Page 72 of A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows

Artemis

I ran into the stables, where horses lifted their large noses at me as I tumbled past them. Valerian stood at the end, stacking saddle blankets onto a shelf. “Valerian,” I yelled.

He shifted towards me, tension strung over his shoulders. His eyes widened as he took me in—the silver glow around my limbs that rippled along the wood surface of the stalls. “Hey, Temi,” he whispered.

“Where’s Epiphany?”

The sour expression returned to his face. “She’s gone riding.”

“Why isn’t she with you?” I yelled with more volume than I’d intended. I clenched my teeth to calm myself and huffed out the rest of my words. “She told me she was spending the afternoon with you.”

He shifted back towards me, his lips pinching. “She’s upset with me.”

“What happened?”

He sighed and gave me a tired look. “She stormed out of here on Meadow. Her guards followed behind, but”—he clicked his tongue—“she’s an excellent rider, so it will probably take them some time to catch up with her.”

Blood drained from my face. “She’s alone?”

The brooding, scowling version of Valerian washed away, and he stepped closer to me, his voice holding a pinch of concern. “Something’s wrong.”

“Damn it.” I kicked a stall. The silver light blurred around my features. Gods, I saw why Apollo insisted on always wearing a veil now. The glow was distracting and annoying. “Epiphany is in serious trouble.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Hera is here.”

“She’s looking for you again?”

Tears stung my eyes, and I couldn’t tell if they were more from frustration or fear. “No. Poseidon thinks she intends to harm my companions in order to get to me. We have to find Epiphany… now.”

“Oh, gods,” Valerian breathed. “I’ll saddle our horses.”

“I’ll let Sappho know what’s happening, and I’ll return in five minutes.”

Valerian didn’t answer me. He yanked a rein off a nail, the leather smacking against his hands.

By the time I returned, he had two mares ready, and I jumped onto the back of mine. “Where did she go?”

Valerian growled as we exited the stable. “I’m not sure. Her guards went that way.” He jerked his chin towards a path that led toward the mountains.

“Okay.” I nudged my heels into my horse, urging her into a gallop. We couldn’t waste time.

The wind swept over me, the clattering of our horse’s hooves pounding in my ears. Palm trees shivered in a breeze that picked up from the ocean where my father had retreated. I clenched my teeth down hard at that, though. He could help me, but he wouldn’t. He never had.

But that was fine.

I didn’t need his help.

I’d do it myself.

The path into the forest that curled up the mountain narrowed, and Valerian pulled out ahead of me, jumping in his saddle due to the speed he went and the way his horse weaved through the branches and boulders.

I didn’t know what had happened between Valerian and Epiphany, but he had been sulking, and Pip had stormed off. Which meant they’d gotten into a fight. And normally I might have found that annoying, but today it may have pushed Epiphany right into the arms of someone who intended her harm.

And Hera would hurt Pip because of her hatred of me.

It had nothing to do with Epiphany.