Read The Magic Queen for Free Online Page B

as Calypso said, “That’s it, I think.”
    Fiera flung a fiery bolt at her sister’s backside, causing Calypso to yelp and rub at it, glaring hotly at her sister.
    “No, we’re not telling you yet!” Calypso gave her sister an imperious look. “But I promise you this. It would be far easier on you all if you would do as you’re told and fall in love. Don’t be the last couple out, or trust me, this will be no fun.”
    Baba had always prided herself on her twisted idea of fun, but she’d come to the realization that the goddesses far surpassed her in that department.
    Themis held up a finger. “A wrinkle has been added to the games. I promise there will be no killings. But”—she paused for dramatic effect— “do not think to fool us by faking your love. Aphrodite will be able to see right through any sham—”
    Well, there went Baba’s second strategy. Bloody hell, she was going to be the last person in the games. She just knew it.
    “Also,” Themis pressed on, “each of you will have to solve a riddle to help you win your game. Falling in love isn’t the only task at hand.”
    Baba wrinkled her nose, not understanding what in the world that meant. A task? A riddle? What kind of bloody damn riddle were they talking about here?
    Calypso shrugged and rolled her wrist airily. “The riddle will be different for each of you, based...let’s say on personality types, and leave it at that.” She winked.
    If they’d been mortal, Baba was pretty sure she’d have killed them by now.
    Calypso beamed and stretched out her arms. “So basically, have fun guys. And now here’s the best part: the males!”
    Like they were in some bad play, the two women turned and clapped loudly. And no doubt, there was magick in the air because the ringing of thousands of applauding hands echoed through the empty woods.
    A ring of men magically appeared in front of them, bathed in shadow so it wasn’t easy to tell who was who or even who was what. There was definitely something padding along on four legs. But maybe not. Baba couldn’t quite be sure. Every shadow blobby thing was big and bulky and probably some impressively built Adonis of meat.
    One shadow in particular caught Baba’s eye. He was off to the right and seemed much shorter than the rest of them. Either that or he was sitting. She hoped he was sitting anyway and not some misshapen clump of flesh and bones because that would be just like those ridiculous petty gods to gift one of them with a sack of meat and call it a mate. She snorted and crossed her arms. Squatty could just rot for all she cared. She wasn’t running up there. And it seemed that everyone else felt as she did because not a one of them budged.
    “We covered them so that you wouldn’t pick based on looks alone. But they’re all hotties, I swear!” Calypso laughed, urging them to come forward.
    Baba looked at Rayale who stood to the very right of her. Rayale shook her head with a look that spoke volumes. Hell. No .
    Baba reached up a fist, which Rayale bumped in solidarity.
    “Oh, and you only have an hour to choose. After that, we’ll cut off your right arm,” Aphrodite said grumpily, sounding the tiniest bit put out.
    Well, tough titties. It was about time these insufferable goddesses got a taste of their own medicine. Baba had been put out the moment that stupid crow had landed on her shrieking shack. It was really hard to say whether the women were really this savage or only joking, but the threat caused the others to make a dash for their men, grabbing whatever they could get their hands on.
    The moment they did, they vanished, no doubt whisked away to their own versions of hell. Baba, though...she could give a rat’s ass about this game. Or the rules. Or that stupid, insufferable male. The last one standing and clearly not just a blob of flesh and bones had his head bowed and waited patiently for her to go grab him. Instead, she sat down cross-legged, brushed her fingers over her