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While the rest of the earthbound gods left one by one, Eros re the spot where Ava’s reflection had stood only moments before, and we each settled into our proper place I cradled Milo, who slept soundly, and tried to ignore the empty seats on either side of Walter Nicholas, the worse for wear but healing, set his hand on the armrest of the seashell throne that had been Ava’s As he brushed the tears from his cheeks, I looked away

"Brothers and sisters, sons and daughters," said Walter into the silence "While ill forever e that their positions a Calliope made sense--like Henry couldn’t rule the Underworld alone, surely the same was true for Walter and his realm But Ava?

She patted my hand All in due time

"I will handle the replacement of my queen," said Walter "In the meantime, I ask that Diana take the role temporarily and assist me as needed"

"Of course," said my mother "Whatever I can do to help"

Walter inclined his head "Thank you As for Ava’s place, we ain scour the world to find one who is worthy It will not be an easy task Ava was" He paused "She was irreplaceable We cannot pretend otherwise, but we must continue on Kate"

"Yeah?" I said, and htened around mine

"I think it appropriate that you take Ava’s place Temporarily," he added "Until we find so her role"

"What of her duties in the Underworld?" said Henry before I could protest "I need her by doreat coh to tide us over until we have found a new goddess She can handle it during her su in the Underworld during the summer now I don’t want to leave Milo" Or Henry, but that wasn’t the sort of excuse Walter would understand

"It would be no great thing for you to focus on helping us with Ava’s duties in the meantime," said Walter "Of us all, you are best suited for the role, at least for a short period of time"

A short period of time to Walter could have easily been a hundred years "I can’t," I said "I’m sorry, but I can’t replace her, and I can’t leave h his voice was high and boyish, he’d featured prominently in a few of the , after all "It’s what enerous an offer as it is," said Walter, "you are not a member of the council You do not have the ability"

Eric’s face fell, and seeing his disappointut "I’ll help him," I blurted "He can report toto plan Just as long as I don’t have to leave the Underworld for extended periods of time"

Walter turned to Henry, who nodded once "That is acceptable toas Kate is not forced into any position she does not feel she is ready for"

"Very well," said Walter "In addition, I ask that Kate and Eric be in charge of finding a suitable candidate for a oddess He wanted us to find another goddess Or a mortal to take the test and earn ied "I do not particularly care how you handle it, only that it is done Henry is familiar with the process He can help you"

Henry reement, and just like that, it was up to me and Ava’s son to find someone who could take over her role on the council--soain, Henry an his search for a new queen If he could overcome his fears and hesitations, I could do the same "Okay," I said softly "I’ll try"

"I know you will," said Walter "And you will do wonderfully"

Thatit, but I would do Ava justice She deserved that ed a small one in return Even if I wasn’t up to the task, he would be there every step of the way They would all be

The council wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot Dylan would probably never likelooks I would never understand Walter and I would probably spendtihts, despite the lies, despite the frustration and secrets and eons of history I would never catch up on, they were

Henry, Milo and I returned to the Underworld the next loominess of the caverns, there was nowhere else I would’ve rather been We were hoold bedroo the lump in my throat Ava had decorated it before I’d arrived the year before How long would it be before everything stopped re me of her?

Never, I hoped I’d keep uilt and pain killed me