Page 60 of A Touch of Chaos

Dionysus’s hands fisted, fighting the urge to touch her, even to speak, but he lost that battle.

“Ari,” he called as she turned toward Persephone. She paused and held his gaze. “Make sure you get out so you can see your sister again.”

So I can see you again, he thought.

She nodded once, and then Persephone’s sweet-scented magic filled the air. He didn’t take his eyes off Ariadne, staring at the spot where she had stood even after they vanished.

“It’s time,” said Lilaia, her finger resting on her earpiece as she listened to Naia give updates. They were waiting in the shadow of the adjoining parking garage, away from prying eyes and cameras. “She’s in room 323.”

She met Dionysus’s gaze, and he nodded, quickly shifting into an identical image of the doctor Naia had shown him. His ability to change forms was more than glamour, which only gave theappearanceof a transformation. He changed on a physical level, and it always felt wrong, like he was wearing another skin over his own.

“That issounsettling,” Naia said, shuddering.

“Ready?” Dionysus asked.

Lilaia secured a surgical mask over her face. “Let’s get this mama somewhere safe.”

He nodded, and together they left the shelter of the parking garage, crossing beneath a covered walkway and into the hospital, which was like barreling into a solid wall of sound. There was noiseeverywhere, pushing in from all sides.

It was all so loud. Dionysus felt like he couldfeelevery layer of sound—from the high-pitched ring of the telephone to the shuffling of paper. It scraped against hisskin, putting him more and more on edge as he made his way down the sterile hallway with Lilaia in tow.

The intercom blared, a female voice making Dionysus’s ears ring.

“Dr. Phanes to room 323. Dr. Phanes to room 323.”

“That’s Phaedra’s room,” said Lilaia.

“I know,” said Dionysus tightly.

They were almost to the elevators when someone slammed a hand down on his shoulder.

“Dr. Phanes!”

Dionysus whirled to face a nurse.

He had been so intent on his task, he nearly forgot who he was supposed to be impersonating.

“Y-yes?” he asked.

“Our patient in 124 just lost her mucus plug. Fetal heart rate is stable at 143, and contractions are still irregular,” the nurse said. “Should we increase the Pitocin?”

What the fuck was a mucus plug, and why did the sound of it make him want to vomit?

Dionysus hesitated. “Uh…”

Lilaia kicked him from behind, and he glanced at her to see her nod.

“Yes,” Dionysus said, turning back to the nurse. “Yes, increase the…”

He forgot what the nurse had said.Pee-toe-sin?

“Pitocin?” the nurse supplied.

“Yes, yes. The Pitocin.”

“Got it.”

The nurse hurried away down the hall, and Dionysus turned to face the elevators as Lilaia stabbed the top button.

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