Swift as the Rising Tide (The Nostos #2.5)

Log of the Aphrodite

A Nostos Series Recap

My brother has lost it.

For five years he was cursed never to return to these lands until his Fated fell for the very man she thought kidnapped and tortured her.

So of course, what does Alexander do? Captures her on the eve of her Acknowledgement to try to explain that it was not our kingdom that inflicted such evil on the future Alentian queen, but actually her betrothed’s father the vile Viper of Votios and his ally in the north, King Edmund.

Except he doesn’t fully explain it to her.

Now I know why our sister Chloe thinks us men so daft.

He flirts with her under the guise of being some notorious pirate…

notorious my ass. He is barely known on this side of the Mykandrian Sea.

Of course, he convinced her to stay, I said he was an ass, not horrendous looking, but fails to mention who he really is.

Apparently, ‘hello, my real name is Nikolaos Alexander Kirassos II and you think my father gave you all those scars, but I promise you can trust me,’ isn’t the best introduction.

Then what is worse, the imbecile gets himself imprisoned all while the Viper and King Edmund launch a coup in Alentus. Bye, bye to the most elite army in Odessia, hello to the occupational army of Harrenfort.

His Fated, Katrin, manages to escape with her sister, our father’s favorite spy, Ajax, and the crew of my brother’s ship, The Nostos.

She couldn’t very well stay on an isle where those two wicked men want to use her and her family to raise the feared Olympi, Hades.

One God of the Underworld is enough—oh, did I forget to mention that Katrin’s father, Aidon, runs the depths of Aidesian.

Scary motherfucker. Glad to never have encountered the male.

I’ve always thanked the gods I stayed put on this isle, that my father shrouded Nexos from the rest of Odessia for so many years.

That is, until Katrin comes knocking on our door, convinces my sister to help her rescue Alexander and sends me to the underworld with his cat-like crewmate Thalia (an absolute menace that smells…

well…curious), Ajax (I quite missed him to be honest), and his lover…

commanding officer…Katrin’s sister…who I prefer to just call blondie.

It pisses him off and I quite like pissing off my old friend Ajax Demos.

Fortunately, Alexander is rescued and returns home.

Unfortunately, Thalia and her little white cat psychí (apparently all seers have a familiar?

Make a note to research this) almost die in the underworld after an attack from one of the many daimons that live in the lowest chambers of Aidesian.

Of course, I am to blame, because I should’ve laid down my life for her instead.

I barely know the woman? Why in the gods names would I do that?

I know she is a beloved member of his crew, but she is not part of mine.

Alright, I will admit I was terribly guilty and decided not to leave her side after that, bound by some strange loyalty I still feel toward my brother. Loyalty, I tell you. That is the only reason.

Now he has tasked me yet again, this time to convince the men and women of the lost isle of Skiatha to fight alongside us in the war against the Viper, his son and Katrin’s now technically husband Kohl, and King Edmund.

While the Nostos sails to Cyther to prevent the three men from raising Hades from the dead, I must journey once more with Thalia.

I have never loathed an idea more.

Alas, that is the sacrifice of being the second born. Choices are not something I am ever allowed to make. At least not for myself.

-D