Ink of Copper

72. In Which Cinnamon Rolls Become Misguided Heroes

Chapter 72

In Which Cinnamon Rolls Become Misguided Heroes

E llie’s arm had healed nicely, and she no longer needed a sling. She still didn’t have her full range of motion back, but the searing pain was gone. She didn’t know how long they had been in the Underworld. Without sunlight, the days and weeks ran into one another as time seemed to suspend on Olympus. Liam was up now, ambling; most of his wounds had healed, although there was hushed discussion that the slashes to his back and wings were extensive. They debated if he’d ever fly again, which upset everyone, especially Callassa. The two had mended their broken fence as men often do, although Callassa still held herself at a distance, even from Ellie.

Hades and Persephone had done their best to accommodate the four of them, even if Hades was eager to be rid of them. The king of the Underworld wasn’t known for hospitality, but his friendship with Camulos gave them some reprieve.

Camulos, Evander, and Hades had spent many nights strategizing about what to do next. The Titans were already wreaking havoc on Olympus, and armies from all four provinces were taking up arms. Aerelia was loose and presumably gathering a particular brand of psychos and misfits hell-bent on the throne. The drumbeats of war fairly thrummed even this far below Olympus. But the primary argument between Evander and Camulos was Max. His behavior over the few weeks that Ellie was in residence at his home had gone unnoticed by most until Valerius’ throne room. But leaving Liam to fend for himself had caused a strain on Camulos’ and Evander’s friendship. Camulos was convinced there was more to it, that it was out of character for Max, and there had to be a reason. Evander took up the side that the reason mattered not. Max had forced the company to abandon Liam when he needed them most, leaving behind their man to fend for himself. There wasn’t an excuse he would accept for that behavior. Ellie didn’t know if they would ever return to the camaraderie they once had, or if it were even possible. The company was broken, and she doubted Max would be forgiven.

They agreed, however, that the rumors about what occurred on Anthemoessa perpetuated the hatred of the siren. Callassa wasn’t ruthless; everything done to her and her people was done by a corrupt government ruled by a sadistic goddess and a curse. They agreed with Liam that the siren needed freedom, so, on many nights, strategy swung the gamut from the Titans, to Aerelia, to freeing the sirens.

Ellie found herself spending more and more time with Persephone and trying to bridge the gap Callassa put between them. She missed their days in Max’s house, sitting in the window seat with her feet in Callassa’s lap. Eventually, they would return to their familiarity, so she gave Callassa space. That was how she found herself in the surprisingly small kitchen of the palace, covered in flour and wearing an apron. Ellie met with Camulos early this morning as he had found something in the book, and from there—she wasn’t sure how—she’d ended up in the kitchen next to a happily humming Persephone, making cinnamon rolls for the household. The two had formed a fast friendship, alike in many ways. Persephone shared her love of growing things and medicinal herbs while Ellie taught her to crochet. They cooed over the new princess and walked along Persephone’s garden of Nysa.

Flour covered her hands as she pulled and stretched, kneading before rolling the mixture flat. When Evander walked into the kitchen, Ellie was sprinkling cinnamon into the soft dough. He made a strange face as she looked up brightly and blew out half a laugh.

“I was looking for you.”

“We’re making cinnamon rolls,” Ellie chirped and reached up to wipe something off her cheek, leaving a smear of flour in its place.

“I see that.” He chuckled at her, his mouth breaking into a wide smile.

“Would you like to join us?” Persephone swiped her hair back from her eyes, leaving a streak of cinnamon.

“No, I believe I’d only be in the way.” Smiling at Ellie, he reached over and wiped dough off her nose.

Smacking her hands together, flour rising in the air, Persephone grabbed her tins and placed them in the oven.

“I’m going to wash up and check on the little one.”

Wiping her hands on a towel, she headed toward their wing of the palace, leaving Evander staring down at Ellie, a broad grin on his face.

“You were looking for me?” she asked.

Pinching off a piece of dough, she held it up to him. When he nodded, she placed it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up. Ellie sucked cinnamon off her thumb.

“That’s excellent.”“I don’t know how, but she grows everything here. The goddess of spring and rebirth, indeed.” Ellie wiped her hands on her apron. “Pretty impressive for a place where dead souls live.”

Evander snorted through his nose and shook his head. Watching her move around the kitchen, placing the tins in the oven and dropping things into the sink to be washed up later, it felt like they had always been this way. Easy. Light. He pulled up a chair, and she sat for a second before jumping up and pouring herself some coffee.

Evander was leaning against the table, his prosthetic flush against the wood, his wings folded against his back, his demeanor serious. Ellie knew he was about to say something she would regret. Kind, soft eyes met hers and the bottom dropped from her heart.

“I received my summons,” he said, tucking a wayward curl behind her ear. Ellie felt the ground shift under her feet as if a chasm opened up to pull her in. Reaching out, she grabbed him, trying to find something to hold on to. “I won’t go until I absolutely have to.”

“What?” Ellie breathed.

“I will not go until I know you are safe. Until I know”—his voice cracked—“I know someone will be here to protect you.”

“What?”

His palms slid into place along her cheeks, and he wiped tears away. She hadn’t felt the tears until his thumb swept across the rise, and the cool wetness slid across her face.

“I won’t go until Liam is strong enough. I have asked Camulos and Liam to look after you.”

“No,” she said, with a shake of her head.

“They can take care of you if I can’t convince the council—if I can’t make my case.”

“No,” she said again, her heart breaking into pieces inside her chest, shards cutting her, bleeding.

Evander pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, stroking her back. “Ellie, have I told you how incredible you were in Aerelia’s chambers?”

Her arms wound around him, squeezing, not wanting to let go, not wanting to believe that this—they—could be over. Evander would go to the council, he would tell the truth, and they would send him to the Shadow Realm. And Ellie would be here, alone, on Olympus.

“I was in complete awe of you.”

“Evander.” Her words choked her. “I can’t lose you.”

“Listen to me.” He lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to look up at him. His eyes were glossy, holding back tears. “You didn’t choose this. This world, my world, has been thrust on you. It’s filled with violence, cruelty, and selfishness. My world isn’t meant for humans, and yet you fit here. Your precious, tender heart makes Olympus better. You’re afraid you aren’t strong, Ellie, darling; your compassion makes you strong. You are stitched together with softness and iron.”

She shook her head.

“Hades said that. He said you were a rare jewel. You are. You’re my rare jewel.”

He held her, increasing the pressure of his arms, his body enveloping her. Ellie soaked it in. His arms, the way he smelled, the way he felt, his entire being seeping into her soul, filling in the broken places. She would hold on to this memory in the days afterward when she found herself alone and aching to be with him. She would recall this moment when she felt the safest, most loved she ever had and hold it close in the darkness. They didn’t move or speak, just let their hearts talk while the cinnamon rolls rose in the oven.

Half an hour later, they found themselves seated at the dining table in the palace hall. The table was laden with tins of sweets, smoked meats, bacon, and various other foods. Hades and Persephone sat on opposite sides of the table, the company taking up the space between them. Ellie was making the tough decision of what to put on her plate. The men were talking among themselves as they piled food onto their plates and into their mouths. Callassa sat beside Ellie, her plate empty.

“Here,” Ellie said, setting down a cinnamon roll. Smiling weakly, Callassa let out a breath. Ellie grabbed her hand and squeezed. “How’s Liam today?”

“Better. He was up when I left and moving around, but he is still weak. It is taking too long to heal from his wounds. He’s walking, but his wings . . .” She took in a shaky breath and folded her hands in her lap. She twisted her ring around her finger.

“He’ll get stronger.”

“I know,” she said, shaking her head, her wings folding tighter along her back. “It should have been me.”

Ellie squeezed her hand again.

The motley crew of different-winged people gathered around the table in the place of the notoriously reclusive Hades, gave Ellie a sense of camaraderie. Looking down the line at Hades, he was engrossed in a conversation with Camulos. Cam’s face was light and animated, the ease of being with an old friend written across it. On the other side of her, Persephone had engaged Callassa while she piled her plate with sweet rolls, encouraging her to eat. She continued to talk as she maneuvered a fussy baby and began nursing the princess. Smiling wide at something Callassa said, the Queen of the Underworld sat in her chair, crisscross, while her griffins lay at her feet and a flower crown on her head. Feeling eyes on her, Ellie shifted her gaze to Evander, who sat across the table. They shared a look of ease between them.

“What’s your next move?” Ellie heard Hades ask, and she swung her head towards them.

“We need to go before Athena and state our case,” Cam said.

“I agree, but at this point, I don’t know that she will listen.” Hades pointed his fork and then cut into his meat.

“If she has Ares on her side, then we need to go sooner rather than later.”

“Agreed.” Evander looked over at Cam.

“Hasn’t the council ruled in favor of the company?” Persephone asked, adjusting the baby to the other breast.

“It has, but Athena can still bring grievances against us,” Cam responded.

“Such as?” Ellie asked.

“Such as aligning ourselves with Callassa. Evander breaking his vow. Many still believe you are the destroyer. Put together, we look treasonous to even the most sensible of council members. If she wanted to, she could bring all of them against us.”

Hades nodded. “And with the release of the Titans, it could be seen as yet another threat against Olympus. With the gathering armies in all four provinces, I fully expect a second Trojan War.”

“She is setting our world up to burn,” Callassa said darkly.

Everyone turned to look at her, their faces grim.

“So, what do we do?” Ellie asked Callassa before swinging her head to Camulos and Hades.

“I believe our best recourse is to go to Apollo and ask for protection by way of his centurions. Ask him for the support of the legion,” Camulos spoke up.

“Do you think he would listen to us, Hades?” Evander asked, and Ellie met his glance.

Hades shook his head. “I don’t claim to know what Apollo will or will not do. But he might be sympathetic now that Athena has declared war on the legion under his province.”

“I don’t like all these uncertainties,” Callassa said.

Camulos nodded in agreement. “Neither do I, but I don’t know we have a choice.” He drummed his fingers against the table in that familiar way he did when thinking about something. Ellie watched him, a warm feeling spreading through her heart at the recognition. She had now been with them long enough to notice slight gestures each of the men who held her heart made.

“I’m afraid, however, if we ask for entrance, Athena will try to fight us without meeting the council. We need a way to get into her palace to speak to the council without Athena,” Camulos said thoughtfully.

“Why?” Ellie asked, shooting a look at Evander, who twitched one side of his face.

“Athena has banned any man from her home unless she invites you,” Hades answered. “Which is why I have a solution.”

“What solution?” Callassa asked, her words garbled. Ellie noticed she had taken a bite of something, and relief washed over her. At least she was eating again.

“Me.”

His familiar voice slithered from the shadows of the doorway opposite the long table. Valerius stepped into the room with flair, arms out, and Sansari perched on his shoulder. In seconds, what was left of the company was on its feet, including Ellie. Camulos and Evander drew their weapons. Callassa had knocked over her chair, which slammed to the ground, as she took two enormous steps towards him, her wings snapping open as she did, hissing and snarling.

“You will not draw weapons in my home,” Persephone snapped, forceful and deadly. The command sent a shiver up Ellie’s spine. Her griffins were on their feet, growling low, their tails switching back and forth, ready to pounce.

“What are you doing here?” Callassa snarled.

“Call off your men, Camulos,” Persephone warned them.

Clenching his teeth and breathing forcefully through his nose, he looked at Evander, and they both reluctantly put their weapons away.

“Your Majesty,” Persephone warned again.

“He has my mate’s soul,” she snarled, stalking toward him.

“It’s in safe-keeping, little bird, I assure you,” Valerius quipped, unmoved by the show of aggression. He enjoyed ruffling feathers.

“How is this a solution?” Camulos barked, his eyes narrowing on Hades.

“If you will sit, I’ll explain,” Hades said as he sat back down, motioning for everyone else to sit as well.

They took their seats one by one, all but Callassa, who remained standing. She paced as he passed by her, walking confidently to one side of the table, and pulled out the remaining empty chair between Ellie and Hades.

“Is this seat taken?” Giving her a sly smile, he purred, “ Darling .” His gaze snapped to Evander, who growled and clenched his fists.

“Take it easy, Evan,” Valerius teased as he slid into the seat. “I won’t try to take your delectable little human.” Running a heated look over Ellie, one side of his mouth quirked up. “At least not yet.”

Evander pounded his fist on the table. “Touch her, and I will gut you, Valerius,” he ground out through clenched teeth.

“Tell me why Valerius is here?” Camulos turned to Hades with a dark expression.

“He knows Athena’s palace and how to get to the council chambers undetected,” Hades explained.

Ellie eyed Valerius. “How do you know how to sneak into her palace?” she asked before she could think better of it.

Valerius smirked and leaned close to her, his shoulder almost touching hers, turning his gaze to Evander.

“Well, darling , we all have itches that need scratched from time to time. Several of her nymphs are quite naughty and must be shown how to be good girls . Several of the warriors also need special attention . The virgin goddess’ palace is a den of inequity.” He caught her gaze and winked. “If you’ll let me, I can show you.”

Valerius sat back in his chair, thoroughly pleased with himself for having toyed with Evander like a cat with a mouse. The dark expression that flooded Evander’s face told Ellie it was working. Sansari, unfazed by the whole thing, climbed down Valerius’ shoulder and over his arm. She made a hissing sound and a growl and then stretched her little daemon clawed hands out to Ellie. On instinct, Ellie reached over and gathered the daemon to her, holding her to her chest as the little creature’s wings flapped and then settled. Evander’s face darkened as he glared.

“You expect us to trust him?” Callassa asked low from behind.

“I don’t like it either, dear, but if he knows how to get into the council chambers without detection, we need him.”

“But aren’t you summoned by her? Haven’t you been to her palace?” Ellie asked with a shake of her head, her gaze shifting to Camulos. She placed Sansari in her lap.

“Yes, but certain chambers in the palace are off-limits; we don’t have free access. The council chambers are separate from the meeting chambers or where Evander goes for things pertaining to the Circle.”

“And you forget, dear sweet Ellie. These are the good guys. The straight and narrow ones. They would never bend the rules, well, all except one.” Valerius shot a smirk at Evander.

Ellie rolled her eyes. “You’ve made your point. You’re such an ass,” Ellie said, annoyed with his antics.

“An ass who has a baby daemon that’s taken quite a shine to you.” He winked at Evander.

Ellie turned and looked across the table, shrugging sheepishly. “She was stunned and hurt for a moment during my time in the throne room. Plus, she’s little.”

“Oh, I never question your motives.” Evander darted his eyes to Valerius who blew him a kiss and then, for extra measure, patted Sansari on her head, keeping eye contact the whole time.

“So, it’s settled?” Hades looked around the group.

“Yes,” Camulos said, nodding his head. “Our best bet is to go to Apollo first, and then we’ll go to the council. If Valerius can enter the palace and their chambers without raising alarms, then we have no choice.”

Valerius clapped his hand, and the sharp and crisp sound hurt Ellie’s ears. “I love it when a misguided plan comes together.”

“And if we get caught?” Callassa said, still pacing.

Camulos looked at each of them, one at a time. “We fight our way out.”

Everyone in agreement, his words hanging heavily in the room, nodding as Camulos nodded with them. It was settled then. She would go with this damaged crew, set sail on a raft to Apollo, and then to Athena, hoping they make it out alive. The room fell into a tense but civil conversation. Valerius gave up on trying to get a rise out of Evander and focused on a discussion with Hades. Callassa excused herself, refusing to join the table with Valerius. Ellie understood how she felt. She didn’t want to do anything that required Valerius’ help for a myriad of reasons. It was absurd, this whole thing. Olympus, their plan, a table full of winged creatures, griffins snoring at the feet of Persephone. Her lips quirked up. It was as if planning to sneak into Athena’s palace and fight her way out was something she did regularly.

Looking around the table, that warm feeling in her heart spread. In the short time she had been with this strange company of warrior nymphs, she had grown fond of them. Liam could turn the mood of the room with a single phrase, and she adored how he loved not only Callassa but her and Evander with his whole heart, unafraid. He was one she could count on; their friendship would stand the test of time. He would keep to his word after Evander met with the council, protecting her as he did Callassa. Camulos was like the uncle she never had. Wise, kind, encouraging, and not just for Ellie, but for Evander and Liam, too. His powers were still a mystery, and she desperately wanted to ask him about what Aerelia had said in her chambers, but she knew he would only avoid the question. He held onto his secrets with a tight grip. And then there was Callassa. While she knew her friend was hurting and worried, she also knew she had become an essential part of her life. Their bond had formed quickly, and she hurt knowing Callassa was hurting. It was more than just the ease of friendship; she felt a deep connection tethering them. She could do anything, fight anyone, if she had Callassa by her side.

Ellie’s gaze slid over to Evander. He met her eyes briefly, the corners of his mouth raising, before he turned and answered a question from Camulos. He was someone Ellie couldn’t live without. She could read his moods and his mannerisms, his expressions. Lying in bed with him this morning, watching his beautiful face as he slept, she traced his features and delighted when he leaned into her touch. One wing lay over the both of them, his arm over her waist, holding her in place. He was always encouraging her, believing in her. When he looked at her, he saw someone deserving of his affection, not her flaws. He had called her his rare jewel this morning, as if he had been waiting centuries for her, created just for her. Evander wasn’t afraid to love her, to tell her time after time how much.

Ellie gripped the table, unable to breathe, feeling as though someone had socked her in the stomach. Looking down at her lap, her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the soft rumble of chatter around her.

Oh, god, she loved him.

She loved him.

That strange, stubborn, wonderful man.

He had said it first. He never pressured her, telling her he already knew when she wasn’t ready to admit it to herself. She had been afraid. Afraid he would change his mind. Afraid of the cruelty that she knew would come. Afraid he would see right through her and realize she wasn’t enough, that he would peel back the veneer and see that she was worth nothing. But he hadn’t. He kept showing her how much by his words and his actions. Ellie trembled, unable to speak but wanting to run to him. She had never wanted to love. To be vulnerable again with someone else. She had created walls in her heart, places she refused to let anyone in. Built them thick and tall, because the last time she did, the tender place inside had been stomped down, so she tucked her feelings away. But Evander had stood outside those walls, patiently waiting for her to open the gate and invite him in. She sat at a table with Hades, surrounded by Greek mythology in living form, feeling terrified. Scared because she knew she would lay down her life for him. Scared because loving him meant losing him to the decision of the council, and she didn’t know if her fragile soul could take the loss.

Looking up, gripping the sides of her chair, he met her wide, fearful eyes with concern.

Are you alright? he mouthed.

No! Ellie wanted to scream. No, because I love you. I love you, and I’m terrified of losing you. But nothing would come out. Her words wouldn’t form. They lodged themselves in the back of her throat. She could only nod her head and give him a weak smile.

They were about to enter a lion’s den, knowing not all would make it out, and Ellie sat frozen, more terrified than if she stood before Athena.