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“And if they try to take us on in the middle of Camp Jupiter, surrounded by the entire legion…” Frank bared his teeth.

Nico usually thought of Frank as a big, cuddly teddy bear. He’d forgotten how scary the guy could be when he showed his teddy-bear fangs.

Hazel focused on the gray smoke of the eidolon. “So…will you consider staying?”

Orcus and Johan stood motionless, waiting for Semele’s decision.

“It is dangerous,” she said. “But perhaps no more dangerous than striking out on our own. We will stay one more night.”

Nico exhaled with relief. Johan crouched, offering his hand to Orcus, who gave the blemmyae the tiniest of high fives.

“Now, if it is all right with you,” Semele continued, “we mythics need time to ourselves—to grieve, to rest, to prepare.”

The demigods got the message. They filed out of the mythics’ quarters into the night. On the Field of Mars, Terminus had conjured up several hundred feet of yellow police tape and had created a perimeter around the building.

“This is an active crime scene!” he announced. “No one may leave without my permission!”

“I’m going to bed,” Hazel said, walking past him.

“Okay, fine,” Terminus grumbled. “You can go.”

Will walked up to the nearest line of tape.

“And you, too,” said Terminus.

When Nico smirked at the minor god, he sighed. “And you. You can ALL go, but only because I gave permission.”

As they headed back to camp, the last thing Nico heard was Terminus ordering a very confused Maynard Thee Faun to start dusting the scene for godly fingerprints.

Maybe Frank was right. Minor gods weren’t unbeatable.

Nico put a hand on Hazel’s shoulder. “That was impressive back there. Can we strategize more over breakfast?”

She yawned. “Actually, let’s make it lunchtime. I should get some real, not-Mist-induced sleep.”

“Sleeping late doesn’t sound very Roman,” he noted.

“Zip it, di Angelo.”

He smiled. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“And we’re going tokeepher okay,” Frank vowed. “I just hope you two know what you’re doing. All this cacodemon and Mist talk…” He shook his head. “I’d prefer a straight-up fight.”

“So would I,” Will admitted, “and Ihatefighting. But one thing I’ve learned about children of the Underworld: they are very resourceful, and they make excellent partners.” He winked at Nico.

“Hmm,” Frank said. “Well, I can’t disagree with that, or Hazel will punch me.”

She laughed and punched him regardless, in the most loving way possible.

“See you at lunch,” she told Nico and Will. “We’ll take it one step at a time, okay?”

She looped her arm through Frank’s and led him toward the principia.

Nico tried to stay positive. He tried not to think about Asterion’s empty room, or their utter failure tonight, or the witch’s voice over the tesserae. She had called herself an officer of the court…but what court? Who was judging, and what were the crimes? Even more worrisome, what were the punishments?

He would have to trust in their plan for tonight. Hazel would be fine. They would get their answers.

One step at a time, he repeated to himself. He could do that.