Page 16 of Blood of Olympus

“Did you not have as much claim as any other? Might you not have been crowned queen also?” I asked.

“No.” She laughed sharply, surprising me. “I entered a daughter in the Rite on my behalf. The crown would not have found me worthy on that basis alone.”

Several brows rose at her claim — and at the implications of it. She had not been the only Primal to enter a representative. Demeter, Hephaestus, Poseidon, Ares, and Hermes had all chosen to do the same. Some were taking Artemis’ revelation better than others, however.

“A ruler must not be afraid to act. And would never ask another to perform in their stead,” she clarified.

This time, I could not help the smirk tugging at my lip.

“But you were not afraid, were you?”

She grinned. “No. I simply did not wish to be crowned queen. I would much prefer to spend my days in the wild lands. In my forest in Olympus, or within the trees of Lunaris, with my people.”

My gaze flicked down to the child still half-tucked behind Caelus’ left leg. Aletheia gave a small nod, verifying the truth in Artemis’ answer. I gestured for her to come forward.

To Artemis, I said, “Hold out your hand.”

She reached out, palm up, waiting.

“Aletheia, could you please hold her hand while I ask one final thing of the goddess?”

The girl hesitated for a moment, her gaze darting between us, before warily placing her small palm on top. Artemis held my gaze unblinkingly, somehow understanding that this moment was pivotal in determining her future — and her ability to return to the trees and her people.

“Do you intend to ally with Kronos? Or with Hera? Or will you pledge yourself, willingly, to me?”

Her lips pursed in consideration. Several seconds passed, eliciting a low rumble from Velira’s throat, before the goddess raised her chin, and inhaled deeply.

“Upon the River Styx, I vow to be loyal to you, my queen — for as long as I believe you are acting in the best interests of the realms and my people.”

Caelus bristled at the additional clause, but I was impressed by it. My smile grew.

Artemis was clever. She’d been stuck within a metaphorical strand of rope twisting slowly around her neck and had managed to jam a finger in before it could choke her. She’d crafted herself an inch of wiggle room, should she need it. If she deemed me to be a threat, or unfit to rule, she could sever her vow without consequence.

Hermes, as if realising the same thing, bristled. He crossed both arms over his chest, and sank back into his irritation, his face turning a mottled shade of copper.

I turned back to Artemis, still smirking.

“I accept your oath. You may return to your seat and retain your titles and delegations.”

She dipped her head a second time, returning to the empty throne beside her brother’s.

“Last and least, Poseidon.”

Using the staff of his golden trident — more affectionately labelled dick stick in my mind — Poseidon pulled himself up, though remained standing where he was. Aros made to move, but I held my hand up, halting him.

“Leave it,” I ordered. “Leave him to me.”

My smirk dropped into something darker. Shadows dripped from my hands, pooling around my feet. With half a thought, I shaped them into slithering ropes, wrapping around the ankles of the sea god.

A sharp tug had him yanked into the air by his feet, suspended directly before me.

Unfortunately, Poseidon was also wearing a chiton.

Even more unfortunately: I was now in a staring contest with the tiny, flaccid, one-eyed snake bobbing miserably between his legs as he thrashed in the air.

But perhaps the most unfortunate thing of all was that Themis chose that precise moment to enter the chamber.

The Titaness stopped cold at the sight before her. The skirts of her peplos swayed around her sandaled toes as she halted abruptly, her light grey eyes wide and locked onto Poseidon’s disappointing appendage. Themis’ upper lip arched into a grimace as we exchanged a look of shared distaste, her feet forcing her closer even as her stomach rebelled.