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That wasn’t why though, of course She’d wanted co to get sick?" I whispered

"What? No, honey, no" Her hands slowed "I was never supposed to get sick You were supposed to be older You were supposed to have the chance to live, to choose a life for yourself Deception was never supposed to be part of it I planned on telling you on your twentieth birthday, and at that point you would’ve taken the tests if you’d wanted to When I found out I had cancer, I went to the council, and they decided to speed up the schedule I held on so long because Theo helped me None of that was planned, I swear"

I nodded She wouldn’t lie toshe went through, everything she’d suffered--no one in their right h that for a stupid test

I would’ve never passed if she hadn’t developed cancer, though I would’ve never been so afraid of death that I illing to give up six months of one behindchance?

I pushed the thought from my mind It was ridiculous Not even the council was capable of that I hoped

"Walter kneas alone," I said "Why didn’t he co of the Gods, honey, and as ht of the world on his shoulders" She finishedit off with a bit of ribbon froenta flower and tucked it into the end "Walter has never been much of a father to any of his children"

"So I’ve been told" I turned to face her "What would’ve happened if I hadn’t passed?"

"You knoould have happened, darling Your one on living your life"

"But you would have still been alive," I said "Your mortal body would have died, but you would still be there And you would’ve visited ht?"

My mother’s eyes became unfocused "Perhaps in your dreams, if the council allowed it"

I inhaled sharply, and pain worse than anything Cronus could throw at me burrowed into my chest She would have left ly abandoned me if I hadn’t passed