The Five Demigods Who Saved Olympus | Book 1, 2, & 3

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Poseidon had been working day and night diligently for Noelle's coronation. It took seven days to prepare his palace for the festivities. Poseidon had hopes that tonight would take off the stress Noelle was so clearly under. He was unsure why she was stressed. And he desperately wanted to ask so that he could fix it in any way possible. But, he knew his daughter and her boundaries. He had thought about crossing them multiple times, the curiosity being too much for him. But, he also knew if he wanted his daughter to reside in his palace and not at Hades with her lover, he'd have to behave. He hated losing his daughter for a period of time. He thought it unfair. He hadn't had enough time with her. Heath has been with her all of her life. Poseidon wondered why she felt the need to spend longer with him. And when he did, he reminded himself of that word he distastes so much; boundaries. Noelle sat up in her room, fixing her hair, which Amara had attempted to do. She pulled the pins and such Amara put in to hold up her hair. She wanted it down. She hated the pulling of hair from her scalp. She tugged hard on one of the pins, growing more frustrated by the minute. Heath, who had just entered the room, noticed her struggles and went over to help her.

"Don't stress yourself, love." Heath said in a soothing voice. He hoped that today the emotions and such could be kept at bay for her sake. He wanted her to have a good time. To enjoy her coronation.

"You try doing that when Amara has spent almost an hour and a half chewing off your ear about Zander and how desperate he is to have a relationship." Noelle groaned. Heath gently pulled the pin out of her hair, then ran a brush through it to get out any tangles, leaving her hair waved. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. The creases in her forehead straightened out and her eyes softened as she looked at him through her vanity mirror.

"Have you heard what's happened?" Heath asked.

"About?" Noelle inquired, turning around to face him.

"Supposedly, someone made a deal with Melinoe. Zeus received the contract today through Hermes." Heath said.

"Supposedly?" Noelle questioned, quirking a brow at Heath.

"Zander told me the other night. But, he was heavily intoxicated. Dionysus made a fresh batch of wine and Zeus received the first shipment." Heath said. Noelle hummed in response, shutting her eyes and taking a deep breath. She felt a wave come over her, a familiar one at that. However, what was unfamiliar to her, was the face of a man in her mind. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the image of Hypnos in her mind.

"You okay?" Heath asked as he noticed the action, placing his hands on her shoulders. Noelle hummed once more. Heath walked over to her bedside, reaching into the drawer and pulling out the tonic Persephone made for her. He unscrewed the lid, placing the rim of the bottle to her lips. She leaned her head back slightly, letting him pour the cool liquid down her throat. She pulled away after a moment, deciding she had enough. She hadn't. But, she had been going through the tonics so often, she didn't want to ask Persephone to have to make more. Heath knew of this.

"You're going to be around a lot of people tonight, Noelle. It's probably best that you take more." Heath said.

"Mm-no." Noelle said, turning away from him. Heath cupped her face with his hands, making her look up at him. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. She knew. Noelle sighed, taking the bottle from him and downing it. Once she finished it, she tossed it in whatever direction. She hadn't realized she had done it until she heard the sound of glass breaking. Her eyes widened and she turned to the source. She turned back to Heath who initially was surprised but quickly washed away once she got his reaction. Noelle cried out in frustration and put her face in her hands.

"Hey, hey, it's alright. It's alright, Noelle." Heath said, trying to pry her hands away from her face.

"Don't you tell me it's alright! It isn't! Things shouldn't be like this, I made a mistake!" Noelle shouted. Heath stared down at her, taken aback by the confession. Part of him hoped she didn't mean it in that way, but another part of him felt she did. Noelle realized this. She shook her head and stood up from her chair.