Page 140 of Crown of Olympus
“I have my mother’s eyes,” Charon replied quietly.
“Who did you say your mother was again?” Caelus asked, lips pursed.
“I didn’t,” he said just as I offered a quiet, “Lethe.”
Charon glared at me, shaking his head minutely. The message was clear: we would not be discussing his mother tonight.
Caelus stood abruptly, having noted the southerly turn of the conversation.
“Can we go outside?”
I nodded and led us out onto the black stone balcony, its pavers glistening in the twinkling starlight. It overlooked my mother’s lethal gardens and offered a distant view of the River Styx.
“What is it we sodesperatelyneed to discuss,” I began, refusing to look at him, ignoring how much I desperately wanted to, “that it had to be done in a midnight rendezvous, hours before the final trial?”
Caelus stepped up behind me, so close I could feel his body heat radiating through our clothes, and the whisper of his breath against my neck.
“There are things you need to know before tomorrow’stask,” he said quietly. My face snapped to his, and I stepped backwards, leaning against the cold balustrade.
I crossed my arms, frowning, “What kinds of things?”
He ran a scarred hand through his short white hair and sighed deeply. “There is a council.”
“I am aware of the Primal Council, you oaf.”
“No, not the — well, therearePrimals on it — ugh!”
He began pacing in front of me, considering his next words carefully. “I guess they’re not really a council at all.” He locked eyes with me again. “They’re a rebellion. But there are lower Olympians, demigods, and champions in it too. An underground organisation, if you will.”
“Go on.”
“They’ve taken it upon themselves to ensure the prophecy comes to pass.”
My mouth dropped open. “How did they even find out about the prophecy?”
He did not answer, letting me piece it together myself.
“Athena knows,” I mused. “Apollo too?”
Caelus nodded, visibly relieved. “I knew you’d work it out.” He smiled.
“So, is it Apollo’s secret organisation? Or Athena’s? How long has this been going on?” I asked, suspicion weaving into my tone.
“Too long,” he sighed. “I’m not sure. They both have roles of leadership. Together, they’ve created alliances with other gods to ensure your ascension to the throne. Apollo believes that you are the ruler we need, and that you’ll save us all.”
“Who else is in this group? Who else has been plotting and ploying and pulling at my strings?” I hurled the questions at him, venom laced through every syllable.
“I’m not at liberty to say. But if you reflect, I think you’ll figure it out. The little instances of assistance, game-changing acts, all ending up in your favour…”
Athena’s surrender; Archimedes’ forging tutorial; Hestia allowing Aros and Caelus to hijack my trial and still granting us all the win.
“Nyssa.” He sighed my name like it was an answer to a question he’d long since asked. “I can’t keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“This.” He grasped my hand and gently turned me to face him. “Pretending. Keeping my distance when it pains me to do so, all in a misguided attempt to keep you safe.”
“I don’t need your protection.” I frowned.
