Page 4 of The Court of the Dead (The Nico di Angelo Adventures #2)

“Not with that attitude, Chiron,” said Mr. D. “That boy Noah nearly passed away from an Iris-message. He needs to be thrown into the deep end to get his demigod legs. It’ll be fun!”

Chiron decided to ignore him, which was often the wisest strategy when dealing with Mr. D.

“Nico and Will, you two have been working very hard,” Chiron conceded. “Perhaps a change of scenery would do you good. Just stay in contact, especially if you think you’ll need more time out west.”

Despite his misgivings, Nico felt a burst of excitement. “Thank you!”

“And I’ll expect hourly reports,” said Mr. D.

Nico froze. “Wait. Seriously?”

“Of course not.” The god laughed. “Can you imagine me caring that much? Besides, my network of minions will keep me updated if anything interesting happens.” He faced Chiron. “Now, about these riding lessons on our fire-breathing dragon. Where do you think we can source an asbestos saddle?”

As the two demigods headed out of the dining pavilion and toward the cabins, Will leaned close to Nico. “Does Mr. D actually have a network of minions?”

“To be honest,” Nico said, “nothing about him would surprise me anymore.”

Nico wasn’t big on packing. Usually, he just rushed off on an adventure and left the whole What am I wearing tomorrow? question for later. But Will was quick to remind him how useful his supplies had been on their journey into Tartarus.

“Imagine if I hadn’t had my sun-therapy globe,” Will said, stuffing his backpack with an extra hoodie and some snacks. “Or my first aid kit.”

“We’re going to a camp for demigods,” Nico said. “They have food. They have medical supplies. We can even get you one of their purple shirts if you want.”

Will grinned. “I do look good in purple. Would the shirt say My Boyfriend Went to Camp Jupiter and All He Got Me Was This Lousy T-Shirt ?”

Nico was only half listening. He paced around the Apollo cabin, wondering what it would be like when he saw Hazel.

What would she think of the Cocoa Puffs?

Had their father spoken to her recently?

A million questions. He was also thinking about his friend Jason Grace, the former praetor of Camp Jupiter—another blond demigod who looked good in purple.

Nico had loved him like a brother, and he was now gone forever.

Maybe putting Will in a purple SPQR shirt wasn’t such a great idea.

Nico wasn’t sure his heart could bear it.

Will sat on his bed and began to roll sock pairs into balls. “I know you’re restless. I imagine you want to leave right now, but tomorrow is better. Good night’s sleep and all that.”

Nico kept pacing.

“Hey,” Will said. “Lord of Darkness.”

Nico paused. “What?”

Will pushed aside his miniature mountain of socks. He tapped the bed next to him. “Sit.”

Irritation flared in Nico’s chest. Will was a little too good at cutting through Nico’s posturing, or his attempts to avoid the truth. He meant well, though. Nico took a deep breath and settled in beside his boyfriend.

“Sorry,” Nico said. “You’re right. I am a bit antsy.”

“You usually are before quests.”

“But this isn’t a quest.”

Will nodded. “And…?”

“And what?”

“Would you prefer that it was ?”

Nico raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Will put his hand in a blue sock as if checking for holes. “I mean that the last three months have been peaceful, right? Just hanging out. Living life. I, for one, have been happy not to be chased by murderous pigeons or pelted by acid rain on a daily basis.”

“I too am glad we’re not currently suffering.”

“But are you glad?”

Nico gasped. “Will!”

“Sorry, that came out harsh.” Will held up his sock puppet and ventriloquized. “Maybe I’m overanalyzing you.”

“Maybe not,” Nico said, tugging the sock off Will’s hand. “I get where you’re going. I’ve been running my whole life. From my childhood or monsters or grief. Now that I don’t have to do that anymore—”

“It feels weird?”

Nico nodded. “I know a lot of us have to deal with ADHD, but with ADHD, you find the most interesting thing, and you can laser-focus on it, right?”

“That’s how demigods are built,” Will agreed.

“But when there’s no threat, no quest…” Nico hesitated. He’d talked himself into a corner. He didn’t want to imply that Will wasn’t the most interesting thing in his life, or that he wasn’t deserving of Nico’s full focus.

“I’m having a hard time just existing,” he said at last. “I’m worried that I have nothing to worry about. I have no idea if that makes any sense. I keep thinking there’s some monster looming around the corner, ready to pounce on me.”

“And in a way,” Will said, “fighting a monster would be a relief. Because you’re used to that.”

Nico put his head on Will’s shoulder. “Am I broken, Doc?”

Will laughed gently. “Not even a little. But you’re about to go see your sister and a whole different set of friends.

Whatever is going on at Camp Jupiter, we won’t have a quest to guide us.

There’s no checklist. I’m betting it’ll be more about listening to them, reconnecting, hanging out together. Living life.”

“The hard stuff,” Nico grumbled.

“Exactly,” Will said. “The best help you can offer Hazel is just to be present for her.”

“ ‘Be present.’ ” Nico made air quotes around the words. “That’s what Mr. D is always telling me. He’s got me doing all these exercises…like if I don’t, I’ll slip into the past or the future.”

“Are you a time traveler, Nico?”

“That’s what I wondered! If so, I’m not using my powers correctly.”

Will grabbed his hand. “Well, I am happy to practice staying in our current timeline with you. You just have to ask.”

“Thanks, sunshine.”

Will stood. “Anyway. Not enough socks. Gotta pack more.”

Nico groaned. He slid off the bed and onto the floor. “Will, it’s only two days .”

“Maybe so,” Will said, “but what if we end up fighting a monster after all, and its weakness is wool socks? Then you won’t think I’m so silly.”

“The day that happens, I’ll eat one of your socks.”

Will tossed a rolled-up pair at him, but Nico dodged it. He lay there staring at the ceiling as Will finished packing.

Nico wondered if he was going to feel this on edge, this vigilant, for the rest of his life. There had to come a time when he could simply relax and learn to enjoy relaxing, right?

He still wasn’t sure.