Page 76 of Crown of Olympus
In answer, I tossed her the second blue pendant I’d swiped. Aros leaned in over the goddess’ shoulder as she opened her palm, revealing the moon symbol. He threw his head back in a howl of laughter once he understood, while Aph fought to rein hers in. Disbelief and hilarity warred across her features, and in the end, hilarity won. She burst out laughing, just as loud as Aros, to the complete confusion of everyone else in the chamber.
“If you’re quite done, we have a trial to get back to,” drawled an oily voice from across the room.
My head snapped towards the sound, fury reigniting in my veins. I knew exactly who that derision belonged to — and I had a fight to pick with him.
I flew across the room so fast I barely had time to throw out my left arm, unleashing a length of shadows. It latched aroundArchimedes’ throat, coiling tight, threatening to crush his windpipe, but not actually harming him — yet.
My right arm cocked back, ready to meet the second of two suspects. Using momentum and every ounce of training I had, I threw the hardest punch I’ve ever landed into the side of Leander’s slimy face. His head snapped backwards with a loudcrack.I punched him so hardI broke two knuckles. And his jaw.
Pandemonium ensued.
Poseidon roared, launching his trident towards me for daring to strike down his son. Hephaestus bellowed obscenities. Ares’ hair ignited, but he only watched the violence unfold with a grin.
Sick puppy’s feeding off it.
A bolt of lightning shot across the room, deflecting Poseidon’s dick-stick off course. Instead of impaling me, its three sharp points slammed into a marble pillar so violently the shaft jerked up and down, twanging in the air.
Caelus had intervened.
For me.
His eyes were solid white — blazing bright as the bolt he’d just summoned. Power pulsed off him in waves. Static energy filled the air, prickling my skin.
He looked at me with unparalleled fury. Eyebrows slashed down, jaw clenched so tightly the muscles in his cheek twitched.
Before I could speak, the Parthenon doors crashed open. Hermes and Hera stormed in, escorting a wild-eyed, bedraggled Athena. Strands of her hair clung to her face; her usual composure nowhere to be seen.
She had passed her own trial, but at what cost?
“Enough!” Hera’s voice rang out, sharp and demanding.
She strode forward, steps precise, eyes scanning the room assessing the tenuous situation.
Archimedes’ face had turned purple from lack of air. Leander’s was going the same colour — though his came from the bruise forming on his not-so-smug face.
Hera shot me a glare, then approached her son.
She reached up, placing her palm on his cheek.
“I expected more from you, boy.”
Impossibly, Caelus’ jaw clenched harder, with an audiblecrack, but he didn’t utter a single word of reply.
“Poseidon, retrieve your trident and what’s left of your dignity, please,” the ex-Queen scolded.
“And you,” she hissed, standing before me, “Do not start fights you cannot possibly win.”
I don’t intend to lose.
“And don’t you dare drag my son down with you.”
I fear I might enjoy Caelus going down.
My dragon chortled on my shoulder — laughter, I was certain.
“Release Hephaestus’ son. Immediately,” she demanded.
I obeyed, if only because Archimedes was now purpleandunconscious. My shadows receded into the floor, taking the tension with them.
