Page 137

Small Bob meowed from the twisted roots of a nearby mangrove, and Nico guided Will in that direction.

‘I can’t say I’m going through what you are,’ Nico said. ‘But think about what Percy and Annabeth told us. We have to keep reminding each other of our lives before. That’s how we’re going to survive this, Will.’

‘Before?’ Will groaned. ‘I can’t grab on to any one thing. It’s all a soup in my mind.’

‘Then let me remind you,’ said Nico. ‘Or we can talk about the stories we shared with Gorgyra.’

‘Gorgyra.’ Will said her name sleepily. ‘Her dress was weird.’

‘It was,’ said Nico, smiling.

‘It was full of voices.’

‘Don’t think about those. Think about what we told each other.’

‘They said I belonged with them,’ said Will. ‘That I was lonely, even with you.’

Nico’s heart sank. ‘What?’

‘Not all the time, Nico,’ said Will, shooting him a sad look. ‘Just sometimes. When I’m not sure if you’ve let me in.’

Nico didn’t slow down, even though he wanted to, even though he needed to know what Will meant. But … he already knew, didn’t he? As much as this trip had revealed some of Will’s uncomfortable thoughts about the Underworld and the darkness in Nico, it had also revealed that Nico often shut Will out. Of his past, of his feelings, of the things that scared him.

‘This relationship stuff is hard,’ said Nico softly.

Will nodded. ‘Yeah, it is,’ he said. ‘I didn’t know you had to, like … always work on things. But you do, don’t you? Every part of it … is achoice.’

Small Bob leaped across the path they were on and jumped over a downed mangrove. Nico helped Will over it first, then hopped up onto the trunk. On the other side, Will had his arms out to help Nico down.

‘Will, you’re exhausted. Don’t worry about me.’

‘I got you,’ said Will. ‘Just like you’ve had me this whole quest.’

Nico eased himself into Will’s arms, and soon they were both locked in a tight embrace.

‘Is it okay if I tell you I’m scared?’ Will said into Nico’s shoulder.

‘Of course.’

‘Because I’m scared of what’s coming.’

Nico pulled away. ‘Of Nyx?’

‘Maybe a little,’ he said. ‘But more … more the prophecy. And what you’ll have to leave behind.’

Will’s upper lip quivered, and Nico stilled it with a kiss.

‘It’s not going to be you,’ he said, ‘and it’s not going to be me.’

‘You promise?’

Nico hesitated for only a second, then blurted out, ‘I swear on the Styx.’

Will’s eyes went wide. ‘Nico, why did you say that?’

‘Because I meant it!’

‘But what if thatishow you have to save Bob? Now you can’t!’