Page 114 of Crown of Olympus
A ripple of murmurs ran through the stands, which quickly turned to chatter, then loud outbursts.
Athena rose with a small smile curving her lips and looked skyward — where her bonded owl circled gracefully above her head. Before she could leave, I rushed to grasp her forearm.
“Why — why do you not fight me?” I asked. I needed to know.
“Because, child,” she lifted a hand to my cheek. “You havemany more battles ahead. Battles I’d much rather wage by your side than as your enemy.”
Then, she left, seemingly taking my remaining strength with her. Nightbreaker clattered to the ground with a dull, metallic thunk, and I crashed heavily to my knees.
Somehow, with the odds stacked firmly against me, I had made it out alive. But my body was exhausted, and my powers were drained.
Dimly, I registered the steady warmth of strong arms beneath my tired limbs, and the comforting scent of caramel surrounding me. I nestled into the warmth, the scent, and the feeling of absolute safety.
Perhaps I should have questioned why that combination made me feel so unquestionably safe, but all I could concentrate on was the sensation ofrightnessbeneath my breastbone, and the questionable actions of a goddess I hardly knew.
I had no idea what Athena meant, or why she’d helped me, but I intended to find out.
My eyelids snapped open. I jolted awake with the realisation that there was still an entire crowd of whispering spectators to witness this display.
“Caelus, put me down,” I hissed. “I’m fine. And your mother?—”
“My mother can go to Tartarus for all I care,” he replied gruffly. “You’re not fine, Nightshade. And you shouldn’t have to be. Not after that. I’ll murder Ares myself for pulling that stunt.”
His eyes flashed a blinding white as thunder cracked in the distance. A knot of anxiety pulled at my chest, and my breaths became a little harder to draw.
A second, equally familiar and equally pissed off voice snarled from beside us. “Agreed. Somebody wants you dead, Nyss. Not just eliminated.”
I’d recognise his voice anywhere. That voice had saved me from despair more times than I could count. I turned to look up at Charon. His blue eyes were brimming with worry and a torrential storm of barely restrained panic, warring with frenzied determination.
He held Nightbreaker loosely at his side, and gratitude washed over me — I already loved that little blade.
“Well, there’s still two trials left,” I muttered. “Plenty of time to succeed.”
Two eerily similar snarls sounded from the duo protecting me. A third booming shriek promised retribution from the sky.
They will not touch you again.
A small smile pulled at the corners of my lips.
And if they try, they will die,Velira swore as she swooped down, spewing fire at a group of spectators who wandered too close. As they screamed and scattered, I cackled deliriously.
Yes. Let them try,I thought.I have a fucking dragon by my side. Not to mention two brawny blonde gods glaring like they’re the last line of defence between me and a realm too stupid to know better.
“I need a shower. Take me home, Golden.”
I summoned the last dredges of inky power from my veins and willed it to form a doorway. It was a little small — both gods had to duck to pass through, and Lykos had to flatten completely to fit — but in two small steps, we were home.
CHAPTER 34
Nyssa
In the space of a blink,we’d shifted from the bloodied, frenzied arena to a familiar starlit sky. Being cradled in Caelus’ arms gave me the perfect opportunity to ogle the constellations overhead — there was the Ouroboros eating its own tail, the Sleeping Titan using his arm as a pillow, and Fate’s symbol, the Hourglass, counting down all of our remaining days.
Never a moon, though. Even she did not dare venture to the Underworld.
Caelus pulled me a little closer as he carried me up the stairs and through the palace doors, careful not to squeeze my aching ribs. I lamented that this reprieve would end. That he would set me down, disappear, and we’d be back to pretending we were only using each other to get ahead in the Rite.
So, I allowed myself to indulge in the few stolen moments of intimacy — something I’d never experienced, nor let myself long for. I nuzzled into his warm, muscular chest, feeling his heartbeat speed up beneath my cheek, almost in time with my own.
