Chapter 9: Nico's POV

I closed the door of the Hades cabin and couldn't keep a huge grin off my face. The time I had spent on the roof had been amazing, even peaceful. I could only think of a few moments that had been better than those, and all of them were from my childhood in Italy.

I walked over to my bunk―I had gotten them remodeled so I wasn't sleeping in a coffin anymore―and flopped down on my stomach, hugging a pillow. I could still feel Will's warmth, hear his soft voice as he took my hand and traced constellations with my fingers: Orion, Ursas Major and Minor, Hercules, the one he called the Hunter that I recognized as the one Artemis had made out of Zoë Nightshade. We had spent hours like that, just watching the sky and reveling in each other's presence. It was very much what I had wanted for a very long time. His touch sent electric currents up and down my spine, in the most wonderful ways possible. Unlike others, the feeling of his gentle fingers on my shoulder made me want to lean into him, just let him hold me. I hadn't wanted that since Bianca had died.

I rolled over on my side and looked across the room, still smiling and hugging the pillow to my chest as I faced Bianca's sleeping form. That day had been full of miracles, and it made me happier than I had been in a long time. I still couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen, but I decided not to let it get to me and just enjoy the moment. Bianca was alive, Will was mine. I had friends. I had family. Everything was going to be fine.

I fell asleep like that, curled around the pillow with a slight smile still on my lips. For once, I didn't have any nightmares.