I let out a series of loud hiccups, and I clamp my mouth shut with both hands. Whoa. The patron goddess of service and sacrifice—the divine ancestor of my clan—is here, breathing the same air as me. I picture her golden statue at the temple, with its long neck, silken hair, and youthful glow….

“You’re not how I imagined you,” I blurt out. The shimmery golden hue to her skin is the only thing that looks familiar.

She chuckles and her soft belly jiggles with the movement. “I presume you mean the statue?” She winks at me. “The good thing about art, my dearie, is that it does not have to be accurate.”

As the initial shock of seeing our patron goddess wears off, I realize this is not the time for small talk. “Benevolent goddess,” I say urgently, “we need your help.” I put my hand on Hattie’s unmoving arm. “We were trying to summon Mago Halmi, but something went wrong, and my sister…She…She’s not…” I break into another bout of tears.

“Shh, be calm, my child. I am here. Dry your tears. There’s no reason to cry.” The goddess drops her ladle, wipes her hands on her apron, and places one hand on my head. Suddenly, a calmness washes over me. It’s as if she has physically lifted the prickly weight that was pressing on my chest.

“Goddess,” I try again, “I will do anything you ask. Please, will you use your divine power to heal my sister? She was only trying to help me, and now she’s…she’s…” I trail off.

The goddess crouches down next to me and cracks her knuckles. “Well, now, let’s see what we’ve got here.” She places her hand on Hattie’s heart, then lets out a loud sigh. “Tsk-tsk, she overexerted herself, I see. A baby witch shouldn’t be performing such demanding spells. And prohibited ones, at that.” She raises her eyebrow at Emmett and me, and we both look away.

“Will she be okay?” I ask, the heaviness returning to my chest. “You can heal her, right?”

The goddess looks from Hattie to Emmett to me. She pauses thoughtfully. Then she scratches her chin and speaks. “First, my dearies, do me a favor, won’t you? Tell me why you were wanting an audience with the Mother.”

I think on my feet. If I tell her the truth, Emmett will find out about my Horangi heritage, and that’s the last thing I can deal with right now. Not when we need to save Hattie. My lying streak is just going to have to continue for the time being.