“What do you think?” Cronus asked. Hound must have thought he was talking to him because he galloped awkwardly around looking like a puppy, before he settled down on the floor to nap in a beam of sunlight streaming through one of the windows.
Someone definitely felt at home.
Striding to the windows myself, I moved the gauze curtains aside, staring straight out at the sand and water. “It's so perfect,” I breathed. “Even better than I'd ever imagined a house could be.”
Cronus smiled. “Great, because I managed to get around your little paperwork problem by offering double their asking price.”
I blanched. “I mean, can we afford that? It takes a lot of dick gold to put a child through college these days.”
Cronus and Hyperion exchanged a glance. “Our baby is a Titan, Mais,” Cronus reminded me. “She’ll be born a genius.”
I narrowed my eyes, hands on my much wider hips. “Schooling is important! I want her to have every opportunity I didn't.”
Cronus’ lips twitched. “Of course. Well, you don't have to worry. I have a few thousand years’ worth of gold at my disposal. We've already got a broker cashing some of it in now. Apparently, it's the purest they've had in a long time and it's been quite lucrative. I’ve added you to the bank account and your debit card is in the mail.”
Two of my favorite words.Debit. Card.
I turned to Hyperion. “Where will you all live? I don't want us to be far apart.”
His face softened and he stepped over to me, wrapping his arms around me in the perfect grandpa hug. I'd never had anyone who wasn't my mom care about me like this, and she'd been gone for so long I'd forgotten what having a family was like.
He pulled away. “We will visit you every single day if you want. It's barely a thought and we can be where you are. Don't worry, my granddaughter, you will not lose us.”
Before I could start bawling, Cronus distracted me by mentioning the nursery. Ready to explore the entire house, I was amazed that downstairs had a games room, cinema, outdoor deck, and so much storage I'd never be living with all my shit in boxes under my bed again. Upstairs, there were five bedrooms and bathrooms. The master was massive with its own seating area and a small wing off it that would make the perfect nursery until our little one was ready for her own space.
“I'm going to paint it pale yellow,” I said excitedly. “Sunny and warm and happy.” Hurrying over to the huge windows, the view was even more spectacular than downstairs. “And we can build a window seat here, with shelves all around for her books.”
Hyperion chuckled. “Theia is definitely going to be all over this decorating stuff. We'll give you a couple of days to settle in and then we'll be back to help.”
“Yay!” I cheered. “I've never had a place to decorate, and I legitimately have so many home decorating Pinterest pages saved that we'll have ideas for years.”
Hyperion held both hands up. “No idea what that means, but I'm happy for you.” One last hug and then he popped out, leaving me alone with Cronus.
I sighed, and it was a happy, relieved sound. “Are you ready for a normal human life full of domestic bliss?” I asked him. “Don't think you'll get bored?”
Cronus tilted his head like he didn't understand what I meant. “I spent a thousand years in a wasteland with nothing but Hound and my fractured sanity. I wasn't bored. Our brains don't work like humans’. We can be content just to exist without constantly striving for more.” His hand cupped my cheek. “You and our child are all the entertainment I'll ever need.”
Hound barked from the doorway, having just come up the stairs to find us. “And Hound,” he added.
Fuck. I'd heard the term domestic bliss before, but I think I might have finally found it.
Chapter 20
The pain came in shattering waves across my belly once more, everything tightening to the point where I thought I might pass out.
“Cronus,” I choked out, half on the toilet after having to pee for the tenth time this morning.
We were completely moved into the house, and had plans for a barbecue shindig tonight to celebrate with all the Titans. Phoebe had already asked if I wanted my statue in gold, bronze, or silver. I told her a houseplant was a nice housewarming gift and no hand carved statues were necessary.
When the pain passed, I gritted my teeth and stood. I'd been having contractions on and off for days, but I'd figured they were Braxton Hicks, since I was still at least a month off our estimated due date.
The last few had seemed close together though, and I was sure that was a sign of something. Impending baby, no doubt.
“Maisey!” Cronus said, popping in soaking wet. “I heard you call. Was just swimming with Hound.”
Both of them were ocean obsessed, and at some ungodly hour every single morning could be seen swimming laps. If I hadn't known them, I would have reported them both as serial killers. It was the only thing that made sense.
“Sorry, it was just a bad pain in my stomach,” I said, huffing as I walked, because my lungs were being crushed by a stomach invader. “Seems to have stopped now.”
