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Will sent a warm glow into Nico.

And Nico accepted it.

A small gathering of dryads and nymphs greeted Nico and Will as they entered the dining pavilion, and Mr D had to shoo them away to even get close.

‘My twofavouritedemigods have returned,’ he said, and he held his arms open and embraced both of them at the same time.

‘Favourite?’ Will said into Mr D’s armpit. ‘I thought you didn’t evenlikedemigods.’

‘Oh, I don’t,’ he said. ‘All of you could fall to the bottom of the sea and I wouldn’t care. But I’d prefer if you two were the last to drown.’

‘I can’t believe I missed you,’ said Nico, grinning. ‘It’s great to be back.’

‘I must heareverything,’ said Mr D, gesturing to a table piled with fresh, steaming food. ‘Eat up, and commence with the storytelling, because what I’ve already heard soundsphenomenal.’

‘Already heard?’ said Will. ‘But … wejustgot here.’

‘News travels fast in our world,’ said Chiron, sitting at the head of the table. A couple of dryads darted up and began to pour chalicesof nectar for everyone. ‘And bits and pieces of your exploits have floated to the surface, so to speak.’

Mr D glanced down at Nico’s feet and the Cocoa Puffs ducked behind them. ‘I am especially eager to hear about … whatevertheyare!’

Nico thought Mr D looked like he was about to explode from excitement, and it was honestly a complete delight.

Will led Nico to the table, and they sat next to each other. There were fluffy eggs, glistening bowls of fruit, a towering stack of fresh pancakes and a platter piled high with crispy vegan bacon. Nico was certain he was going to eat every morsel.

‘Well, where should we start?’ he said after scarfing three flapjacks in rapid succession.

Chiron’s mouth was open a little bit. Mr D’s eyes were wide, like he was a demigod in the armoury.

‘The beginning, Nico,’ said Mr D, sitting opposite Chiron. ‘Obviously.’

And so Nico and Will took turns sharing what had happened over the course of the previous week. Nico would speak when Will needed to eat, and Will would take over when Nico’s eyes went all glassy as a new plate of food was placed on the table. Nico expected to feel exhausted after everything that had happened, but he realized how badly his heart, soul and mind had missed being here, in Camp Half-Blood, among people who cared for him.

He would always have a soft spot for the Underworld. It was his second home. But hisfirsthome – and this was what Nyx couldn’t understand about him – was the mortal world.

He had spent so many years resisting companionship, friendship and love. He’d refused to stay in one place and hadn’t allowed anyone to get close to him. No matter how hard people tried to showNico that they cared, he had chosen loneliness and isolation instead.

And as he listened to Will recount Chaos’s pit and the showdown with Nyx, Nico told himself that his past self had been trying to stay safe. After so many years of disappointment and pain, he had come to expect the worst. But now he’d …

There was a soft chittering at his feet. The Cocoa Puffs had gathered under the table, and they looked at him expectantly. The one-eyed cacodemon licked his lips with a glowing tongue.

So Nico grabbed a fresh plate of pancakes and quickly placed it on the ground. He did his best to ignore the frenzy that erupted as the Cocoa Puffs feasted, but Chiron finally looked under the table and scowled.

‘Those things are what Nyx created out of you?’ he asked.

Nico nodded. ‘She’s created cacodemons all her life,’ he said. ‘It’s not that surprising that she would do it again.’

‘So, you’re basically a father to a bunch of cacodemons,’ said Mr D. ‘This might be my favourite part of this story. It’s sochaotic.’

‘Excuse you,’ said Will. ‘They’re the Cocoa Puffs. Get it right.’

‘I don’t understand the reference, and I refuse to learn what it means,’ said Mr D. ‘But Cocoa Puffs it is.’

Chiron rubbed his goatee. ‘What an ingenious way of fulfilling the prophecy,’ he said. ‘I must admit … I was worried.’ He gestured to Mr D. ‘We werebothworried.’

‘Speak for yourself,’ said Mr D, popping a grape into his mouth. ‘I always knew that Nico would emerge victorious.’

Chiron scowled at the director. ‘Anyway, I think you did something scary and risky, Nico, but I’m glad you were willing to give up that part of yourself.’