Page 77 of A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows

“On the island?” Sappho said.

“Not this one.”

“Which?” She gestured to the map.

He prodded a thick finger to a small dot farther out to sea. “We followed her trail to the beach on the other side. Sea nymphs saw Hera heading in this direction. They believe she wanted them to see her go.”

Sappho blew out a breath and shifted her gaze towards the window where the sun set in dramatic layers of light, apricots and burgundies washing over everything. It would be dark soon.

“We go,” I said. “Now.”

“No,” Sappho said. “That’s the Island of Sorrow.”

Valerian lifted up and stepped forward like he reanimated again. “What is it?”

I growled. “I’m not afraid of an island.”

Atara’s expression darkened. “The Island of Sorrow is where Zeus punishes gods. It holds the earthly entrance to Tartarus.”

Valerian’s skin paled. “She plans to lock Epiphany in the abyss of torment?”

“No,” Sappho whispered. She paused for a weighted moment and then raised her eyes to meet mine. “She wants to lure Artemis to the island. If she could manage to get her into Tartarus, Artemis would not have access to her powers there, and no one could rescue her. Hera could seal her and her powers and the prophecies that go with those away.”

My mouth gaped, but words wouldn’t come. This really was my fault. Hera harmed Epiphany solely to punish me. I didn’t take her warning. She had asked me if I had known the story of Pandora. What had been in her box? All the hurt and misery of the world. That’s what I had unleashed by coming here and chasing answers.

But I had to. This wasn’t just about me and what I wanted. I clenched my fingers, and the glowing light blurred. As if I’d sought this. I didn’t go out seeking a godly parent, didn’t wish for divinity or a powerful prophecy. Fate threw it at me.

I understood now why Apollo thought divinity ruined everything.

I had included Epiphany on this trip, though, pushed her away this afternoon, and encouraged her to share her feelings with Valerian, which sparked whatever caused her to run off.

So, that was on me. And I had to fix it.

“I want to go.”

“No,” Sappho said so firmly I winced. Her jaw jumped, but she gave her head a shake. “You heard what Hecate told you. Your prophecy affects this entire world.”

“If it’s my prophecy”—I slammed my hand against the table, causing the map to jump—“then it shouldn’t change regardless of my actions, right?”

“If prophecies were that simple, Hera would not goad you. She could change the course, lock you in Tartarus, keep Zeus in authority. Think about that.” Sappho leaned in towards me. “There’s been a great many of us who have spent our lifetimes trying to remove him from power. Will you throw it all away?”

“What about Epiphany?”

Valerian’s nose wrinkled, his eyes flaming as they flipped to Sappho again. His feelings for her had only soured. Sappho nodded. “We’ll rescue her, but—”

“But?” I yelled.

“It can’t be you. In case anything goes wrong with the mission. It has to be someone else.” She skimmed her gaze over the guards. “If we don’t wish to bring Hera’s wrath onto Niria, it can’t be any of her guards that she might recognize.”

“The panthers will help as we are able,” Atara said, his looming form silhouetted by the bookshelf. “But we are blood vowed not to harm Zeus or Hera. Our lives are forfeit if we do so.”

“I’ll do it,” Valerian said.

Everyone shifted towards him with various looks of incredulity. “Val...” I began.

“I know.” His voice firmed. “I’m just a human, and I’m not even a trained guard at that. But that’s the thing. Hera is expecting Temi to show up… possibly other gods. She’s anticipating a fight, but what if we gave her the opposite?”

“What do you mean?”