“Would you give anything for it, my dear?” the princess asked. “I sense that you would.” The words washed over Piper as powerfully as a good surfing wave. The force of the suggestion nearly lifted her off her feet. She wanted to pay any price.

She wanted to say yes.

Then her stomach twisted. Piper realized she was being charmspoken. She’d sensed something like it before, when Drew spoke at the campfire, but this was a thousand times more potent. No wonder her friends were dazed. Was this was what people felt when Piper used charmspeak? A feeling of guilt settled over her.

She summoned all her will power. “No, I won’t pay any price. But a fair price, maybe. After that, we need to leave. Right, guys?”

Just for a moment, her words seemed to have some effect. The boys looked confused.

“Leave?” Jason said.

“You mean … after shopping?” Leo asked.

Piper wanted to scream, but the princess tilted her head, examining Piper with newfound respect.

“Impressive,” the princess said. “Not many people could resist my suggestions. Are you a child of Aphrodite, my dear? Ah, yes—I should have seen it. No matter. Perhaps we should shop a while longer before you decide what to buy, eh?”

The Lost Hero, Chapter XXVII