Page 25 of Blood of Olympus

The clatter of steel against steel disrupted the moment, echoing up the stairwell, quickly followed by a brazen shout.

“Shut your mouth, you spineless urchin!” a woman yelled. Then, in a tone almost opposite to her insult. “What if she doesn’t like me?”

Aros’ drawling tones replied, “Then she’s a very wise queen indeed.”

Poseidon cackled — malicious and thoroughly entertained — from what I was sure was a front row seat to the squabbling siblings. Caelus and I picked up our pace, hastening down the long hallway and a final flight of stairs to emerge into a deceptively large room.

Light drenched the worn stone, and as our eyes adjusted, we froze at the scene before us.

A familiar-looking female — who could only be Evadne — held Aros hostage by his half-bound hair, folded over backwards, with a sword held to his throat. Aros had a delighted grin upon his face despite the lingering threat of the blade, while Poseidon watched gleefully as it all unfolded.

Evadne’s amber eyes, identical to her twin’s, widened in apparent horror. She immediately jerked backwards, releasing her captive and sheathing her blade in one swift motion. She sketched a graceful bow and straightened, shooting a vicious glare at her brother, who laughed mirthfully in response.

“My Queen,” he said with a wicked glint in those flickering eyes. “May I introduce my sister, Evadne?”

“Please — call me Evie, your grace,” she said smoothly, her voice just as whiskey-smooth as her twin’s.

“More like evil,” Poseidon muttered, scowling at me through the bars containing him.

Before I could respond to either, the shoulder of Poseidon’s chiton caught fire. He startled, shouting in wordless surprise, and desperately attempted to brush the flames out — but it was to no avail. The flames vanished only when they’d burned clean through the fabric, causing his outfit to drape open, askew, one tiny, hairy nipple on full display.

I grinned at Aros, who was thoroughly amused, yes — but did not bear the telltale smirk I’d expected to see on his sunkissed features. He shook his head and nodded at his sister — who bore the smug grin instead.

Another fire-wielder.

“I like you already,” I told her.

Aros groaned, Caelus huffed a laugh, and Poseidon’s glare deepened.

“Wonderful,” he spat. “Next you’ll be dragging out the finery to have yourselves a little tea party I’ll have no choice but to be subjected to.”

My gaze cut sharply to his — if looks could kill, he’d have been hacked into tiny, briny pieces and declared a fishkebab by now. A ribbon of shadow lashed out from my extended middle finger, wrapped around his head, and muzzled him.

“That’s better,” I declared.

“My hero.” Evie smiled. “I’ve only been here for twenty minutes and was already prepared to slice my own ears off.”

Poseidon mumbled something unintelligible, both cuffed hands clawing at his face. My shadows did not budge — nor would they until I recalled them.

“Mind your manners, Poseidon, or I’ll have no choice but to leave you like that indefinitely.”

He glared, venom pouring out of every acid-filled glower, but the sea god eventually dropped into his cot. Dust whooshed out, enveloping the air in its stale scent.

“Come take a walk with me, Evie. I’m sure you have many stories to tell that I’d greatly love to hear.”

Aros groaned again. “This doesn’t bode well for me.”

Caelus clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. “No. It doesn’t.” His amused gaze met mine, eyes softening around the edges as the tether between us hummed warmly.

I love you too, Golden.

His grin softened and as I turned, I could have sworn his eyes shone with something more than the flickering torch light.

Evie and I ascended the stairwell and meandered up the hallway at a leisurely — albeit awkward — pace. I sat on the third step of the spiral stairs and patted the stone beside me. She hesitated for half a second before joining me, then dropped silently with the grace of a warrior; of someone who had honed her body for decades.

“Tell me everything,” I said, overwhelmingly curious about this secret twin. “How does a daughter of Ares go unnoticed for so long? Years? Centuries?” My brow wrinkled. “I confess, I have no idea how old you both actually are,” I sheepishly admitted, a copper blush rising to the surface of my warm cheeks.

“Ah. That,” she began, “is a very long and boring story, my queen.”