25. Caelus
Caelus
Furies, it was stifling in here. Too many mouth-breathers, too many opinions, just too many people in general.
I’d only arrived twenty minutes ago and had already endured complaints about the food — like that was my area of expertise — speculation about my father’s murder, and no fewer than six prods from my mother to go dance with eligible ladies .
Like I wanted any of them.
The one woman I actually did want was nowhere to be seen, likely avoiding the event until the last possible moment.
Clever, wicked woman.
So, when I excused myself from a riveting conversation on the uses of oxen in farming — much to Lykos’ eternal amusement — and escaped out onto the cool, dark patio, I was hoping for at least five minutes of solace.
Sadly, the balcony door creaked open two minutes into my solitude. I sighed, deep and defeated, then plastered on a forced smile as I turned to address the intruder. It faltered.
Standing there, looking more troubled than I had ever seen her, was Athena.
“Caelus, I’m glad I caught you alone,” she breathed, her blue eyes darting around like we were moments from being overheard. “I need to speak with you about something important.”
“Of course. What is it?”
“You don’t happen to know who your mother has had arrested and imprisoned for treason recently, do you?”
My brows smashed together. Whatever I had been expecting her to ask, it wasn’t that.
“I don’t. Why? Should I?”
She sagged in defeat, as if my answer had deflated her hope.
“Nike is missing,” she declared despondently.
“Nike? The goddess of victory?”
“The very same,” she replied. “And your mother has just spent the last ten minutes gloating, — to me and anyone else who would listen — that she’s caught Zeus’ assassin. Claims that they’re locked up beneath Mount Olympus and their execution will be the main entertainment for tonight’s ball.”
Her face fell, tears rimming her lower lashes.
“I have a terrible feeling, Caelus,” she admitted quietly. “If my fears are correct, and it’s Nike that Hera has apprehended… she’ll be executed in place of the real killer.”
“I’m not saying she’s guilty,” I assured quickly, “but how can you be so sure she isn’t?”
“If I tell you, you must swear on the River Styx not to tell a soul.” Athena grabbed one of my hands, holding it between both of hers. Her sharp eyes pierced mine, imploring me to agree.
“I swear it.”
“Nike could not have killed Zeus because she was with me on the night he died.”
“…Okay? That’s it?”
“Caelus, I know you’re not that dim.” She squeezed my hand, smiling softly. “Nike and I were together .”
Oh.
“And why does that need to be kept a secret, my lady?” I asked, genuinely unable to think of a plausible reason.
She placed her palm on my cheek, eyes heavy with sorrow.
“Dear child. I am as old as your father was, and in all my millennia, I have never once taken a lover. I have never allowed myself to become someone else’s vulnerability, nor they mine.
But Nike… she snuck up on me.” Her gaze drifted, a wistful smile playing on her lips.
“She allows me to be soft in ways I have never allowed myself before. And now… I cannot imagine tomorrow — let alone the next few thousand years — without her by my side.”
Her gaze returned to mine, eyes sparkling knowingly.
“A feeling I think you understand a little yourself.”
One point to the goddess of wisdom there. I grimaced.
Lykos huffed down the bond. He had opted to remain upstairs for the duration of the ball. Likely because he would have taken up a quarter of the space himself.
“It’s not?—”
“Hush, child. You’re young. It doesn’t have to be anything. But anyone with eyes can see the way you look at her.” She raised her brows, imparting a silent warning. “I need to find Nike. Will you help me?”
“Of course.”
We spent the next few minutes plotting. I would create a distraction while she slipped out, after making sure my mother saw her at least once.
And then, before Hera’s big finale, Athena would break into the prison beneath Mount Olympus — and break her lover out.
I sighed.
It was going to be a long night.