“Whatever you say, Atty.”
Athena sighed as Orion led her through the residence toward the back where everyone had gathered to celebrate the arrival of Triton and Kassia’s child.
When she stepped through the sliding glass doors, she felt as if she might cry on the spot.
Triton sat with Kassia and their cherub-cheeked baby in his arms, looking as if they had no clue the rest of the Gods surrounded them. Sure enough, Mars and Lorelai were in the corner together, both glowing with the same orange aura that followed them everywhere now, Calliope by their side.
It was still strange to see, knowing all that had transpired. Athena never would have guessed her pain-in-the-ass brother actuallywouldclean up his own mess, but the sweet, young mortal who had stolen his heart had managed to break the curse with a kiss of true love to boot. It was the firstrealrelationship her brother had had since he and Aphrodite went their separate ways. And a healthy, loving relationship that wasn’t just founded on sex and violence looked rather good on him.
It seemed her brother had finally found his peace, hismore.
Athena set down the gift on the white folding table alongside the myriad of other gifts overtaking it.
She’d gone simple with just a hand-woven blanket. She missed weaving, as she didn’t do it much anymore, but hearing of the birth of Triton’s child spurred an abundance of creativity as she spent days making the ocean-inspired piece.
Calliope waved at her and she met her half way.
“Did you tell him yet?” Calliope asked, not bothering with pleasantries.
“Is that all you care about? My love life?” Athena nipped.
Calliope shrugged, her sparkling eyes alive with interest.
“I mean, your life is my soap opera, you know. I’m dying to know his reaction.”
Athena scanned the crowd of Triton’s closest friends, a group that had seemed to grow over the course of the last several months. Orion was animatedly telling a story to his new girlfriend, Trinity, the woman he’d rescued from Heaven, the very same one she’d seen with him at ButterNut Bakery.
Even the newly mortal Hades had shown up, insisting it was nothing more than a favor he owed to Orion, yet he brought his mortal mate as well.
All around her it seemed as if the world was changing, and she wasn’t sure how to keep with the current. Her stomach flipped, and a wave of nausea returned.
“I mean, I’d like to tell him in person, Callie. Not over the phone.”
Callie huffed in annoyance.
“How long is this Library Conference? I swear, its like he’s been gone for weeks!” Callie said with annoyance.
“Hey!” Triton interrupted them, his smile beaming.
“Hey there,dad,”Calliope said sweetly.
Athena felt herself start to sweat.
This was a terrible idea.
“Glad to see you could make it, I know you have been under the weather lately,” he said as he nodded at Athena. She smiled, forcing down the urge to run to the nearest bathroom.
How was she going to survive the next six months?
“Yup, well, it’s been a rough couple months. For all of us,” she said as she sucked in a clear breath.
Triton raised an eyebrow. They exchanged a look, one she most certainly felt indicated he knewexactlywhat was going on, but he would not say a word.
And for that, she was thankful.
“That it has,” Orion said as he came up to them. “Where’s your dirty little librarian?” Orion snickered with a wink.
“He’s at a conference,” Athena bit as Calliope giggled.
