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There’s nothing to say to that. It’s not my job to decide whether or not her information is worth the cost of getting her away from Minos. Truth be told, I would do it for free, but that’s not how Olympus works. Especially now when the price of failure is so high. “Is there anything else I need to know that can’t wait until you’re settled?”
“Only that my father will be looking for me.” She presses her lips together. “Not just my father.”
The Minotaur. I should leave it alone, but I can’t help taking her hand. “Did he force you?” I don’t have the power to command his death, but that won’t stop me from calling in whatever favors I can come up with if he hurt her.
“What?No. It was nothing like that.” She shakes her head sharply. “But if he knows I’m pregnant, then he’s going to get the wrong idea. I can’t let that happen.”
He’s going to get the wrong idea. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to make of that statement, so I set it aside. At this point I have to take her at her word. I don’t know what would inspire a woman like Ariadne to climb into bed with a man like the Minotaur, but then I didn’t think I would be commanding Orpheus to scrub Charon’s kitchen either. People contain multitudes.
I try to keep her engaged and distracted, but after three attemptsat conversation, I give up and settle down to wait. It’s hard not to run scenarios about what happens when I have to face Hades and my sister…and Charon. None of them are going to be happy with me.
My phone pings. I dig it out of my purse to find the Charon has texted me. My stomach twists a little at the two blunt words.I’m here.He’s fucking furious with me, and I can’t even claim the high ground this time. I essentially lied to him. “Let’s go.”
Ariadne presses herself to my side as we head for the door. Orpheus has a strange look on his face, but he keeps his silence. He merely holds the door open for us and falls into step behind. There’s no reason for us to be in active danger right now, not when Ariadne has proven herself adept at slipping her father’s leash for short times during the last couple weeks, but I can’t help but search the paths around us, trying to see through the bushes to ensure no one is following.
Charon waits for us by the curb, standing next to a nondescript black sedan. The tension in his shoulders reflects what I’m feeling. “Get in.” He holds open the back door. I usher Ariadne in ahead of me. Charon grabs my wrist in a gentle yet unbreakable clasp before I can follow her. “Wewillbe discussing this later.”
“I know.” I don’t have it in me to dredge up any self-righteousness this time. The end might justify the means for most people in Olympus, but that’s not how Charon functions. He wouldneverallow me to put myself in danger to serve this city. The fact that I chose to put myself in danger, at least in his eyes, has to be driving him up the wall.
He turns that harsh look on Orpheus. “You didn’t do a damn thing to keep her out of trouble, did you?”
Orpheus shrugs. “I figured it was better that one of us accompanied her. If I started arguing, she would’ve made me stay in the car.”
“A good dogprotects.” He doesn’t give either of us a chance to respond to that before he pushes me into the back seat and slams the door. Apparently Orpheus gets the front seat. Lucky him.
“I don’t think he likes me very much.” Ariadne huddles in her seat, her fear saturating the air in the enclosed space.
I put aside all thoughts of later. Charon and I will have it out, and apparently Orpheus too, but none of that matters right now. I take her hand and try not to wince when she tightens her grip to painful levels. “You’re safe. Hades gave his word, and he never breaks it.” And Charon serves Hades. His isn’t an unquestioning obedience—Hades would never expect that—but he has no reason to questionthisorder. We’re helping Ariadne…and serving the lower city in the process.
“How novel.” She gives herself a shake. When she speaks again, she’s managed to dampen some of the brittleness that has me so worried. “I’m sorry to drag you into this. I really did plan on helping you even without asking for anything but a safe place to stay, but when the test came back positive, I didn’t know who else to call.”
Her family has only lived in Olympus for a couple months at this point, and I wouldn’t say that they’ve made actual friends. Allies? Possibly. But even then, it doesn’t apply to the entire family. Minos is the one charming people and making connections. Aside from his house party, he hasn’t brought his daughter—or his son, for that matter—out.
Still…
“Why didn’t you reach out to Theseus?” He might have hadone of the shortest runs for the Hephaestus title in our history, and I still might not trust him all that much despite the fact that he’s apparently on our side, but heisher foster brother.
She’s already shaking her head. “He doesn’t like me, and he wouldn’t hesitate to throw me to the wolves if he thought it would help him and Pandora. The only person I would trust with this is Icarus, but he doesn’t know where to go in order to make this happen without it being broadcast across MuseWatch.”
It’s a fair concern. Nothing is sacred when it comes to the gossip sites. And Minos’s only daughter being seen entering a facility known for this kind of procedure? They would be sharks scenting blood in the water. “The paparazzi don’t find the lower city as welcoming. You won’t be photographed. I promise.” I’ve made more promises today than I have in the last six months. I really hope that I’m not about to break them.
Hades gave his word. I have to trust that.
Charon and Orpheus climb into the car, and then there’s no more time for talking. I hold Ariadne’s hand as we drive through the upper city to the Cypress Bridge. I wish I could breathe a sigh of relief as we cross over to the lower city, but although it’s painful to cross the River Styx without an invitation, it’s not impossible. Orpheus is proof of that.
Somehow, I don’t think even horrendous pain will be enough to dissuade the Minotaur if he decides to come hunting.
17
CHARON
It takes everything I have to keep my temper locked down through the next few hours. I have my orders though. Eurydice is safe enough when I deliver her and Ariadne to the small private clinic Hades ensures stays funded so that its services are available to anyone who needs them. It’s also staffed by security people Minthe personally chose. It doesn’t get the same attention the clinics like it in the upper city do, but we installed the best security system money can buy just in case. There is absolutely no reason for me to see the women past the front door. They’re safe.
Too bad my instincts don’t give a shit.
All I can focus on is the fact that Eurydice lied to me. She stood there and assured me that she would keep Medusa with her the entire time she was in the upper city, and the first chance she got, she was running off to put herself in direct danger. I don’t need to know the details of Ariadne’s pregnancy in order to know that.She’sthrowing herself on Hades’s sanctuary, and she wouldn’t do that ifshe wasn’t desperate. Which means Minos, and anyone he can bring to bear, will be out tracking his daughter. Considering the current climate in Olympus, I don’t think he would hesitate to hurt Eurydice if he thought she helped Ariadne.
Andthatis what I cannot forgive.
