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“What now then?” Nitsa slid down against the wall, legs giving up. “What do we do?”
“Alex was right,” I cried—yes, cried. How many times was I supposed to watch my friends die to save me and my mother, and be expected to hold it together? “This place finally wised up and realized I needed to go. You all died because it struck the outcropping trying to get rid of me.
“I can’t be here! I’m putting you all in danger.”
Ionna tossed her head. “You’re also the only reason we’re not in real danger, because you undid the terrible thing that just happened to us.”
“No.” I backed away, pants coming hard. “I need to get away from you guys. You’re not safe around me. No one is safe near me!”
“Aella, it’s okay.” Alex cupped my cheeks, pressing his forehead to mine. “Breathe,kara.It’ll all be ok—”
“It’s not okay!” I screamed, popping his brows. Roughly I shoved away. “None of this is okay. Tycho is dead. Drakos is dead. Your father is up there waiting to execute me and my friends the minute we poke our heads above ground. My mom’s been a prisoner for two years, and we’re all playing right into the hands of the evil goddess who abducted her, and we still don’t know who that goddess is. So, no, Alex. It’s not going to be okay!”
My jaw clamped shut. My neck muscles spasmed wildly, tossing my head this way and that. “Fuck!”
I burst into tears. “I keep watching you die. I can’t do it,” I sobbed. “I can’t watch you die anymore.”
“Aella....” Ionna’s hand was warm on the back of my head. “We’re not dead. We’re right here. And we’re going to get through this. We’re stronger together, and we know it. That’s what makes us different.”
“I... Yes.” I raised my head, trying to breathe slow and steady through my nose. “That’s what makes us different.” It was another pause before I could speak evenly. “Sorry for freaking out. That was less than helpful.”
“It was pathetic. Stop your shouting and wailing, and get that key!” Selena blared, blowing in my eardrum. “I tire of your delays. Free me. NOW!”
I gritted my teeth, holding tight to my opposite wrist. If only I could strangle her just as easily.
“Sirena,” I began. “What’s the fastest bird in your arsenal, and can it out-fly lightning?”
She shook her head. “The drop of godly blessing in our souls manifests as one power. My power is to take the shape of every flying creature. Only their shape. Supernatural speed is a separate power.”
“Then we need to think of something else, because I can’t be this close to you. Zeus, or what’s left of him in this place, is prepping his next strike right now.”
Ionna peered up, straining to see the tip. “What if we all make the climb? Staying on this ledge isn’t any safer, so why not?” she asked. “Multiple targets. Can’t get us all before one of us hits the top.”
“Not a bad idea.” Alex kissed me. “Aella, Sirena will hover with you under the ledge. At least it’s some covering.”
That settled, Sirena’s claw grabbed me up and she flew me under the outcropping. My feet dangled over the crashing ocean, and it still didn’t fill me with as much anxiety as listening to my friends and love begin their climb.
“There’s a toehold right there.”
“You got this. Keep going.”
“Halfway there.”
Their voices faded on ascent. They were doing it. They were making it.
“Nitsa? Hey, Nitsa, what’s wrong—? Oh no, she’s seizing! Theron, do something,” Daciana cried. “Grab her— No!”
Nitsa fell past us, plunging into the depths.
“AELLA, IT’S OKAY.”Alex cupped my cheeks, pressing his forehead to mine. “Breathe,kara.It’ll all be okay.”
My eyes narrowed to slits. “You’re right. It is going to be okay.” My gaze latched ontohim. “Because we’re ending this shit right now. You,” I barked. “Up the mountain.”
He looked around like I could be talking to someone else. “What? Me? Okay, but we should come up with a p— plan.” He burst into a coughing fit.
I got too much pleasure from hearing him wheeze. “Here’s the plan,Jason. Since your fuck-ass evil powers were good enough to fool every demigod present on orientation day, and stop them from seeing youdraggingmy mother through the gates, then they’re good enough to fool this trap. So I repeat.” I pointed. “Get up the damn mountain.”
“Aella, what’s going on?” Ionna backed away from Jason, and his growing smirk. “What are you talking about?”
