vacation, but it could make them not want to kill us."
Gaia frowns. "You're saying we could find some potion and then force the gods to drink it. Hope it makes them less angry, then we all live happily ever after?"
"Do you have a better suggestion?" I ask. "The last thing I want is a murder attempt gone awry. Harlow and Rem need to lay low. They can't be caught up in a murder scheme that involves four gods. It's a death sentence. We need to try something smarter, something safer."
"Where do you get potions around here?" Lark asks. "I grew up with witches, so I know a few things about them, but I don't know where potions are on Mount Olympus."
"The Fates," I say, just now thinking this through. "Surely they will have a potion and can help us."
"Fates? The women from your story?" Rem asks.
I nod. "They may not have been overly kind to me, but they came to my wedding and made a toast. I think they will help us."
Gaia sighs, not sure she agrees. "I guess there's no harm in letting the Fates decide."
14
Persephone
We leave the hall and outside, all of my daughters' harems are waiting for them.
"Is everything okay?" a dark-haired man with bright blue eyes asks Harlow. She nods, explaining what we are doing.
The other men listen, and one speaks up. He has an arrogant look about him and takes Remedy's hand in his. "You aren't going alone."
"We aren't alone, Callum," Remedy says. "We're all together, my mother and sisters and Gaia."
He presses his hand to Rem's belly, and I see the worry in his eyes. Maybe it wasn't arrogance after all. Maybe it was fear.
There are sixteen men in total, and pride surges in my heart. "You all found love like I did,” I say.
"I guess it is because we are all partly goddesses of fertility," Tennyson says. "Maybe that is why we all..." Her face turns red.
"You don't need to explain," I tell her. "I do understand. Love isn't always one plus one. Our hearts have the capacity to expand broader than most people assume is possible."
"Speaking of which... aren't we supposed to be finding a potion to make the same case for our fathers?" Lark asks.
I nod. "Gaia, shall we?"
She smiles, taking my hand. "I don't know if it is going to be easy," she says.
"Nothing ever is." Then looking back at my daughters' harems, I tell them, "If the gods return before we get back, Lark's hawks need to come find us. Understood?"
"They have names, you know," Gaia tells me under her breath.
I smile, despite everything that is happening. "I know, but it's a lot of names to memorize at once."
* * *
Standing outside the Fates' home is a little intimidating. I met them once when I was so much younger, and then they seemed like the epitome of mature. Now I can't help but wonder how they will receive me.
But now, I have four daughters with me too. I need to be courageous for them.
And for the sake of their fathers.
Their mansion is large and ornate, white pillars across the expansive porch. Elaborate hedges line the long drive, and as the six of us walk up the front steps I tell myself to calm down.
If only it were so easy.
I feel like so much is riding on this.