“Of course.” It was Josie who murmured that this time.

“I do not like how similar you two are becoming,” Apollo stated.

Josie flushed. “What kind of consequences?”

“Thank you for asking,” he returned, and I started wondering how much longer this conversation was going to take. “As you know, all lesser beings tied to Olympus are no longer allowed in the mortal realm.”

“Except for pures, halfs, and Apollyons.” I paused. “And the occasional nymph and demigod.”

“Exactly.” The intensity of his blue eyes heightened. “If we allow one of them to come through, there’s a chance that other . . . things will too.”

“Like what?” Josie asked.

“You know, the occasional Pegasus or Hydra. Maybe even a Minotaur. Ultimately nothing to be too concerned with.”

“Hydra?” she squeaked. “Nothing to be too concerned with. Okay.”

Apollo smiled as he nodded. “I should have the release of the demigod shortly. Still waiting on Hera to sign off on it, but she’s currently pissed at Zeus, and that’s slowing everything down.”

I decided not to comment on that. “Okay. So what demigod are we talking about here?”

His smile turned creepy, like hide-your-kids-level creepy. “You’ll see.” A shimmery blue light appeared over him. “Now I have to—”

“Wait just a second. Please?” Josie rose. “How is Erin?”

The shimmer around Apollo faded. “She is doing very well. I have a feeling you will be seeing her soon.”

“What—”

The blue shimmer increased around Apollo and within a heartbeat, he was gone.

“—about my mother?” Josie finished, throwing up her arms as she twisted toward me. “Why does he always do that?”

“I think it makes him feel cool or something.”

“Well, it is kind of cool. I mean, he can pop in and out of, like, anywhere, but I really wish he had better timing.”

I snorted. “You and me both. He’s the king of bad timing.”

Josie smiled a little as she sat back down on the arm of the chair. “I wish he actually hung around so that I could ask him about Erin and my mom.” She paused, and her shoulders slumped. “Or, you know, spend time with me.”

Watching her, I tried to think of something . . . supportive to say, but what could you say in a situation like this? Her father was a dick and he was on the absentee list. It was obvious to anyone with a functioning brain that it bothered Josie. The fact that he didn’t actively try to fix that somehow confirmed the first fact.

“Who do you think the demigod is going to be?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” I rubbed my fingers through my hair. “But knowing Apollo, it’s going to be the most annoying demigod he can get his hands on.”

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Josie

I had another nightmare last night.