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But as I leaned back, own clung to the back of ht It was really happening

NineNinestanding between Calliope and the baby I was carrying, and noas over

I wasn’t ready to be akids before I turned thirty, let alone twenty But Calliope hadn’t given me a choice, and with each day that passed, the sick dread inside rew thicker until it nearly choked me Calliope would take the baby fro I could do about it In a matter of hours, I would losemore than to see me suffer

But now he kne there was a chance, if only I could hold on a little longer until Henry came

Cronus must have seen the look on my face, because he chuckled and fluffed a pillow for me "Do not worry, my dear Calliope cannot kill you unless I allow her, and I assure you I would never hurt you"

It wasn’tto hurt oing to let her take the baby the ain"

Cronus stared at me blankly These were the moments I re but He didn’t understand why I loved the baby so iven Calliope too much attitude and she’d hit me in the et how badly the thought of being separated froain, Cronus was also the monster who’d tried to destroy his own children, so I suspected empathy was too much to hope for

"If you would like to keep the child, all you need to do is say the word," he said, as if it were that simple Maybe to hiet in the way In return, all I ask is that you rule by my side"

It wasn’t the first time he’d le moment, I entertained the possibility As the baby’s birth loorew more and more difficult

Cronus had made no secret of the fact that he wanted me as his queen while he ruled over the entire world, destroying everyone who dared to get in his way I had no idea why--the small bit of compassion I’d shown hiht him in the first war--but it didn’t matter I would be safe from the destruction, and so would the baby Henry, however, would be the first person Cronus ripped apart, and the entire world would follow

As much as I loved this baby, asto keep it safe, I couldn’t stand by Cronus’s side as he wiped out hu as he killed every last person I loved, and if I agreed, he would keep s I wouldn’t have the choice to die like Persephone had, and I couldn’t live with that guilt noout The gaone, and if I could keep Cronus guessing long enough not to hurt anyone, then ive the council a chance to find Rhea So I lied

"Prorinned, showing off a full set of pearly teeth Cronus had the smile of an airbrushed"Is that so? Very well Agree and I will leave humanity alone My quarrels are not with them, and one must have subjects when one rules"

"I said anyone," I countered "Not just humanity You can’t kill the council either"

Cronus eyed ainst hope I orth this to him I had to buy the council more time "Surely you understand whytoconsider it, depending on the nature of our relationship On how h ether for all eternity Iine, my dear, the beauty ould create And of course your child will know your love, and you will never have to say goodbye"

I closed ot to hold him or her The baby would have dark hair, I was sure of it, and light eyes like ers, ten toes, and I would love it instantly I already did

"You would be a mother," he murmured, his voice like a siren’s call "Forever there to love it, to nurture it, to raise it in your ie And I would be a father"

The spell he had over me shattered, and my eyes flew open "You are not this baby’s father," I said as another wave of pain washed over me This was too fast Contractions were supposed to come on slow and last for hours--my mother had been in labor for over a day when I was born

Cronus leaned in until his lips were an inch froh his breath smelled like a cool autumn breeze "No, I am not I am so much more"

The door burst open, and Calliope storressively over the past nine les on her face had becorown several inches to tower over ray eyes that crackled with lightning and fog, Calliope now looked like my mother Like an older blond version of me And I hated her even more for it