He let out a slow breath before he spoke again. “Look, dumbass … I don’t care what stupidity Livia has filled your head with. The only person who could possibly free me from you, outside of a grisly death and damnation I’d rather not face, is my father. And I wouldn’t trust him for anything. Not that he would do it anyway since he’s currently Noir’s right hand. To get free of you, I’m rather sure he’d require I unleash you on the world, which would defeat the purpose of being free of you. So no, I haven’t been trying to get free of you as there is no point in it.” Caleb scratched at his face. “Besides, I’m getting way too attached to your annoying stupidity. You’re like a pet that chews up my favorite shoes.”

He should probably be offended by that, but coming from Caleb’s surly hide, that was a deep avowal of love.

“I’m glad you’re not dead. Today.” Nick left the room only to hear Caleb’s shout about why and how Dagon was there.

Ignoring him and leaving it for Menyara to explain, Nick joined Simi in the guest room and waited with bated breath until his mom opened her blue eyes.

She scowled up at him before she slowly glanced around the room. “Where am I? How did I get here?”

“Don’t you remember, Ma?”

“Um … no.”

“Our power went out. We came over to Caleb’s. You were on the stairs when the storm broke the window and some of it hit you. You fell.” Nick committed that lie to memory so that he could confess it to the priest on Saturday. Of course, he had a lot to talk to the priest about. Most of which left Father Jeffrey thinking he was writing a novel.

But that was okay by him.

He was just grateful that he was alive and that his mother was still with him.

Which reminded him of one more extremely important thing he had left to do.

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Nick, Simi, Kody, and Dagon stood deep in the bowels of Tartarus, where Simi’s “scary” room was located. She was right. It was kind of slimy where they kept the Eye of Ananke.

But for once, they’d had an easy time getting to it, since their guide was the son of the goddess Hekate.

Turns out, if you’re friends with a friend of Hades and your mom is best friends and the handmaiden of Persephone, you’re gold to visit his realm. All Hekate had demanded was a kiss and hug from her son.

Simi picked up the dark green gem and handed it to Nick. “Oooo sparkly. So what’s this for, anyway?”

“Not real sure.”