66. In Which the Loss of a Friend Breaks the Bonds
Chapter 66
In Which the Loss of a Friend Breaks the Bonds
“ A nd his head came off?!” She wrinkled her nose.
Evander laughed as he took another forkful of pie Cook had left unattended. Ellie shook her head and wrinkled her nose. The kitchen was always abandoned at this time of day. Evening meal had concluded long ago, and Evander went looking for Ellie when she wasn’t in her nook. He found her in the kitchen making tea for herself, something he found strange. Having grown up with servants and now with the company, he was accustomed to asking things to be done for him. Ellie never asked. He found it as charming as anything else she did. Tonight, she sat upon the island, one foot tucked under her and the other dangling, in the same position she had been when they first met. If one wanted to call her observation of his creepy-ass behavior aboard the ship their first meeting. And he did. Evander had pulled a chair beside her as he told of Athena and the Chthonian fight on the field. Ellie swiped her finger across the china plate, picking up crumbs.
“If Hestia and council members hadn’t shown up then, I’m certain Athena would have sent us to the Shadow Realm. She was out for blood.”
“What will you do when the council calls for you?” Her forehead creased as worry marred her otherwise lovely features.
Evander shrugged and picked up another forkful, popping it in his mouth. “Tell the truth.”
Ellie twisted her lips; she didn’t like that answer. Trying to ease her worry, he slipped his hand around her calf, stroking the tender skin behind her knee with his thumb. Scooping a forkful of blackberry pie, he raked a heated look over her and delighted in how her breath hitched.
“Open.”
A breathless command she responded to eagerly. Standing, he fed her. Her lips parted as he placed the fork between them. They closed around the silver instrument as he slid it out. What he wanted to do to that mouth.
“There’s still some left. Want me to finish, or you?”
“You first. Always.”
Her cheeks pinked prettily as her gray eyes snapped with heat. Ellie grinned awkwardly, swallowing.
“Damn, Your Highness,” she teased.
“I aim to please, Miss Ellie.” And he scooped another bite, to which she opened those pink lips of hers, and ate the offered piece. He watched her mouth move with intensity, his eyes following as the tip of her pink tongue, stained purple, licked crumbs from her bottom lip. He flicked his eyes around the room and contemplated dragging her closer, exploring her mouth while his hands gripped her thighs.
“You’re avoiding the real question,” she said, her mouth full. Laying the fork on the plate, he nodded and sat. Evander sighed, placing his hand on her calf. Ever since the boat, he had wrestled keeping his hands to himself. But now, since she had been taken from him, he fully succumbed. As long as she allowed, he’d keep a hand on her. He wouldn’t lose her again.
“I disobeyed a direct order for the sake of Olympus. While the council ruled in the company’s favor that sparing your life was not treason, Athena won’t see it that way.”
Ellie frowned. Leaning forward, she placed her hands on either side of his face. He closed his eyes at the contact—gods, how he needed this woman. The heaviness of the implication sat between them, darkening the surrounding atmosphere. He stood and pulled her to him.
“I have saved my company, my friends’ lives, Ellie. And yours.”
“Evander,” she choked out, but he shook his head.
“I don’t want to think about that now. I have you, and you are everything to me. Olympus, this world, means nothing without you. I would challenge Zeus to keep you safe.” He rested his forehead on hers. “I meant what I said. I love you. And I will love you ardently until my last breath.”
When Ellie raised her head, he silenced her by touching one finger to her lips.
“I don’t need you to say it back to me. I know, in my heart, you love me. You don’t need to say it with words. You say it with your actions, and those are enough.”
“Evander,” she began, but he cut her off.
Pressing his lips to hers, he pulled her to him. He meant it. He didn’t need Ellie to say she loved him; he already knew. She said it when she took care of his prosthetic, rubbing salve on his nub when it ached. When her face lit up the moment she saw him or the trust she placed in him. She said it when she curled herself around him every evening. Ellie was saying it now, responding to his kiss with eagerness and softness. Her fingers dug into his scalp, pulling his head closer to her, threading through his hair. Evander shivered. Snaking his arms around her waist, he dragged her closer. Pulling her head back, she stared into his eyes. Those intelligent, gray eyes, depths of which he could get lost in, searched his. She opened her mouth.
“Ahh, there you two are,” Camulos greeted them as he descended the stone steps.
Ellie flashed him a soft smile and pressed her lips to Evander in a chaste kiss.
“Cook will not be happy when she finds you both have eaten half a pie.”
“Cook will have to fist-fight me.” Ellie scooped the last bite and plopped it into her mouth.
Cam shook his head and laid the book on the island, opening to a page he tabbed with his thumb.
“What have you found, Camulos?”
For days, the eldest of their little group had poured over the Book of Pandora, looking for anything of substance. A few days in, Camulos remarked it wasn’t like any he had previously read. Pandora had jumbled the spells, putting them in the wrong order or splitting them between pages. A trained eye would notice, while an amateur would think the spells were in written order. They would never work written this way. She protected her secrets even now. Camulos turned the page.
“I think I may have found the prophecy.” The copper ink glimmered in the low light as he turned pages.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Evander helped Ellie off the counter, although, if he were truthful, he would have much rather helped her down and headed back to their room.
The three hunched around the open book. One of Camulos’ thick fingers glided along as he read to himself.
“This has to be the prophecy,” he mumbled as he flipped a page. Ellie looked up at Evander and then to Camulos.
“What does it say, Cam?”
Shaking his head as if arguing with the text, Camulos gazed up at Evander nervously and paled. Instinctively, Evander reached for Ellie, his hand running along her waist and settling on the rise of her hip. He felt her lean back into him, lacing her fingers with his metal ones, a gesture he found comforting. She had her finger to her lip, squinting at the page as if she, too, were trying to decipher the odd code Pandora had left.
“What does it say?” Her voice sounded small.
Giving his head another shake, he weighed his options before speaking.
“The sun and the moon, the dawn and the dusk shall meet.
From the ashes of knowledge, they shall rise.
A phoenix warrior, a woman of Delphi, wise and strong.
A queen on wings of darkened ash, born to hatred and shown no mercy.
Their blood will bring about the final war.
Her lips will speak truth, her wings will spread fire, and she will sit again upon the throne.
They will free her people.
Through her, the house of gold shall rise, and the house of copper shall burn.
Olympus will fall.”
The silence that stretched between them pounded in Evander’s ears like waves upon a shore. He had heard of the prophecy and various interpretations but had never seen the actual writings—the one written by Pandora. Camulos was motionless, ashen; he smoothed a hand over the yellowed pages.
“What the hell does that mean?” Ellie’s drawl punctured the silence.
“The council was right,” Camulos said, his worried gaze finding Evander’s. “A phoenix warrior, a woman of Delphi.”
Scowling, shifting her glance between them, she tapped her finger on her bottom lip. Camulos was shaking his head.
“This makes little sense. A woman of Delphi hasn’t been born in well over twelve hundred years. The spell cannot hinge on a woman being born from Delphi.”
“What do you mean the spell hinges on that?” Ellie asked, placing her hand over his, forcing Camulos to look at her.
He frowned. “I mean, a prophecy is like an omen. A spell has to have all the pieces together for it to work. In this case, the way Pandora cast this spell, it has to have all the components.”
“So, the prophecy is the spell?”
“No, but it is like reading a recipe. It tells you everything you need before you cast the spell to bring back the gods.”
“So, it says the woman would need to be born from Delphi and be a phoenix?”
“Phoenix are myths,” Evander spoke up. “Like unicorns.”
“So then, if it’s a myth, why include it in the recipe?” Ellie shuffled her worried expression between them. Evander knew he mirrored Camulos in his confusion. It didn’t make sense for Pandora to include a mythical creature amongst the other parts of the prophecy.
“What if we’re not supposed to take it literally?” Ellie stopped Camulos from turning a page, admiring drawings of several mushrooms scrawled in the corners. “Aren’t prophecies supposed to be mystical?”
“You mean this could be metaphorical?” Camulos scowled. “It’s possible. Certainly more plausible than a phoenix.”
“So, if it’s metaphorical, who has to die to be reborn?”
Evander tightened his grip on her hip. He was both impressed by her cleverness and suddenly scared of losing her all over again.
“That is a good question, Ellie.” Camulos awarded her with a rare smile. “Clever girl.” He patted her hand. “And where does Delphi play in all this?”
“If there haven’t been any births from the island of Delphi in over a thousand years—”
“What if it wasn’t a birth?” Evander interrupted.
“How do you mean?” Camulos looked up, puzzled.
“If we go with Ellie’s theory of this being a death. What if the death has to occur on Delphi?”
“Or near the oracle?” Camulos breathed.
He opened his mouth to say something, but a loud crash and a shout interrupted him. Heavy footsteps rumbled down the stairs leading off the kitchen. The threesome stared at the arched opening as Maximus rounded the corner, roaring as he came into view.
“Where the hell are they, Ellie!” he shouted. She shrunk back, and Evander tucked her behind him, placing himself between Ellie and Max’s anger. “What the hell did you do with her?”
“Her?” A timid voice came from behind, and Evander shielded her further. He’d be dammed if he’d let Maximus talk to her however he saw fit. Camulos moved as well, flanking him, protecting her. The two exchanged glances, knowing full well that if Max came any closer, he’d have to answer to them.
“What’s wrong, Max?” Camulos’ calm tone was deceptive.
“What’s wrong?” he bellowed. His deep rumble rang in the near-empty room.
Evander crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to be intimidated by his commander.
“Yes, what’s wrong?”
“They’re gone,” he shouted and pointed to the stairs. “Gone!”
“Who’s gone?” Camulos asked.
Maximus shot Cam a look of pure frustration. “The siren. The damn siren and Liam are gone.” He pointed to the stairs again. “Gone. The shield is down.” He pointed at Ellie. “You helped her escape, didn’t you?”
Evander heard Ellie step closer, allowing him to protect her when, every time before, she shoved him away. He softened his voice as he looked over his shoulder at her.
“Might want to explain, Ellie.”
She cleared her throat and walked around to his side. “They needed to talk.”
Maximus crossed his arms over his chest, his face pulled taut.
“Liam asked to talk with Callassa in private, and since he has been the only reasonable one, I took the shield down and let him in.”
Evander and Camulos shared a look. There she was. Gone was the timid girl from before, and in her place, the smart-mouthed woman he had fallen in love with.
“Reasonable?” Maximus sputtered.
“I meant it, Max.” In a similar fashion, Ellie folded her arms across her chest. “I won’t let you or anyone else hurt her.”
“Well, she’s gone now, and she convinced Liam to run with her.”
“I don’t know that Liam needed much convincing.” Ellie smacked a hand over her mouth.
Maximus glowered at her. “What do you mean by that?”
Camulos looked around Evander, peering at her, jutting his chin in Max’s direction. Ellie twisted her fingers in her hand but lifted her chin, refusing to allow him to intimidate her.
“She was betrayed.”
“Betrayed?”
“To the Dark Oracle. Her bracelets are handcuffs because her people betrayed her.”
“Because sirens are ruthless and dishonorable.”
Ellie shook her head. “No, but her senators are. Callassa has been a shield for her people, Max, a leader. And they betrayed her to keep her quiet.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And you know this how?”
“She told me. She shared her memories with me.”
It was Evander’s turn to peer at her sideways. Callassa, the siren queen, had shared memories with a human. It was a highly taboo act. Sharing memories was intimate, usually done by mates or family members. Never between friends. There were things most Olympians kept to themselves, especially someone in the queen’s position. Maximus seemed to grow angrier at that admission.
“She did what?”
“She needs a Kalypso Orb, Max. And she can only get that from—”
“The Shadow Realm.” Camulos finished her sentence. “Only one person I know would have access to an orb of that importance outside of Hades.”
“Valerius.” Evander ground out.
“I—I didn’t know he would leave.”
“What did you think would happen when you lowered the shield and allowed them to talk ?” Max snapped at her.
“Enough.” The snarl that tore through Evander had Max’s eyes widening.
He knew it was insubordinate talking to Max that way. But he also knew one more sentence like that, and Max would be on the floor. Or through a wall.
“She couldn’t have known Liam would take off with the siren. If they went in search of Valerius, then we need to go after him.”
Camulos nodded, but Maximus glared at the both of them.
“You can come or not, Max. But I refuse to leave Liam without backup and at the mercy of Valerius.” Evander eyeballed his leader as he straightened his spine.
“Now would be the time to go,” Camulos agreed. “His throne room is destroyed, and his pets are dispersed. We would have the upper hand since he doesn’t have as many of his lap dogs to come to fight for him. The three of us and Ellie.”
“And Ellie?” Max and Evander said in unison.
“Absolutely not.”
“Like hell,” Evander snapped.
“You need me, Evander,” she said beside him, placing her hand on his forearm. “You don’t have to like it, but I can be useful. Who do you think destroyed his throne room?”
He turned to her, no longer caring who saw, and cupped her face in his palms. “If something happens to you . . .”
“You will be my strength, remember? My friend is at the mercy of that monster, Evander. And so is yours. I’m going.”
The sigh that escaped him fell heavy from his lips. “I don’t like this,” he breathed.
“That’s the spirit.” She patted his hands and then wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing him. Looking at Camulos, she asked. “So, how do we go about surprising a demigod?”
Long abandoned and forgotten, alone on the kitchen island, the Book of Pandora glowed. Light emanating from the pages intensified in brilliance as they flipped in a flurry of rustling paper. When it stopped, the drawing of a lone door stood ajar.