Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
She crouches down and takes the time to greet each dog, her strong features relaxed in a grin. “Hello there, loves. Who’s a good baby? You are. All of you are.”
I smile. “You spoil them.”
“All dogs deserve to be spoiled.” Medusa gives them one last pet and then rises. “Are you ready to go?”
“I am. I just have to grab my coat.” It’s been a milder winter than normal, and pregnancy makes me overheat quickly, but it will worry Hades if he finds out I’ve left without at least a jacket. And he will find out. If there’s one thing people will do, it’s gossip, and Hades’s overprotectiveness has extended through everyone I encounter in the lower city. Most of the time, it’s nice to know they’re looking out for me.
We leave a few minutes later and head down the sidewalk toward the Winter Market.
“We’ll have Charon pick us up.” Medusa easily matches her pace to mine without seeming like she’s doing it. I’m nowhere near as fast as I used to be, not when I’m lugging around this belly.
“You know, walking is good for me. I even have a note from the doctor saying so.” Hades has been a bit...overprotective since we found out I’m pregnant. He tries his hardest not to smother me, but there’s no changing the fact that this is bringing up a lot of baggage for him.
I understand where he’s coming from, but that doesn’t change the fact that I refuse to let him bottle me up in the house, surrounded by a small army. I know it would make him feel better, but I can’t live like that.
Another compromise.
Life seems to be a series of them, but isn’t that always the way?
“Are you and Calypso doing anything particular for the holidays?” I tuck my hair behind my ears. “You’re more than welcome at the house to celebrate with us.”
“Oh, I know.” She grins. “Both Hades and Charon extended invitations this week.”
I laugh. “Never doubt that your presence is wanted.” Charon, in particular, has seemed to take personal responsibility for Medusa and Calypso settling in. Though I don’t know if they’re still technically “settling in” well over a year after moving here to work for Hades.
Or, rather, fleeing for their lives.
It’s nowhere near as uncommon as I’d thought when I first crossed the River Styx all those months ago. The lower city has been refuge for so many people. Ironic, when up until a year ago, Hades was considered a myth and the boogeyman of Olympus. Instead, he’s the savior to those desperate enough to cross the river into his domain.
Medusa drags a hand through her short blond hair. “We appreciate the offer, but I think we’re going to do something private.”
“Well, the offer stands.”
“Like I said, we appreciate it.” It’s hard to tell with her scarf around her neck, but I think she’s blushing. “All of it.”
It takes us twice as long as normal to reach the winter market because we keep getting stopped on the street. Hades and I don’t get out as much as we used to, not since the attacks... Another thing I refuse to think about.
It’s over. That’s enough. I’m not naive; I know our lives are never going to be completely free of danger, but with the changes in Olympus, at least there’s hope. There’s always hope.
Medusa does her best to have patience, but by the time we reach the winter market, she’s practically fidgeting. She’s not one to stand still, so it must be agonizing to move so slowly.
I shrug out of my coat as we step inside. It’s not technically heated by anything other than the bodies of people shopping in this space, but it’s inside so no one can fret that I’m not warm enough. Medusa eyes the coat of my arm, but when I tense, ready for an argument, she just says, “I’ll carry that for you.”
“That’s not necessary.” I smile. “I’m more than capable of hauling around a jacket for a time.” And there’s the problem of her needing her hands to be a proper bodyguard.
I hate that I even have the thought.
To distract myself, I look around the winter market. On one hand, I can’t believe it’s been an entire year since I was here last. On the other, it feels like several lifetimes.
“Where to first?”
“Let’s see what they have for decorations.” I spent a particularly sneezy afternoon in the attic, searching for anything of that nature, but if it ever existed in the Hades household, it was lost in the fire of Hades’s youth like so much else.
And so we begin again. Symbolic in so many ways.
I take my time meandering the stalls with Medusa looming at my side. Everything is so festive, garlands strung from various booths, a wild variety of smells hitting me at every turn. I take a moment tobe grateful that my morning sickness has long since passed, but I do work to pass one stall serving fish as quickly as possible, shooting the woman there an apologetic smile.