Page 109 of Blood of Olympus

Her hands clenched around the edge of the slat of timber she sat upon, her eyes glued to the dock on which we stood. She did not even dare to look up, and it was to her advantage. Her boat edged further and further away from the other, and within a minute, the rowers of the second slowed their arduous pace, recognising the fact that they could not keep up now. Their royal representatives accepted defeat with a grin — tinkling laughter carried across the waves like sprites dancing atop it.

The first boat docked without fanfare. The golden-haired woman picked up her skirts and grasped the hand of a waiting sailor. She disembarked — still without so much as a glance our way — and called out to the waiting party.

“Better luck next time, Idalia!”

The older of the two women cackled in response.

“And you should have known better than to race me, Kalli.”

The younger of the two snorted. “You’re right, I really should have.”

Turning smugly, she immediately froze as though stopped by an invisible wall, taking in Caelus and I for the first time. Her almond-shaped eyes went wide, allowing us a clear look at their bewitching scope of colours — one entirely blue and one entirely brown. She looked as though she had one foot in the forest and the other in the skies — born of both and yet neither — and my curiosity was immediately piqued.

The woman dipped into an elegant curtsy. “Forgive me. I am Princess Aelia of Dromaris — though you’re welcome to drop the title, it chafes.” Her strange eyes twinkled with mischief.

I like her.

You like every strong, roguish woman you come across, Caelus sent back.

Of course I do.

Caelus rolled his eyes in jest. “This is Queen Nyssa, ruler of⁠—”

“Of all the realms, I know,” Aelia cut in. She blinked quickly, as if only just realising who she’d deigned to speak over. “My apologies, Lord Caelus. It’s just that Dromaris is well aware of the current state of the realms.”

“You’ve had a visitor of the godly variety,” I surmised.

Aelia nodded. “Indeed we have,” she said with a grimace. “The lord Hermes is a guest at the Palace of Telaris as we speak, and so, my father has sent me in his stead.”

I shared a look with Caelus, neither of us needing to verbalise the concern we felt knowing that the god of thieves had elected to say in Ephemeron — and what deals he may be making to ascertain the safety of his people.

“Your father is King Oeneus?”

“Yes, your grace.”

“If you’re allowed to drop your titles, then so am I. Call me Nyssa.” I leaned in to whisper, “I abhor them too.”

Aelia grinned, flashing perfect teeth in a smile that no doubt captured the hearts of all the mortal men surrounding her.

“Well, you don’t have to call me Lord, either—” Caelus attempted.

“Nope! You missed your chance to correct it, Lord Caelus,” I teased.

“But—”

“It is as it should be, Lord Caelus,” Aelia intoned with an air of grace and sophistication, dipping her chin in deference, but not before shooting me a quick wink.

My lips twitched, curling up at one corner as I fought to rein in an Aphrodite-worthy cackle.

While we’d been speaking, Aelia’s boat had disembarked, leaving five tall, lean men behind her as her guard. The second boat docked in its place, allowing the other two women to climb out. Their movements were lithe and suggestive; their bodies scantily clad, covering only the most intimate parts of themselves.

Both women ducked their heads, the younger of the two also dropping into an elegant curtsy.

Aelia’s guard were visibly enthralled, staring at the pair with mouths so wide I could see their tonsils.

“Gentlemen,” I snapped. “You may join Arius’ men in the garden. I think you’ll find there are plenty of pretty things to gawk at over there. Your princess will be safe enough with us for the time being — so long as she doesn’t sit next to King Arius,” I muttered the last part, secretly delighted to coax another soft snort out of the princess in question.

The men looked to her for guidance, quaking in their boots when I lifted a solitary black brow in question. Without waiting any longer, all five scurried over to join Arius’ infinitely more fearsome warriors.