The Goddess Inheritance
Page 71

“Please,” I begged. “Just go.”
The sound of twisting metal drowned out my pleas, and half a dozen bewildered voices rose above the commotion. Though he was fighting a battle far above us, the fog that was Cronus had created a barrier in front of Calliope, protecting her. Persephone and the other girls pushed against it, roaring with outrage. Their weapons struck the fog again and again to no avail.
“Around,” commanded Persephone, and the others scattered. No matter where they moved though, they couldn’t get any closer.
Calliope smirked. “Here’s the deal, Henry.” She set her hand on his arm, and he flinched away. Was he back now? Had he come to his senses? “You’re going to send all of these pretty little nuisances back where they came from, and maybe I won’t kill Kate.”
The blade dug into my chest, widening the wound, and I gasped as the fire of a Titan spread through me. Henry tensed, but as soon as it had come, his fear was replaced with the mask of impassiveness he wore when he was hurting the most. He was there. Did Calliope know? Had she let him go on purpose?
“What will it be, Henry?” she said. “I wouldn’t linger too long on the options if I were you.”
Deeper now, through cartilage and bone until it was half a millimeter away from piercing my heart. Light exploded in front of me, and sweat poured down my face as the fog spread through me, securing a choke hold on what remained of my life.
I’m sorry. Henry waved his hand, and Persephone and the others disappeared, their useless weapons falling to the ground in a clatter.
Blood trickled down my chest now, and I couldn’t look away from Henry. It didn’t matter that Calliope had severed his loyalty to me; she hadn’t severed mine.
“Do it,” I snarled, summoning up the last of my strength. Martyr complex or not, maybe this would be enough for Henry to bring Milo to safety. “I dare you.”
A shriek pierced the howling wind. Nicholas came through the roof door, and Ava pounced on him, kissing his purple cheeks and capturing him in an embrace. Even if no other part of my plan had worked, at least we’d freed Nicholas. At least we gave Ava a reason to fight with us.
“How cute,” said Calliope. “A reunion before Cronus sends you all into oblivion.”
Nicholas straightened and held Ava protectively. “You’re never going to win,” he said. “Cronus could kill us all, and you would still only be second.”
Calliope growled, and immediately I saw the effect his words had on her. Her fists tightened, her jaw clenched, and her cheeks flushed. In her distraction, the dagger slipped from my chest. Eyeing the blade, I shifted slowly to the side, hoping against hope she wouldn’t notice.
“Being my son will only buy you so much lenience,” she said. “Is this how you want to spend it?”
“Lenience? Is that what you call what you did to him?” Ava shrugged off Nicholas’s arm and stormed toward Calliope. Without her, Nicholas sagged and collapsed against the wall, his legs shaking so badly that it was a wonder he could stand at all.
Calliope met her in the middle of the roof, nose to nose. “You’re in this as deep as I am. Forget what you did to Kate—you’ve been betraying the council from the beginning. You think they’ll be so willing to forgive you for that?” she said, a malicious glint in her eyes. “You’re dead either way.”
Ava smirked. “I’m here because Daddy asked me to come. He’s known everything this whole time. And as for why I helped you with Kate—” Her smile faded, and she glanced at me. “It’s because Daddy knew we couldn’t win the war without Henry. Even your own husband is against you.”
Calliope hissed, the golden aura around her nearly blinding now. “Do you think I care why you did it? It happened. It’s over. Because of you, I win. Henry loves me, not her. Not anymore.”
“That’s the best part,” said Ava. “Henry doesn’t love you, you fool. He never has. He’s been pretending the whole time.”
I inhaled sharply, and Calliope spun around to face him. “Is this true?” she demanded. Henry’s lips formed a thin line, and he gave Ava a reprimanding look. That was all the confirmation I needed.
Calliope hadn’t stolen him from me, after all. He was still my Henry.
Go. I pushed the thought as hard as I could in his direction. If you don’t now, she’s going to kill Milo. I’ll be okay.
He hesitated. Calliope was screaming at him, but her words became nothing but background noise as his voice surrounded me. You need to come with us.
I can’t.
Yes, you can. The moment I leave, Calliope is going to try to kill you. I will not leave until I know you are safe.
I glanced around the roof. Ava was still here. Nicholas still leaned helplessly against the wall, barely conscious and beaten within an inch of his life. I couldn’t leave them, but Henry was right—there was nothing keeping Calliope from killing me now, not with Cronus tied up in battle. Okay.
Henry exhaled. Meet me in the bedroom in Olympus.
I will.
A pause. Ava’s telling the truth.
The words wrapped around me, a salve against all of the pain Cronus and Calliope had caused me. Had caused us both. I know. We have to go.
You first.
I closed my eyes, and a second later, that familiar sensation ran through me. When I opened them, I stood in the sunset bedroom I’d shared with Henry, and I held my breath. He had to come. He wouldn’t break his promise like that, not with Milo’s safety at—