“Why are you out of breath?” she asked as she stepped out.
“I took the stairs.”
“Why? There are other elevators.”
“I—” A dumb look crossed his face. “Never mind. Let’s go meet your siblings and tell them everything.”
Must they? Liora felt dread pooling in her stomach, but she managed to walk toward the lobby cafe. Choosing a private corner away from the middle, she sat down on one of the arm chairs. “Why did you have to barge in there when I was talking to Hektor and Zara anyway.”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I thought you were having trouble saying it, so I thought we’d just say it. And—wait, herethey come.” He nodded to their left. Sure enough, Elian, Zara and Hektor were coming their way.
“Hey, guys,” she greeted.
“Liora,” Elian greeted, then frowned. “You’re Maldenis, right?”
“Yes, glad you remembered me. After all, we’re going to be acquainted—ow!” Maldenis turned to Liora. “You kicked me.”
“Sit down and shut up,” she said. “All of you. I mean, the sit down part.” She massaged her temple with her thumb and forefinger. “There’s something you need to know. About why we’re all back here and why Maldenis is here.”
Elian seated himself on the couch across from her. “Does it have something to do with the mothers and the other demigods descended from Zeus?”
A flash went through Liora.
Disappointment.
Bitterness.
A little boy, feeling alone and abandoned.
She blinked at Maldenis, who despite looking calm and confident, flinched for just a microsecond.
He hasn’t even processed the fact that his father is Zeus, former king of Olympus. Currently imprisoned, yes, but very much alive.
Was that confident swagger hiding something more?
“Liora,” Zara said, interrupting her thoughts. “Are you okay?”
“What—” She shook her head, clearing her mind. “Sorry. Anyway, yes, this has something to do with our mission.”
Here goes nothing.
“Maldenis and I accidentally got married in a sacred spring and now we have no choice but to pretend like we’re a couple for the next year or else we lose access to all of Solkaris.”
“Excuse me?” Elian said, his voice raising a decibel above its usually normal levels. “You’re married?”
“Yes.” She let out a sigh.
“I think you should elaborate,” Hektor suggested. “Leave no detail out.”
She glanced at Maldenis, who only shrugged.Useless.“Fine.” And so she went into more detail, telling them about the ancient laws, how Maldenis and his family was shunned and that they would not be able to continue their mission so Perseus told her to fix it.
“And now if we want to complete the mission, he and I have to pretend we’re married so we can talk to the other moms and any other potential demigod,” she finished.
“You girls and your bullshit,” Elian exploded. “We have a mission here and you keep being distracted.”
“I’m sorry.” Liora meant it. “I fucked up, alright? I’m sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t going to solve this,” her brother gritted out. “What you did was foolish?—”
