Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

felt a faint vibrating sensation, like she was standing in front of an

enormous subwoofer, but, as promised, it didn?t hurt at all. After a

few moments, Ariadne lifted her hands and looked at Helen.

?I couldn?t ask for a better patient,? she said with a beaming

smile. ?After seeing how much damage you and Luke sustained, I

had my doubts. But you?re going to be just fine.?

?Thank you,? Helen said earnestly. ?For the healing and helping

me . . .?

?And thank you for not peeing on me.? Ariadne laughed as a

beautiful pixie of a woman in her late twenties popped her head

around the half-open door.

?You two are having way too much fun to be in a sickroom,? she

said with a mischievous look in her yellowish cat eyes. Helen had a

feeling that those eyes were usually filled with some kind of

worldly mischief, and she instantly liked her for it. It reminded her

of Kate. She entered the room, tinkling like a shaken bag of loose

change. She had short, spiky hair. Helen noticed that her wrists

were buried under layer upon layer of glittering bangle bracelets,

and although Helen couldn?t see them, she could hear that the woman?s

ankles probably had a few bits of jewelry wrapped around

them as well.

?Helen, this is my aunt Pandora. Dora, this is . . .? Ariadne

rapped her fingertips on the bedspread like a drumroll. ?The famous

Helen Hamilton!?

?Ta-da,? Helen replied weakly. Pandora sat down on the end of

the bed.

?Gorge-ous! I can see why she?s got Luke?s panties in a twist,? she

said with a cheeky grin.

?No! That?s all done with! We haven?t heard the Furies since we

woke up on the beach,? Helen said urgently. When Pandora gave