Page 19 of Blood of Olympus

Themis burst out laughing.

“A pegasus?” I echoed, squinting.

“She’s been obsessed with them ever since reading about Adamantios, the pegasus tamed and ridden by the demi-god Bellerophon,” Themis explained between giggles.

“Ah, yes,” Athena chimed in wistfully. “I was always fond of that boy.”

Aletheia’s jaw dropped open. “It was you who helped him! You gave him a golden bridle so he could tame Adamantios” — she jabbed an imaginary sword into the air — “and slay the chimera!”

A huff of laughter escaped the goddess of wisdom. “That’s right, I did.”

“Maybe one day I could go on a quest to defeat some beast!”

“I’ve no doubt there is a wealth of greatness in your future.” Athena smiled.

Aletheia whirled back to me. “As much as I reeeeeally want a pegasus, I have a feeling I’m going to want something much more when I’m older.”

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll want a pegasus then, too.” I winked and her eyes widened with barely restrained excitement.

“Thanks for that,” Themis laughed. “She’s not going to talk about anything else for weeks.”

“There are worse things to obsess over,” I said, my smile softening.

“Indeed there are.”

CHAPTER 5

Caelus

The immediate loss of childlike joy after Themis left with Aletheia was like being doused in a bucket of ice water — abrupt and sobering. The little spark of Nyssa’s amusement fizzled out in my chest, and I immediately mourned its absence. I could physically feel her rebuilding those impenetrable walls in her mind, locking me out. Locking everyone out.

So, when she finally turned around and her beautiful face was devoid of emotion, I was unsurprised. Disappointed, perhaps, which hit twice as hard when I realised she could feel that in return and probably thought I was disappointed in her, though that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Loss had sharpened her like a whetstone does a blade. If she wasn’t careful, she’d slice herself open, instead of the ones who’d caused it.

Kronos.

Hera.

Fate.

Even me, to some degree.

It’s not like I asked to be stabbed, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat to save her.

Nyssa had possessed me from the moment I laid eyes on her. She had etched her name into my heart the second her eyes locked with mine, and had woven herself neatly into my soul since I hijacked the sisters’ trial.

Maybe even before that.

I would never — could never — regret that decision. Not even now, when I could simultaneously feel her pulling away and hear the sweet whisper of her inner monologue.

She had no clue — of that I was certain. I’d tried to speak back to her a few times, but it was like shouting into a void. My words just disappeared into the nothingness. Not at all like how I communicated with Lykos. They just faded into oblivion. Unanswered. Unheard.

Nyssa cleared her throat, snagging my attention. In that precise moment, seeing that blank look upon her face, I decided I wouldn’t let her drown alone.

Not anymore.

We were in this together, for however long the Fates allotted her. I would fade willingly with her when Atropos’ shears finally snicked shut on her thread, knowing that I would not have survived a second without her anyway.