Chapter 98 - You Don't Own Me
The smoke thinned between them.
Ash drifted lazily through the air where chaos had ruled only moments before.
Athena stepped forward.
Silas's hand brushed her arm as if to stop her-
Then he let her go.
Because he saw it.
She didn't need protection in this moment.
She needed to speak.
Victor watched her approach the boundary stones, his expression caught somewhere between triumph and disbelief.
She stopped just short of the invisible line.
Close enough that she could see the faint tremor in his jaw.
"You didn't protect me," she said.
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried.
Clear.
Unshaken.
Victor opened his mouth to speak.
Athena didn't let him.
"You didn't save me," she continued. "You didn't hide me for my safety."
Her eyes held his steadily.
"You caged me."
The words landed like stones.
Victor's composure cracked slightly.
"I kept you alive," he snapped. "You would have died with them."
Athena shook her head.
"No," she said softly. "I would have lived as who I was meant to be."
Victor's eyes darkened.
"I gave you a life."
Athena let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"You gave me a cage and told me it was a home."
Silas watched her from behind, pride swelling in his chest so fiercely it almost hurt.
Victor tried again, voice tightening.
"You don't understand what you are. The power you carry. The danger-"
Athena cut him off.
"I understand perfectly now."
Her shoulders straightened.
"I am not something you can own."
Victor fell silent.
For the first time since this battle began...
He had nothing to say.
Athena's voice softened, but it didn't lose its strength.
"You don't get to control me anymore."