The soft rustling of leaves and the faint scent of pine syrup drifted through the mist-covered isnd. A golden hue shimmered in the air as Glykaia, the Goddess of Sticky Tree Sap, arrived with a zy stretch and a mischievous grin.

  Her honey-colored hair clung in soft waves, the ends sticking together slightly as if reluctant to separate. With each step, the ground beneath her felt like it might hold her feet just a second too long before releasing her.

  She scanned the misty surroundings, her amber eyes narrowing pyfully. “Catherina, really? You’ve been hiding me this delicious bit of gossip?” she teased, turning to face the Goddess of Mist, who stood near the shimmering waters.

  Catherina raised an eyebrow, her mist curling zily around her shoulders, glowing faintly in the dim light. “Gossip? What gossip?”

  Glykaia rolled her eyes, stepping closer. “Oh, come on. You know what I’m talking about. The Ocean Madman. The god whirlpools. The one who has made a hobby of crashing against your divine mist for the past decade.”

  Catherina sighed. “Krataigón.”

  Glykaia grinned, eyes fshing. “Yes, that one! So this is where our Ocean Madman has been lurking?" Glykaia smirked, gncing at her friend. "No wonder the lesser gods keep wondering why the seas have been so quiet tely." She paused for dramatic effect. "I heard some goddesses are even compining-Krataigón was quite the hot topic, you know."

  Catherina smirked. “Well, he’s been a little… preoccupied.”

  Glykaia leaned in closer, eyes twinkling. “So? What’s the story, hun?”

  Catherina sighed and expined everything—Nancy, Krataigón’s obsession, and how the Lost Isnd had become his prison of confusion. Glykaia listened, arms crossed, nodding along as if hearing a delightful scandal.

  When Catherina finished, Glykaia simply chuckled. “Lucky nymph.”

  Catherina frowned. “Lucky? How is she lucky? That fool has tormented her, cimed her as he pleased!”

  Glykaia gave her a knowing look. “Catherina, we live in Khaos. Gods don’t ‘love’ like mortals do. They cim, they take, and they move on unless something truly binds them. Besides, which male god doesn’t act like that? Even some female gods do.”

  Catherina fell silent, her thoughts swirling like the mist around her. Glykaia’s words carried weight. This was the divine world. Emotions didn’t work the same way here.

  Still, something about Krataigón felt different.

  She wasn’t sure when it had started, but somewhere along the line, she had stopped thinking of him as just an annoying, arrogant brute.

  “He is my type, though,” she murmured absentmindedly.

  Glykaia raised an eyebrow, then smirked. “Oh? Now that’s interesting.”

  Before Catherina could respond, a gasp from nearby startled them both.

  ________

  Nancy stood frozen, her hands trembling. Did she hear that right?

  Her goddess—her protector, her savior—was interested in Krataigón?

  Nancy’s breath quickened. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. She clenched her fists. No, that can’t be. He is mine!

  The thought stunned her. Mine?

  She had spent years hating him. But somewhere along the way, her hate had softened, twisted into something else.

  And now…

  Nancy had his child growing inside her.

  She had been keeping it a secret, uncertain of what to do. But now, hearing Catherina’s words, her emotions surged violently.

  The mist around her trembled.

  _________

  Sidney, the oldest nymph on the isnd, had been observing Nancy for a while now. Sidney had lived long enough to recognize guilt.

  And Nancy… Nancy reeked of it.

  For days, the young nymph had been acting strange—staring off into the mist, avoiding conversations, clutching her stomach when she thought no one was looking.

  Sidney had seen this before.

  Now, seeing her reaction to Catherina’s words, it all clicked together. And watching the way Nancy's face went pale, she knew she was right.

  Nancy was pregnant.

  And there was only one possible father.

  __________

  Suddenly , Sidney stepped forward. “Please excuse me, Goddess Catherina. But Nancy… don’t you have something to confess?”

  Nancy flinched hard.

  Catherina and Glykaia turned to her, confused.

  Nancy’s legs felt weak. Damn that old nymph! Sidney was sharp, too sharp.

  She hesitated for only a second before falling to her knees.

  Catherina’s mist curled around her. “Nancy?”

  Nancy squeezed her eyes shut and spoke quickly, before she lost the courage.

  “I—I’m pregnant… with Krataigón’s child.”

  Silence.

  Catherina stared at her. Glykaia let out a slow whistle. Sidney folded her arms.

  Nancy lowered her head, her whole body trembling. “I—I didn’t know what to do. I was scared. I didn’t want to tell anyone.”

  Catherina’s mist flickered, a storm forming in her expression. “Nancy…”

  At first, anger.

  Then—something else.

  A realization.

  Catherina’s lips curved into a slow, calcuting smile.

  “This… is an opportunity.”

  Nancy looked up in shock.

  Glykaia smirked. “Oh, I like that look. You’re pnning something, aren’t you?”

  Catherina ignored her, turning to Nancy.

  “Krataigón will be forever tied to my command now. His child is part of my domain. And that means—”

  She turned to Glykaia.

  The two goddesses exchanged a knowing look.

  A wicked look.

  Nancy swallowed hard.

  “Get up, Nancy,” Catherina said. “This is not your fault. But tell me—what do you want?”

  Nancy clenched her fists, her voice shaking. “I—I want to be with him.”

  Silence.

  “With Krataigón?” Catherina repeated, as if testing the words. “That arrogant fool? That storm-brained disaster?”

  Nancy nodded, more certain this time. “Yes. He is the father of my child.”

  Catherina sighed dramatically.

  “Nancy, don’t be silly. You are a nymph. He’s just using you.”

  Nancy shook her head. “I don’t believe that. He—he may be arrogant and cruel, but he’s still the father of my child.”

  “Oh, Nancy,” she said, shaking her head. “You don’t understand men like Krataigón."

  Then, Catherina ughed softly, but her eyes darkened. "He’ll use you, py with you. A nymph does not tame a God.”

  Catherina felt something sharp twist inside her.

  She lied.

  She didn’t know why, but she lied.

  Because deep down, Nancy wasn’t worthy of Krataigón.

  And Krataigón wasn’t worthy of Nancy, either.

  He needed someone stronger.

  Someone who could tame him.

  Catherina’s mind whirled with excitement.

  Glykaia grinned knowingly.

  Oh, this was going to be fun.