Page 236 of Styx

to leave our homes for we may be captured.

I smiled and kissed her cheek.

‘I hear her name is Hekate.

She must be just as extraordinary as you are.’

I did not ask where Hekate was. I knew.

Asteria had taken a great risk to see me.

If she had been seen, she would have been seized.

Asteria smiled back, but then her face dropped.

‘Styx, Perses says we will not win this war.

Since your father withdrew

the River Gods, our numbers have fallen.’

I was quiet. I knew these words well now.

So instead I listened.

‘And… and Perses told me today

that Pallas has… that you have—’

Her eyes filled with grief now.

‘Is it true that you have chosen

the side of the Olympians?’

I looked away, unable to meet her eye.

‘Asteria. We had to. Zelus…’

I gestured to her to follow and led her

into my chambers to show her

the still-healing body of my son.

She gasped, her hand moving

to her mouth in horror.

‘This palace has been full

of injured Gods just like him.

My brothers have borne the brunt

of this war,’ I said softly.

‘It’s their pain that convinced