Page 30 of Blood of Olympus

Words appeared out of thin air — every sentence perfectly reconstructed in the goddess’ flawless penmanship — hovering before our eyes.

I blinked at her, in awe of such a clever use of power. She winked back, whispering, “It comes in handy with battle maps, too.”

My brows climbed my forehead. “I have a feeling that skill is going to come in handy sooner rather than later,” I whispered back.

“I’m not sure what the first line means, but the second definitely refers to me,” Aphrodite announced. “And to whoever came after me. Whoever else chose to cut and rebind their fate thread.”

“That would be me,” Arch offered with a shrug.

Aph’s mouth immediately split into a sly smile, transforming her features into something even more magnetic. Arch — the poor fool — was powerless to resist her, his face flushing faster than pomegranate wine stains an ivory gown.

“What? It was a good idea — to reinforce it — you know, make it harder to sever… at the end.”

My heart stuttered. Another quiet reminder of Arch’s doom — and my promise to save him from it.

Aphrodite padded over to him, her sandaled feet soundless on the white tiles. She said nothing, just grasped his hand and shared a moment of simple reassurance that somebody was there. That somebody cared.

I cleared the emotion from my throat. “The first part refers to me.”

Several faces turned, confusion etched into the creases between their brows.

“Well, more accurately, to Leander. Not many of you know this, but during Ares’ trial⁠—”

“Filthy traitor,” Haras spat.

Several grunts sounded in assent.

I inhaled deeply, delaying the inevitable reveal of this darkest part of myself — knowing I ultimately had to. This was my council, and these, my most trusted allies and guides. It was time I actually trusted them with something.

Maybe not all of them, Velira inserted, still eyeing Hermes hungrily.

Maybe not all, I agreed.

Exhaling, I confessed in a rush, “When I killed Leander, my soul devoured his.”

“What?” Hestia asked, her petite face scrunching.

“What do you mean, child?” Athena asked at the same time.

Hermes rolled his eyes.

“Part of my powers — the death-wielding part… I don’t just kill. I devour. Their soul ceases to exist. They never make it to the afterlives. They become no shade, receive no judgement — they’re just… gone.”

Several jaws were slack, several sets of eyes blinked, mystified.

It took a moment for that information to be processed, but when it did…

Pandemonium followed.

I did not see who raged at me, nor who questioned what I claimed. I could not bring myself to step around the thick, violet leg, adorned in beautiful, glistening scales. Velira had stepped between it all, shielding me from the worst of their judgement, Aros and Evie doing the same.

A familiar icy feeling crept down my spine. My lungs tightened and my stomach dropped, tingles alighting my limbs. My lids slammed shut, trying to block it all out. My hands shook even as they leaked — viscous rivulets of black dripped from my fingertips to pool on the floor.

“Nightshade?” Caelus said from somewhere behind me, sounding oddly far away.

My ears rang. I squeezed my eyes tighter.

The darkness did nothing to reassure me. Not this time. I cried out as the feeling overwhelmed me. I screamed as I exploded.