Page 65 of Until the End of Ever
“The Guard does keep some sensitive information private. Valesco happened upon the knowledge in the archives. Which is why Ronan had you sign that you’ll keep this case to yourselves.”
“Yes, Aristeia?”
The name, unusual in itself, caught my attention first. Then I noticed the blue-haired girl who’d ridden Gideon’s back at the Silvervine. They’d introduced her as Lucky last month, if memory served.
I noticed she tested Ronan’s persona. He couldn’t help a smile.
It must be difficult for them maintain the appearance of professionalism when the two were basically siblings.
“Are we allowed to summon someone for a tip?”
Ronan opened his mouth, presumably to refuse, but I beat him to it. “Who would you summon?”
The kid shrugged. “I mean, you say the three marks on the target’s skin mean Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, right? I’m notdumb enough to go hang out at their temple and shout for an answer, but say we call, I don’t know, Charon? Nereus? Even Ganymede. Gods or mortals, people gossip. If there’s something going on, someone will likely know.”
I was…at a loss. And feeling extremely dumb.
Why in the ever-loving fuck didn’t I think of that the moment Lucian theorized that I could have the names of Olympian gods on my skin? And I had an in with at least one of them, too.
“We’re imbeciles,” Lucian gritted between his teeth.
“Complete morons. Give her the hundred golds immediately.”
“Oh, hells no,” Ronan protested. “You’re not ruining my study session’s plan. The kids have four hours. Let’s see if they can solve the rest of your lives.”
We left them to it, although one of the twenty-something geniuses occasionally took breaks from scribbling in their notebooks to throw a question or two our way. While they worked, I erected a sound barrier between the desks and us, to speak in privacy.
“Silver,” I told the two men. “She was fostered by scions—like, the kids of gods, not yet ascended to a divine status.”
“We know what scions are, darling. That guyisone,” Ronan pointed out, gesturing to Lucian.
Oh. Well, that made sense. Technically, Cassius also qualified.
“Right. Well, Silver’s foster mother is a daughter of Hades and Persephone.”
I rarely paused to think of it. For one, Demetria was rarely in Highvale, or on Earth, and secondly, I’d never so much as seen her use any of her powers. But I still should have thought of asking her immediately after Lucian translated my runes. I must have been too shocked to think straight.
“Great! You can pop by and ask if her daddy’s been naughty,” Ronan drawled, all the while keeping the appearance of professionalism, as we were still within view of the kids.
“I cannot reconcile your face with what comes out of your mouth.” I shook my head. “And it wouldn’t be that simple. Demetria and Grey might have raised Silver because no one else could handle a kid stronger than Hercules, but now that she’s an adult, they’re often gone. She’d have a way to contact them if needed.”
“Erm,” I heard, just behind me.
I turned to see the petite blue-haired nymph, holding up an elegantly scribed paper.
“Lucky, this wasn’t a race for time. You still have an hour before presenting your findings.”
“Please.” The kid rolled her eyes. “We all know I’m going to win. I have plans for that money.”
Ronan sighed, and reached out, but the nymph handed the papers to me. “Blah, blah, long story short, a simple lineage ritual should figure out who created you.”
She spoke like we’d told her the “cold case” happened to me.
“It’stheoretical,” Ronan hissed.
Lucky snorted. “Please. I saw her rune yesterday night, and I’m not a complete idiot. Anyway, the ritual is called the Perthro Root. Think of it as a magical paternity test. As for your runes, Phoebus is an idiot. The Futhark are the only ones we should pay attention to, as they respond to your initial three.”
“Paternity?” I repeated. “I mean, I know who my father is.”
