Page 167 of Blood of Olympus

“You don’t know that! We left before they could⁠—”

“Shhh,” Aphrodite cut in from somewhere alarmingly close to me. “She’s stirring. Keep it down,” she snapped in a tone I’d heard only once before: in a trial that felt like a lifetime ago, when she’d told an arena full of spectators to go fuck themselves.

I liked this version of her. And I was touched that it came out on my behalf.

Needless to say, the others kept it down after that, and I could only make out the odd word or two. Plus, I was getting the worst neck cramp in this position.

Vel? Are you here?

I am — on the balcony outside your rooms.

I dragged my fingers across the surface of where I lay, trying to discern my location by the feel of it. No one seemed to notice my movements, and Caelus had yet to realise the change in my emotions. Come to think of it, I hadn’t felt the changes in his either.

He was blocking me out.

That son of a⁠—

I almost snorted. Bitch. He really is a son of a bitch. I had to fight to control my features, hoping they remained in a somewhat neutral position. I didn’t want the others all knowing I’d been eavesdropping. Which was ridiculous because I was their queen and I was entitled to this information.

So why didn’t it feel like it?

Where are we? I asked my dragon.

Aegis, she said — short and sharp like she’d bitten off whatever it was she’d intended to say next.

What is it? What are you not telling me?

It’s not my place.

Velira, I grumbled, drawing out the mid-syllable.

With a sigh worthy of a teenager accompanied by a mental eye roll, she finally explained.

They chose to retreat. We lost the battle.

As my stomach sank and my limbs turned leaden, I made myself ask: And the Titans?

Completely obliterated what was left of Hellespont.

The people? I breathed.

Dead or fled.

Velira.

What? It’s true. Hundreds fled to Athenos through Caelus’ shadowgate. Thousands more are marked as dead or unaccounted for. Some are being housed in Athenos, others moved further south to Theris, and the orphaned children were sent to Kardia where they have the appropriate resources to care for them.

Where did Kronos and Hyperion go? Are we in danger here? Is that why the children were sent elsewhere?

No. Athenos is small — it does not have enough for so many refugees, so our allies are helping share the burden. As for the Titans, from what our scouts say⁠—

Who are our scouts?

At this point, Nike, Glaucus, and Leucia. I am too large — easily spotted — and I refused to leave you.

Which brings me to my next question, how long was I out?

If you would let me answer a single question at a time, this conversation would be moving a lot smoother, she huffed. The Titans and their army went north, and you have been asleep for two days.