Free Twelve Days of Stella by Tera Lynn Childs Page B

into
    her silver ballet flats. Seconds later she was walking the path to the village, heading for
    her favorite refuge: the pantheon temple. Perched on a cliff overlooking the gorgeous
    Aegean below, the pantheon temple was built as a tribute to all the gods and goddesses
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    The Twelve Days of Stella
    5
    of Olympic descent in an attempt to diffuse any arguments about preferred patron
    deities and the like. Not that anything could prevent the gods from arguing.
    The temple was rarely used anymore. The gods didn’t visit the island with any
    regularity, and the residents didn’t feel compelled to pay formal tribute. Which meant
    that Stella usually found the temple deserted—the perfect environment for clear
    thinking.
    As she climbed the shallow steps and passed through the colonnade to enter the temple
    proper, she felt a growing sense of calm and clarity. There was something about the
    brightly colored mural the covered every square inch of the interior walls that just ...
    made her smile. It portrayed all the gods and goddesses in their most resplendent glory.
    Like a massive and ancient family portrait.
    Stella went, as she always did, to stand before the goddess on the far wall. The one
    wearing a beautiful golden crown, holding a plump pomegranate in her elegant hand,
    and with a proud peacock lying across her feet. Hera.
    It had been years since Stella met with her immortal ancestor. The great deities rarely
    left Olympus anymore, and Stella hadn’t had time—or an invitation—to attend their
    court. If she couldn’t speak to Hera face-to-face, then this was the next best thing.
    She lifted a hand to run her fingertips over the gilded sandals on Hera’s feet, but
    stopped when she heard footsteps echoing into the temple.
    Startled, she turned to see who else still visited the temple, and was even more shocked
    to see Phoebe’s friend, Troy, hurrying inside. He was carrying a cloth bag in his
    outstretched hands, eyeing it nervously as if it might bite at any second.
    ***
    “Travatas?” Stella asked, trying to determine what might be in the
    bag. “What are you—“
    “Aaaack!” he screamed, dropping the bag and then quickly
    retrieving it when it started to wriggle away. The bag grasped
    firmly in one hand, he glared at Stella. “You scared the crap out of
    me! I didn’t think anyone visited the temple anymore.”
    Stella arched a brow. “Neither did I.”
    “Oh.” He gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry. I guess you were here
    first.” Reversing course, he backed toward the door. “I’ll go. Let you finish your, uh—“
    “No!” Stella blurted, then readjusted her composure. “I mean, you’re welcome to stay.
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    The Twelve Days of Stella
    6
    It’s a public place.”
    Troy glanced at the bag. “Um, I think I should come back later.” The bag wriggled
    again. He muttered, “Or maybe not at all.”
    Now she was more curious than anything. What was in that bag?
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” she insisted, crossing the temple until she stood in front of him at
    the entrance. “You’re obviously here to,” —she gestured at the wriggling bag—“make
    an offering of some sort. You should present it.”
    Arms crossed over her chest, Stella stifled a laugh at the miserable look on Troy’s face.
    He looked like she’d asked him to kiss a frog. But she wanted to know what was
    wriggling inside that bag, so she adopted her most intimidating look—she had many—
    and waited. She could sense him weighing his choices. Although she could read his
    thoughts if she tried—a power she had inherited from her ancestor goddess—she
    preferred watching and guessing. Made her feel ... more human.
    Finally, his shoulders slumped.
    “Okay,” he said. “If you’d wait outside, this’ll just take a second.”
    Stella shook her head slowly. “No thank you. I won’t be in your way.” She stepped aside
    and gestured into