Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“So learn to swim. You’re the smartest person I know. If anyone can do it, you can.”
I don’t know what to say to that. It feels too big, too easy, when nothing about this is easy at all. The violence we encountered at Minos’s party shook me to the core…but even at its worst, Apollo was at my side. Refusing to leave me. Protecting me. Allowing me to do the same for him.
“I’m afraid.”
Alexandra’s voice warms. “When has that stopped you from doing something that mattered to you?”
She’s…right. I’ve been scared for a very long time. Of failing her. Of letting the legacy of our parents drag us down. Of letting anyone close. My throat tries to close, but I swallow past the feeling. “When did you get so smart?”
“My brilliant older sister has set a really outstanding example for me to follow. If you want to credit someone, credit her.”
Gods, now I’m going to cry. I blink rapidly. “If you change your mind about leaving—”
“Then that will be my choice,” she says gently. “And I’ll take care of it myself. Without you making any more sacrifices for me. It’s time for me to stand on my own, Cass. You’ve shown me how. Trust me enough to do it.”
“Okay.” I wipe at my eyes. I barely know how to process this pivot, but I don’t have time. Not yet. The crisis that started at the party isn’t over. Not by a long shot. “What else are they saying on the gossip sites?”
Another pause, longer this time. “That Hephaestus was killed because of some legal loophole that no one’s ever heard of. That there’s a new Hephaestus being put in place, though no one knows it’s Theseus Vitalis yet. The speculation is running wild, and they’re focusing heavily on the clause itself. Someone somehow knew exactly where to look to dig up the specific law and it’s all anyone is talking about.”
They know.
The entire city knows about the secret the Thirteen have worked for generations to keep under wraps.
Ironic that Apollo was worried about Minos as a threat. He’s only one man. The threat of the very city itself turning against the Thirteen? It’s incomprehensible. They won’t be able to walk down the street without worrying about every single person around them having a knife ready to sink into their ribs.
Some of them will take the threat more seriously than others. I’m sure Ares, Aphrodite, and Zeus will be fine. Hermes is too savvy to be caught flat-footed. Artemis won’t be surprised again.
But Apollo?
Who will watch Apollo’s back? His family is worthless when it comes to that sort of thing. He might be mostly allied with Ares and Athena, but they will have their hands full trying to ensure there isn’t an uprising.
Not to mention there’s nothing saying that Minos won’t try again.
I swallow hard. “I’m sorry that I was high-handed.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I know you were doing what you thought was best. It’s all you’ve ever done.” Rustling in the background as she shifts the phone against her ear. “Please respect my wishes on this. And put yourself first for once, Cass. You deserve it.”
“I will. Stay safe.”
“You too, Cass.”
I hang up and sink onto the edge of the bed. Too much information in too short of a time. I don’t know how I didn’t see that Alexandra was happy in Olympus. I chalked it up to her naturally sunny personality and projected my own issues onto her. I’m so used to taking care of her that it’s strange to have the shoe on the other foot. Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s time to take a leap of faith and learn to fly on the way down. To do it for those I care about.
Alexandra. Apollo.
I can pretend they’re the only two people in Olympus who I would spirit away to safety if I could, but now, in this moment, I can admit it’s not entirely the truth. No matter what she’s done, I still care about Hermes. Not to mention Dionysus and Helen—Ares—have been nothing but kind to me. Even Eris—Aphrodite—mean viper that she is, has been a friend in her own way.
Am I really ready to leave the people I care about in a city gone murderous? Am I ready to let them face the potential threat coming from outside the failing boundary, too?
Chaos won’t happen right away. The shock of the information will ensure that a large number of people disbelieve it. But eventually someone will try their luck. The gossip sites will report on it in a frenzy, which will only encourage others to try, too.
If I were an enemy waiting at the gates, I’d give the city enough time to fall into violence. Then I’d sweep through and ensure my win, staging a coup all but guaranteed to succeed with the Thirteen fractured and under attack.