Goddess in Time by Tera Lynn Childs

any moment. “Can you catch me?”
    â€œYeah,” he answers. “Why?”
    â€œGet ready.”
    Swinging my legs harder, I manage enough of an arc to hook one boot back up over the unforgiving limb. I place the other boot against the bottom of the branch and—when I’m ready—I release the other and push against the tree with both feet.
    The pomegranate holds on for a moment and then— snap!
    Ruby fruit clutched in my hands, I free-fall for the floor.
    â€œOoof!”
    I fall straight into Xander’s waiting arms. He manages to keep us both upright, too. I’m impressed.
    â€œThanks,” I say as he sets me on my feet. “Let’s get out of here.”
    â€œYou’re nuts,” he says.
    â€œI know.”
    Xander and I race out through the alcove, past the blind guard, who steps back into position, and across the ballroom. If only we could autoport back to Serfopoula. But the supernatural protections in Hades make Mount Olympus look like a preschool. No one wants the dead getting back to the world of the living.
    We have to return the way we came.
    We hurry back through the hallways, reversing our course for the side exit.
    The palace was so still, so empty on our way in, it never crossed my mind that we might run into someone on the way out. But as we race out of a side corridor, back into the entrance hall, I crash full-body into someone.
    â€œGrnph,” I groan at the collision.
    A woman screams as she falls backward onto the tile floor.
    I stumble, but manage to stay upright.
    As Xander skids to a stop next to me, I reach down—instinctively offering to help the woman up.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I say as her palm connects with mine and she looks up at me, “I wasn’t—”
    My words freeze as I realize the woman on the floor—the woman I slammed to the ground in my haste to get the heck out of this place—is none other than Persephone herself.
    â€œNo harm,” Persephone replies, pulling herself to her feet using my now-limp arm. “I am uninjured.”
    She smiles at me, a grin that embodies all the youth and rebirth and nature we just saw in the Hall of Springtime. Her blond hair, the same golden shade as mine, falls perfectly over her shoulders and her gauzy, light-green gown. She is the embodiment of perfection. No wonder Hades kidnapped her.
    â€œHi,” I say lamely, with a lame wave thrown in for general all-around lameness.
    â€œHello,” she replies with a vague smile.
    Then, as if I weren’t standing right in front of her, she sidesteps me and continues on her way. She heads for the back room—for the ballroom and the gem-encrusted hall beyond, I’m guessing—and I turn in a half circle to watch her walk away. Without another word.
    â€œThat was close,” Xander says, shaking his head as Persephone disappears from view. “You’re lucky she didn’t—”
    â€œStupid cow,” I mutter.
    â€œWhoa.” Xander lifts his hands in a defensive gesture. “That’s a little harsh.”
    â€œShe didn’t even recognize me.”
    Xander scowls. “Should she have?”
    â€œYou would think,” I say, jamming my hands through my hair. “An ancestor god is supposed to recognize their descendants.”
    Yes, weak-willed, harebrained, damsel-in-distress Persephone is my godly ancestor. Makes a girl proud. It’s not hard to guess why I’ve kept that juicy embarrassment a secret all these years.
    I barely register the shock on Xander’s face before I turn and race away, ready to get as far from the underworld as possible.

9
    X ander and I autoport back to the stadium and are immediately surrounded by our friends.
    â€œAre you okay?” Phoebe asks.
    I nod and she smiles.
    Stella looks relieved as she launches herself at Xander.
    While the pair attempts to make kissing an Olympic sport, Troy steps in front of me and pulls me into