Page 118 of Blood of Olympus

Charon dissipated before my eyes.

I squeezed Caelus’ hand thrice before relinquishing it and approached the shadowgate, Aphrodite and Evadne in tow.

I love you too, he sent. Be safe.

You as well. I swear to the Fates, if I have to come and save your ass, I’ll do it, but I’m going to be very pissed at them.

He chuckled. As if you aren’t already.

Valid point. I’ll see you soon, Golden.

I miss you already, Nightshade.

And with one final glance over my shoulder, we parted, in the middle of a titan-damned war, unsure when — or even if — we would see each other again.

CHAPTER 30

Caelus

I don’t like this, I grumbled to the giant wolf breathing down my neck.

I am aware.

It chafes at me. It’s wrong. Something might happen to her.

It might, he sent back, alleviating exactly none of my current concerns. But she is strong, and so are you, even though you’re whining like a week-old pup at the present moment.

I frowned.

And she is Queen. You’re both going to have to make decisions that ‘chafe’ from time to time. This is merely the first.

You’re awful at pep talks, you know.

I wasn’t aware this was a pep talk.

It isn’t any longer, I grumbled.

Vibrations emanated from the back of his throat in what could only be described as lupine laughter. She will be fine. She’s not going to the frontlines, and Kronos wouldn’t dare go to the Underworld for fear of being sent back to Tartarus.

After a moment, I nodded. That was peppier, thank you.

Rolling laughter came again, and this time, I let his amusement give rise to my own.

“Ready?” Aros asked, brows raised in Lykos’ direction.

“As I’ll ever be,” I replied, unsheathing Ceraunos from his sheath on my back. Aros responded likewise, drawing Flameless as we approached the shadowgate to Strathos.

“Be prepared for anything. We’ve given that urchin of a king a few minutes now to hatch a plot against us with whoever was on the other side,” he said, using his axe to point at the gate. “Keep your eyes peeled for any sign of Ares, Kronos, or Hera. While we suspect they’re centralising their efforts in Othryx, we cannot say for certain, and Strathos would be the next logical place. They control the realm’s warriors and are the only openly undeclared kingdom in this war.”

Every head in our party nodded, and the sounds of steel scraping leather followed as more weapons were drawn.

It’s funny — I thought it would be hard to follow someone else’s lead when I’ve been raised my entire life to rule.

Lykos’ large golden eyes blinked as he waited for me to finish the thought.

But I’d follow Nyssa into Tartarus itself without batting an eye, and Aros was born to lead armies. He was the best decision she’s yet made as Queen.

Don’t let him hear you say that. His head will grow as large as other appendages have been known to do.