Page 38 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

Too soon, we were pulling into Naxos, and the plank appeared again. Accepting whatever my fate was, Iwalked ashore just as someone appeared through the trees.

“Welcome back,” Dion said.

“I wish I could say it was good to see you,” I replied.

“That’s fair.” He sighed, then gestured toward the path I knew led to his house. “I’ll show you where you’re staying.”

I fell into step behind him. “I’m surprised she’s letting you interact with me. The ship was empty.”

“It was my condition for allowing the use of my island,” he explained.

“She actually asked permission?”

“This is my home. My sovereign space. I alone can choose who stays here and who must leave.”

“Why Noxos?” I asked. “Your home is beautiful, but why would she choose this?”

“I’m sure she has her reasons, but she didn’t share them with me.”

“What about your Maenads? She won’t harm them, will she?” My thoughts went to how she’d used the Athonian tributes to revive herself.

“She swore an oath that all who lived on this island before you arrived would be safe,” he said.

“Before I arrived,” I repeated.

He looked over his shoulder. “I tried, Ara. I did. She would not guarantee your safety.”

I swallowed hard, trying to shove away the rising anxiety. I knew before I even stepped foot on the ship, but hearing it from Dion made it more real.

He stopped walking, then turned to face me. “You have overcome greater odds. You’re not even supposed to be alive. I heard the story. I heard how the fates wanted you dead. Remember that when you face her. You’ve already overcome more than you should. There’s no reason you can’t continue to defy the odds.”

“Unless it means I’m running on borrowed time,” I said.

“Prove them wrong, Ara. Like you always do, and you’ll be fine.” He offered a small smile, then resumed walking toward his home.

“I never thought I’d be friends with the great Dionysus,” I said playfully.

He laughed, that bubbly infectious sound that made me feel lighter. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.” He looked over his shoulder. “You know, that offer still stands if things don’t work out between you and the dark prince.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but the figure standing in front of us made me freeze.

“You actually came,” Nyx said, her voice deadly calm with a sharp edge.

I inclined my head. “Nice to see you again, Nyx.”

She hummed. “I wish I could say the same about you. But I suppose you could impress me. You did kill the minotaur and free me from my prison, after all.”

“You’d think that would have earned her some affection,” Dion said.

Nyx gave him a sidelong glare that would have terrified a mortal. Instead, the god laughed it off before walkingpast the goddess. “Ara, your room is ready whenever you are.”

“She won’t be retiring to her room just yet. I have something else we must attend to first.” She looked at Dion, her expression stern. “Leave us.”

To my surprise, he didn’t argue. He simply turned and walked away. I wanted to shout after him, beg him to stay. At least Dion was familiar, even if he was unstable.

Nyx gestured for me to come alongside her.

I obliged and tried to keep my expression neutral to mask the fear and anxiety twisting my insides.

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