Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
I instantly recognize the cabinet behind her. “You’re in the country house?”
“It seemed the wisest course of action, but I’ll be returning to the city shortly.” She takes a deep breath. “I know you don’t always agree with the choices I make, but please know that if I value ambition and power, I value my girls more.”
“Since when?” Callisto mutters, just loud enough to hear.
“Since always.” Mother shifts a little. “Regardless, there’s something you need to know and it can’t wait.” Before any of us can say a word, she flips the screen of her phone to show Psyche…and Eros.
Eurydice gasps. “But he’s dead.”
Eros gives a faint smile. He looks terrible, drawn and paler than normal, his usually lush, curly hair straw-like. “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” He coughs and winces. “Well, maybe not greatly exaggerated.”
Psyche places a careful hand on his bandaged chest. “Mother’s quick thinking got us out of there. Now Circe thinks he’s dead, so she won’t look for him—or us, since she’s counted me out because of grief.” Her voice is thick. Eros might have lived, but it clearly wasn’t an easy thing. I saw the video. We thought he was dead, and with good reason. His injury is clearly serious.
“If it’s safe to travel, you need to come to the lower city. We can protect you.” I’ll make sure of it.
“You can’t, actually.” Psyche grimaces. “And we would never make it without being taken by Circe again.” She glances past the camera, no doubt meeting Mother’s gaze. “We’re leaving Olympus. Tonight.”
“What?” Callisto snaps. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Yes.” Some of the tension fades from her face. “The arrangements have already been made.” She sucks in a breath. “I want to stay and fight with you, but—”
“No,” Eurydice cuts in, sounding harder than I’ve ever heard her. “Don’t you dare stay for us. Get out of here. You’ve already sacrificed too much for this fucking city.”
The camera flips around, and Mother gives a disapproving look. “Eurydice, language.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mother.” Callisto flops back on the couch and glares. “We’re well past language. And Eurydice is right: Psyche and Eros should get out of here.” She narrows her eyes. “Frankly, we all should.”
Mother shakes her head. “Not all of us.” She suddenly looks every inch of her fifty-three years. “I will admit to misstepping with Circe. I didn’t realize the depth of her rage, and even if I had, I don’t know what other choice there was to make. Hiding in the lower city is a bandage and not even a good one. That barrier will fall, the same way the external one did. We were ill prepared for any of this, and at least a portion of that responsibility rests with me as Demeter.”
I lean forward as well as I can. “What are you saying?”
“There’s no going back, darlings. I don’t know what the future of Olympus looks like, only that it won’t have the Thirteen in it. I don’t like the methods of anyone involved, but the people have spoken.”
“Not all the people,” I cut in. “The lower city is perfectly happy with how things are currently.”
“Are they?” Mother raises her brows. “Or are they just like your husband, making the best of the situation they were born into? I almost…” She shakes her head sharply. “I almost cut off the food to an entire community. I won’t pretend I wouldn’t have done it—or that I’m not capable of doing it in the future if one of you were threatened—but it shouldn’t be so simple to starve so many people. That decision shouldn’t be in the hands of a single person.”
“You aren’t giving up power,” Callisto says flatly. “Don’t pretend you are. You’re a cat; you always land on your feet.”
Mother smiles tightly. “Yes, well, time will tell if that is true.”
She has a plan. She always has a plan. The difference is that, for once, she’s tipping her hand to us before she acts. Worry worms through me, cold and curling. “Circe won’t take kindly to a double cross. You should leave with Psyche tonight.”
“No, darling.” Her smile softens, her eyes warming. My mother is a monster. She would have starved countless people. She’s certainly killed before, though she’s thorough enough that I only have suspicions and no evidence to support that belief. She would have bargained every one of us away in marriage to further the family’s seat of power. She did bargain away Callisto.
But she’s still my mother. I love her. She loves us. I may doubt so many things, but I’ll never doubt that. “Please be careful.”
“I’ll do what needs to be done.” She straightens her shoulders, visibly drawing her Demeter persona around her. “I simply wanted to speak with my girls, all together. I love you. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused over the years. I won’t pretend I always made the right decisions, but I love you all more than life itself.” Her eyes shine. “You’re the best things I’ve ever done.”