more laps before halting and pivoting toward Regina. “Have you maintained any of your connections to Olympus since we left?”
“Do centaurs cheat at poker?” Reg scoffs.
“Good.” The smallest hint of relief crosses Mom’s tired features. “We may need to call on them. Now that Hades is involved… Well, we have no idea what or who he’ll be after.”
“Actually…I might.” I pause my interjection, waiting for them to snap stunned looks my way before going on. “I know exactly what he dragged into his skull last night, at least.”
The admission spilled out a hell of a lot easier than I’d expected, but maybe that’s because I filtered some things from last night’s memories. Those factors flood in now. The stunned bewilderment. The loathing surrender. Finally, the impotent rage.
Mom’s the first one to sense it all. That’s obvious as soon as she sits back down and seizes my hand again. Her gaze darkens. Her nostrils pump in and out, betraying the force of her rampant emotions.
“Tell me what he said,” she demands past trembling lips.
Air leaves me in a heavy rush, but it doesn’t stop my chest from turning into a furious kiln. “It was more what he did than what he said.”
A pair of tears escapes her restraint, one rolling down each cheek. Mom jabs a hand up and furiously palms them away. “Say whatever feels right, however you need to,” she rasps. “We’re going to figure this out together.” She reaches up, and the familiar cherry-almond of her hand lotion mixes with the salt of her sorrow as she rubs my cheek. “I know you don’t have a single reason to believe me anymore—”
I pull at her hand to wrap it in both of my own. “I believe you, Mom. I really do.” A rough swallow thuds down my throat. “I’m beginning to understand. A lot more than you think.”
She looks ready to lose control of more tears. A stuttering sob replaces them. “You do?”
“You fell in love. You weren’t planning on it. You sure as hell weren’t planning on the complications that came with it—not that they would’ve stopped you.” A gruff laugh leaves me. “Gee, Mom,” I add, extending my wry smile. “I don’t know a damn thing about that.”
Now her tears come, but they all melt my heart because she’s smiling through them. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
“I hate to be the one breaking up the family mush hour,” Regina grouses. “But right now, what’s most important is that you tell us everything about this triumvirate summit from last night.” She leans forward, locking elbows on her knees. “We need all of it, Max. Any and every detail you can remember. You understand?”
“Yeah.” I nod swiftly. “I get it. I do.” Know your enemy has never seemed so damn relevant or accurate. But never has enemy been such a vivid reality for me.
“Good,” Reg says. “And what would be even better is if you agreed to stay away from Kara too.”
She extends the courtesy of at least turning and looking me in the eye while driving that dagger into my heart. Of course it doesn’t matter.
“Not happening.” I set my jaw to the point that it aches.
“Calm down. I don’t mean for forever, okay? Just for now. Only until we can figure—”
“Not. Happening.” With the first word, I fling the symbolic blade back at her. With the second, I make sure it sticks. “Not now. Not ever. If Hades wants to come find me again, he’ll have to crawl off his turf and onto mine. We’ll meet in my light, not his dark.” I chuff out another bitter laugh. “Remarkably, Veronica Valari may just know what she’s doing about this one. Hiding in plain sight. It’s kept him from overtly messing with Kara so far, so we’ll stay that course for now.”
Reg mutters a curse beneath her breath. “Except that you do know Hades’s definition of playing, yes?”
“I’m acquainted with the experience, Reg.”
“Then I’d better get started on rounding up some adequate security.”
I shake my head. “Wait. Reg. Hold up. Security? Are you serious?”
“As the blood oath I first made on the highest step of the palace in Olympus.”
She stands, straightening her shoulders in a way that promises her next words will be final—or at least too difficult to argue with.
“Protecting you is what I’ve dedicated half my life to. If you think I’m stopping now, you’re a fool, Maximus Kane.”
I give her the courtesy of a nod, but I’m still unsure whether I’ve