Oblivion's River (The New Olympus Book 2) by Shoshana Rain

Author:Shoshana Rain [Rain, Shoshana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Rain LLC
Published: 2023-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter fourteen

Aglaea is a complication I could have done without. Her judgment hangs heavy as a storm cloud as we enter the atrium. The reproaches of ex-wives are always the hardest to shake off, but this time, I’m too stunned to dwell on them. Stunned by the hue-less goddess at my side who stood up for me.

She should have been eager to agree with Aglaea: I’m not a good god, a good husband. Isn’t that what they all believe? I’ve proven it twice over now. Lethe should take the warning in front of her, but instead, she defended me from Aglaea’s harsh censure.

I shake my head. We don’t have time to wonder about Lethe and Aglaea and the differences between the two. I’ve wasted too many years wondering about that Grace.

A fountain bubbles in one corner of the rest home atrium. Tall stalks of bamboo, blooming bromeliads, and lush foliage line the edges of the room, providing the illusion of privacy while still allowing anyone outside to peek through.

In the center, a pair of goddesses lie back on a patch of grass, staring at the sliver of open sky above. They’re peaceful, if just a little empty. They don’t giggle or whisper to one another. They merely stare.

Lethe is just as still, watching them. Her head tilts to the side after a moment, rather like a curious bird.

“Muses.” She sounds surprised, as though she didn’t expect to recognize them.

“Calliope and Urania,” I confirm, and she nods to herself.

There are gaps in her memory. Ones I’m not sure she’s even aware of. The more time I spend with her, the more this whole mess with the rift knife and the decaying, forgetful gods seems less like her doing.

The goddess I desired and loathed by turns is no less a victim than I am.

My heart twists in my chest.

“Do you remember the goddess we just spoke to?” I ask “Do you know who she is?”

Lethe frowns at me. “She said her name was Aglaea. She’s a Charis. I remember what those are. She hates me.”

“Believe me, she hates me more than you.” When her eyebrows go up, I add, “We used to be married.”

It’s like an explosion goes off behind her wide eyes. There’s no movement, no gasp, not even a crinkle between her smooth brows. But her eyes ripple like a pond I’ve thrown a boulder into.

“I don’t remember that.”

“No, I expect you don’t. It was a brief union, and it was long ago.” Dramatic goddesses have always been a weakness of mine. They’re thrilling, right up until the moment you realize you can’t satisfy them.

Lethe frowns to herself. Whatever she’s thinking, I leave her to it. If there are muses, their mother can’t be too far behind, and it’s that Titaness we need to see.

I should have asked Aglaea where Mnemosyne is staying, but I didn’t want anyone here to go running to Apollo about our visit. Let them all think I’m just tormenting Lethe. No one needs to know I’m playing detective, instead.

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