I grin and give him the formal bow Nyx taught me from a young age—fist to the heart, bowed head—before glancing back up to his surprised and impressed eyes. Yeah buddy, I know the bow that one god gives to another.
The others remain silent, confusion rippling around the room, and my lips twitch as I wait for him to react. But his eyes glaze over, and a crackle of electricity erupts between Nyx and Poseidon. He glances between the two of us, and after a few silent moments, his hand moves to his chest before he returns my bow, earning a gasp from my friends. I glare at Nyx over his shoulder; She simply smiles.
I curse internally. I thought I would have at least pissed him off enough to get the hell out of here. What did She say to him?
“Ah, Serena. Nyx has told me a lot of about you. I didn’t realize you were here, or I would have come to see you sooner,” he replies, his eyes roaming over me with a newfound respect. One that I haven’t earned—not yet. And probably never would after tonight.
“Thank you, but Pax has been keeping me company. He’s had some interesting stories to share about you,” I reply, and Pax’s face goes completely white. He shakes his head slightly.
Poseidon turns to me with a smile, and his gaze flicks between Paxton and me. “Oh? All good things, I hope?”
“Of course, sir,” Paxton replies, giving me a quick glare, and Dane pulls me around the waist and to his side. My back twinges, making me inhale sharply. Nyx’s eyes draw to me, and they narrow on the blood still staining my hand.
“Behave, Serena,” Dane whispers in my ear. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but we are going to be having a long chat when all of this is over, starting with why you call Nyx your mother.”
My eyes widen, and his lips pull into a small smile. “Paxton was projecting quite loudly. But don’t worry, I won’t and haven’t mentioned it to anyone.”
I don’t want to, but I nod, and his lips brush against my hair, earning me a wide-eyed look from Nyx, but I push aside Her motherly concern.
“Are you okay, Mistress?” Lore asks, and I want to say yes, but I’m not. I’m tired of fighting, I’m tired of hurting, I’m tired of doing what everyone else wants me to do.
“I will be,” I whisper, and a large meow rings through the room, drawing everyone’s eyes—all except mine; that little lynx is a menace.
Keaira struts across the marble chamber, heading straight for Nyx, who scoops her up in Her arms and cuddles her close, murmuring soft words I can’t hear.
“Right! Now that we’ve had our introductions, let us sit and eat,” Poseidon exclaims and walks toward the table behind him, quickly followed by Rory, Zeus, Declan, and Paxton. Nyx, Dane, and I remain.
Nyx strokes Keaira’s head as She walks toward us, and I don’t know whether I’m thankful that Keaira is here, or if I’m jealous that she is receiving all of Mother’s attention. It’s selfish, I know.
“She has grown strong and beautiful. You have done well, Serena,” Nyx says so softly I almost don’t hear her for the pounding of blood rushing through my ears.
She holds out Keaira, and I take her in my trembling arms as something slips into my hand. When I glance up, I gasp as I stare into Her eyes and see the longing written within them and feel the soft caress against the wall surrounding my mind, keeping her out.
My throat tightens, and I have to close my eyes or else I’m going to do or say something I may regret. Nyx nods and heads toward the others as if nothing happened. Dane’s arm tightens around me, making me groan again. He loosens his grip.
“Sorry. Are you okay?” he whispers, and I shake my head.
How can I be okay when the only mother I can remember is in the same room as me, and we can’t admit it? Or more truthfully, I can’t. Because that would mean letting everyone in on my secrets, and I don’t think I could survive them knowing everything about me.
I scrunch the paper in my fist before smoothing it out it to read the words scribbled on it:
You were wonderful today, Serena, and I am so proud of you. Please meet me in the temple at nightfall. I need to speak with you.
Looking up, my eyes meet Nyx’s, and I nod without thinking. The smile She gives me makes me feel like everything will be okay. Even if it’s just for a little while.
Rory’s face turns beat red, and he throws the trident at Dane, who catches it easily with a smirk. “You guys suck,” he mutters, looking away from the rest of us laughing at his peril. Who knew that little Rory had slept with a night light until he was eighteen?
I snicker behind my glass of cold, celebratory soda as Dane twirls the trident around in his hand. The light bounces off the golden prongs, sending glittering beams across the living room. My back is still aching, but after a trip to the medic, I’m stitched up, bandaged, and fit to make a full recovery. It’s still hard to believe that we were able to pull this off. We got the freaking Trident of Truth. I grin as Dane points it to me, waggling his eyebrows.
“Truth or dare, Serena?”
“Truth.” I wiggle on the couch, sinking further into the cushions, and crook a beckoning finger at him. “Bring it, Dane.”
He holds out the trident, and I wrap my hand around the hilt. “If you had all of the godly relics, what would you do with them?”
“Give them to Master Rostova,” I reply immediately.
The guys
