Page 72 of Blood of Olympus

“Nice speech,” I tossed over my shoulder.

Aros smirked. “Thanks, I’ve been practicing.”

I huffed a sharp laugh as I watched them all disappear.

Led by Athena and Apollo, every single Olympian god, and every mortal soldier, along with all of their bonded companions, threw themselves at my mercy and hurled themselves through my conjured gate.

Aros paused momentarily, with Evie at his side, weapons drawn. With a hand extended toward the portal, he asked, “Shall we dance, my Queen?”

A savage grin split my face.

“We shall.”

CHAPTER 19

Nyssa

My soul knew the moment I’d passed through the nothingness of the space between places. It lurched within me, twining around our tether with relentless vigor.

Caelus was somewhere north of here; somewhere deep in the heart of beastly screeches, the din of warfare, and the haze of smoke.

“For Ephemeron!” a mortal general called — Demetria, I thought — as she led the charge.

A band of warriors followed her with fearsome war cries, swords raised skyward, spears in front, as their feet pounded the cobblestone street. They ran toward a glittering tower — The Dayspire — where a chorus of snarls and writhing shapes could be seen against the backdrop of the white marble temple.

Once-ethereal stained glass windows were now mostly shattered, multicoloured shards littering the base of the sky-piercing sanctuary that paid homage to Apollo.

Apollo’s face fell as he beheld it — all twisted metal and shattered stone — his mouth dropping open in a soundless snarl, one part wrath, one part agony.

I grabbed his arm before he could leap over the crumbled stone and throw himself thoughtlessly into battle. Swinging him round to face me, I signed with my free hand. Ignore the temple! Stone and glass can be repaired, but you cannot.

Movement in my periphery had me instinctively moving, jerking us both into a side alley, just as some scaled beast born of nightmares barrelled past with a thick, clicking, snapping tail. After it passed, my gaze landed on two armoured figures huddled together against the side of a crumbling building across the street

What are they doing here?!

I glared at Apollo, madly signing my next command. Take Aphrodite and Hestia — find a nearby building and prepare yourselves to tend to our wounded. We need you, Apollo. Go, now!

His eyes flicked once more to the ruined spire, before facing me, newly forged resolve etched across his features. Nodding sharply once, he dashed across to the pair of cowering goddesses, dodging masticating tails and gnashing teeth, decapitating one foul creature before reaching them.

I had no time to give them any more thought, trusting them all to follow the order and for Apollo to keep the foolish pair safe.

Why did they come?!

Vel nudged my left side, sensing my building fury built on a foundation of fear.

Because they worry, too. A pause. And because your Blade gave one hell of a speech enticing them to.

A snort escaped me as I levitated into the harness upon her back, courtesy of the looping shadows around my feet — the fastest way I’d found to reach my seat.

Ignoring the cries of men, and what it might mean for the beginnings of my army, we shot into the air to gain a clear view of the battle below. What we saw with a dragon’s perspective sent a chill down my spine.

There, surrounded by a sea of undulating black, was Lykos, snarling and snapping at the monstrous shapes. And by his side, my silver-eyed storm-wielder.

Caelus shot bolts of violet-tinged lightning with one hand, swinging Ceraunos with the other. He beheaded serpentine creatures with apparent ease, ducking and darting around those who sought to defeat him only to skewer their brains with his weapon.

As we neared, his gore-covered face became clearer, golden ichor mixing freely with the inky black blood of his foes.

Rage enveloped me — they had harmed him.