Lexi loved the holidays in Olympus. Like mortals, the gods used any excuse to throw a party. Inside the palace, the great hall had undergone a transformation from its usual austere, ivory motif to an homage to summer's bounty. Wreaths of wheat and braided cornhusk garlands decked the crown molding, large beeswax candles lit the alcove sconces, and actual bunches of grapes hung above each door and window frame.

Everyone in Olympus was invited to these celebrations, so buffet tables were lined up like an edible parade, draped in gold fabric and swelling with colorful food and drink. Along the walls, a stealthy crew of nymphs kept refreshments flowing. The nymphs had a gift for moving about unnoticed. Of course, Lexi always noticed them. They were her friends.

Near the courtyard doors, Apollo led a quartet of musicians in a revival of modern songs, and as Lexi sat with Juniper enjoying a cello solo of Eleanor Rigby, her favorite nymph found her.

"Ambrosia, Lady Lexi?" Celia held out a tray of gold-rimmed goblets as she performed a graceful bow, never taking her eyes off Juniper.

"Your timing is perfect, Celia. I would love some ambrosia. Just set it on the table next to Juniper's baby bag."

"She is a little angel, your grace," Celia said as she busied herself with setting up Lexi's drink. "And to be born so close to Lammas is auspicious. As the summer gives up its final harvest, she is just beginning to sprout."

"Well, if her eating habits are any indication, she'll be sprouting into a giant before long. Speaking of youngsters, how is Shanty? Doesn't she usually follow you around and help with beverage service?"

Celia chuckled. "Like most nymphs her age, she is flighty. As soon as Elm arrived, the girls scurried off to the crafting table."

"Good. Maybe I'll end up with a gift." Lexi smiled wistfully, remembering the wheatgrass bracelet Elm made for her last year that ended up giving Lexi a rash.

"Look who I found stealing all the mutton curry." Odessa walked up with Hades at her elbow. Both were holding plates wafting with delicious smells.

"Can you blame him? The palace chefs are rivaled only by the chefs in Bengal. Ambrosia, anyone?" Lexi pointed to the tray in Celia's hands, but before the nymph could make a move, Hades had two goblets floating toward the table.

"Show off," Odessa said as she took her seat. "How much ambrosia have you spoiled doing that?"

"It's not the ambrosia I'm worried about. It's cleaning up the glass." Hades reclined beside Lexi and pressed a kiss to Juniper's forehead, offering one just like it to Lexi's lips. "Have I told you today how beautiful you are? That color looks delicious on you." He winked at her as he adjusted the bodice of her dress where she had failed to cover up.

"Was I too distracted to thank you for the compliment?"

"I can't remember. I was dumbstruck by your radiance."

"Really, you two. This isn't an orgy." Odessa nibbled a slice of melon, faking a sarcastic smile before staring down at her plate.

Lexi nudged Hades in the ribs, and he mouthed the words "Should I go?"

Grateful he had caught on quickly, Lexi nodded her answer. She knew Hades would not take her dismissal personally. Odessa had been asking for Lexi's advice on a serious personal matter, and Lexi was determined to see her friend through the crisis. Hades also knew he would hear the details later.

"I just remembered I was going to find out what has Z so preoccupied," Hades said. "I'll take Juniper off your hands, my love, so she can meet her stubborn lout of a grandfather."

"She's fine here with me. Besides, I want to be with you when we introduce our daughter to the stubborn lout."

"As you wish, my eloquent one." He stood, raising his goblet in farewell before strolling off, and Lexi admired his handsome backside accentuated by the cut of his Saint Laurent pants. Damn, she was a lucky goddess.

"I know Hades did that for my benefit," Odessa said as she scooted closer to Lexi. "I left Poseidon with Dionysus at the wine table to steal a moment for us."

"To be fair, it wouldn't take a psychic to know you're upset about something."

Odessa sighed. "Oh, Lexi. I envy you so."

"Please, don't envy me, Odessa. We know where that can lead."

"Okay... Then I aspire to be like you. Look at your blessed family. They are a testament to your love and commitment to each other." Odessa brushed a gentle hand across Juniper's cheek, and Lexi knew exactly where the conversation was headed. "Everyone knows a godly union must be free from doubts to produce progeny. I have taken your advice and tried to wash away my guilt. I even took-in the waters of Aphrodite's bath, which I only do when a situation is dire, but I feel no closer to my goal."

Lexi had given her friend's dilemma a lot of thought. The gods held many superstitions, which had its own obstacles, but Lexi's thoughts had taken her down a dangerous road, and she didn't like to stay there long. Still, the question needed to be asked. "Do you think Poseidon has been unfaithful during your marriage?"

Odessa's face turned grim, but she quickly recovered as if she didn't want to revisit her fears. "I don't believe he has been unfaithful since we said our vows. Poseidon is kind and devoted, and he would move the ocean for me, even when I'm behaving like a petulant child."

"His love for you is obvious, Odessa. And I know you love him with all your heart. You don't need offspring to prove that to each other."

"But I want children." Odessa bit her lip, looking like she was facing the hangman's noose.

"What about Valencia? Are you two still getting along?"

"Yes. I adore Valencia, but I am not her real mother. There will always be that bridge separating us. Surely, you can understand."

"I understand, and I honor your feelings even if I can't relate to them. I may not have all the answers for you, but I'm here to support you whenever you need it. You are my best friend."

Odessa's eyes frosted over as she prepared to cry. "Oh, Lexi. You are my most cherished advisor. I am so grateful for our friendship."

Lexi found herself being pulled in for a hug, and Juniper got sandwiched between their ample breasts while Lexi tried not to let her emotions get the better of her. She still felt her own guilt for not telling Odessa about Poseidon's indiscretion. Eleven years it had been, but sometimes it felt like yesterday.

During their long embrace, Lexi noticed a satyr standing at the main entrance searching the room. When the satyr's eyes landed on her, his gaze widened in recognition, and Lexi felt as if a stone had lodged in her throat. Something had happened.

"Lady Lexi!" he called as he trotted across the room, dodging robes and nymphs balancing trays.

"Odessa, will you hold Juniper for me?" Lexi handed Juniper over, knowing Odessa would be delighted to hold the babe, and the satyr skidded to a stop just as Lexi stood to meet him.

Breathless from his trip, he nearly toppled over during his bow. "There has been an accident at the crafting table. It involves Elm and Shanty, Celia's young one. Shanty claims Elm set her grain doll on fire. The nymph has been taken to the infirmary with burns on her hands."

"Oh, dear. Where is Elm now?"

"She ran into the grove. Should I fetch her for you?"

"No. She'll never come for you. Find Hades. He may be with Zeus. Tell him to bring Elm to the infirmary."

"Straight away, my lady."

Cradling Juniper in her arms, Odessa followed Lexi to the infirmary. Lexi was grateful for her friend's help as she focused on keeping her temper. Elm's infatuation with fire had already caused Lexi and Hades concern. Last month Elm was caught practicing with flint below the nymph's bathroom window, revealing the real reason the stones were turning black there. While it had already occurred to them that Elm may have inherited her father's gift, both she and Hades suspected Melinoe was facilitating Elm's secrecy. Coupled with Lars's report of seeing the two doing ceremony in the meadows, and the evidence was mounting against the dark goddess.

When Lexi reached Shanty's sickbed, Celia was trying to console her daughter while two attendants attempted to treat Shanty's hands with ointment.

"Make them stop, momma!" Shanty wailed. "It hurts!"

With flushed cheeks, the nymph writhed in pain, her dainty limbs escaping her mother's grasp as she kicked and bucked. Celia's cheeks were just as red as she glanced up at Lexi.

"Thank goodness, you have come, Lady Lexi," she said. "Please, heal my baby. She is in such agony."

As a chair was pulled over for Lexi, she sucked in a guilty breath. She could heal the girl in no time, but she wanted Elm to see the pain she had caused her friend. "Of course, I will. Please, accept my apologies for Elm's behavior. Hades and I have spoken to her about the dangers of fire, but I think it just reinforced her curiosity."

Celia attempted a polite smile through her obvious anguish. "She is a young goddess. There are bound to be mishaps."

If there was a way for Lexi to feel any more guilt, Celia's tolerance had found it, and without a moment's pause, Lexi pressed her hand over Shanty's forehead, releasing her healing gifts into the squirming child. "May I ask how this happened?"

"Ebony was at the crafting table helping the children make grain dolls," Celia explained. "She said a disagreement broke out between Shanty and Elm over which ribbons to use on their dolls. They both wanted the same color and neither could find a happy compromise. You know how children are? During their argument, the doll in Shanty's hands caught fire, and her fingers were burned before she could drop it."

Lexi's stomach tightened around the stone she'd been nursing as she frowned at Celia. "Are you saying it caught fire on its own, or did Elm use a flint? Hades checked her pockets before we left home."

"Ebony said there was no evidence of a flint strike, but it all took place so quickly, with bodies moving here and there."

"Momma?" Shanty's voice had lowered to a hoarse whisper as she blinked her eyes closed, and Lexi glanced anxiously at the infirmary door, willing Hades to arrive with Elm. What was taking them so long?

"I'm going to take away your pain now," Lexi told Shanty as she stroked the girl's pink cheek. "But you have to hold still. Can you do that for me?"

Shanty opened her eyes to stare at Lexi. The fear was fading, but an expression of sadness had taken its place. "Yes."

"Very good. Now, hold out your hands. I won't touch them, I promise."

As Shanty held out her hands, Lexi grimaced at the shiny blisters pocking the nymph's tender skin. Luckily, the burns were not extensive, so the healing would be quick, at least the physical healing. As for Shanty's feelings toward Elm, that was another thing altogether.

After a minute of concentrated focus, Lexi felt the warmth from her hands subside, and the wounds had shrunk to pinpricks. It took another minute for everyone to find themselves after gazing in quiet awe. At least that's how Lexi felt about her gifts. Not a day passed that she wasn't grateful for them.

"Wrap her hands lightly for the rest of the day," she instructed Celia. "And don't be surprised if there's some lingering pain. I'm sure you have medicinals for that."

"Oh, yes." Celia bobbed her head as she inspected her daughter's palms. "It would have taken us many turns to treat wounds like these. Your gifts truly come from Gaia."

"Gaia has a hand in everything. But, thank you." Lexi felt a swell in her chest at Celia's unfailing trust. The birth of Shanty was nothing short of a miracle in Celia's eyes, and Lexi felt blessed to have helped the precious nymph take her first breath.

Lexi glanced over at Odessa. She had rocked Juniper into a sound slumber in spite of Shanty's cries, a clear sign Odessa was meant for motherhood. But Lexi held her tongue, knowing it would only upset her friend.

"Let's see if our goblets are where we left them in the great hall," Lexi said. "I'm going to need a sedative before I talk to my errant daughter."