Chapter IV

Will Solace

Nico was asleep when I returned to his room. Technically, I should have been in my cabin—my shift was over—but I needed to check on him. I cared about my patients, even the distant ones.

The son of the god of the Underworld himself was drooling on his pillow. I bit back a quiet laugh. When I saw him shiver, I pulled the blanket over him, tucking it snugly around his small frame.

I was supposed to leave, but I stayed. I needed to make sure he was okay. Adjusting to Camp Half-Blood could not be easy, not after everything he had been through.

I settled into a chair across from his bed. I wished we were allowed coffee at Camp Half-Blood; its what I missed the most about Austin. I blinked rapidly, trying not to fall asleep.

_

A scream woke me from my sleep. My heart jumped as I rushed to his bed. Nico was sitting upright, breathing hard, eyes wide.

"Nico!" I said, crouching beside him. "Hey, it's okay. It was just a nightmare." I pulled him into a hug.

His breathing began to steady, but he shoved me back immediately. "Don't touch me!" he shouted.

I froze. Was it the nightmare, or did he really hate being touched? I stepped back either way. "I'm sorry—I was just trying to—"

"Leave!" His voice was sharp, unyielding. I had never heard him speak so loudly.

Guilt sank into me as I backed toward the door. I really should have asked him about his boundaries first.

"Will?"

A small voice drew my attention. A girl from the Hermes cabin stood in the doorway. I remembered treating her broken arm yesterday. The bandage was still there, but mostly healed.

"What was that noise?" she asked, frowning.

I knelt slightly to meet her gaze. "It's okay. Someone just had a bad dream."

"They woke me up," she said softly.

I chuckled quietly, ruffling her hair. "Yeah, me too." I took her hand. "Come on. I'll bring you back to your room."

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