Chapter Twenty-Four
Beth, wake the fuck up, now.The voice in my mind is commanding and familiar.I’ll let the realms burn if you don’t wake up, my love. Wake up.
I groan as I blink my eyes open, still rolling in the chariot. The middle chariot is gone and the only opponent left is Heracles’ team. I don’t know that I can fight anymore. My ribs are cracked and every move shoots fire across my chest.
Heracles and Theseus are whispering among themselves as we continue to race along the track side by side. No one is shooting magic or brandishing weapons now. They appear to be waiting for something and it occurs to me suddenly that it’s me.
I sit up with a groan of pain and a roar rattles through my bones. I glance at the platform where the others are and it’s taking all four men to keep Jayden back. His eyes are solid black pits and the shadows are slowly creeping up my friends’ legs, but they either aren’t aware or unconcerned.
“Jayden,” I grunt out a hoarse whisper. “I’m okay. Just a few broken ribs, I think.”
“This ends now. You should have never been in there. You were right. The queen set you up to be murdered and she almost succeeded twice.” He thrashes in my friends’ grip.
“We concede,” Heracles says loudly. “If the queen wants my sister’s death, it will not be by my hand. I will gladly stand aside.”
Theseus nods as well. “Never did like how the queen treated people because of her husband’s mistakes. I won’t be helping her cause.”
They throw down their weapons and their driver stops the chariot. I wave for Draven to do the same. As soon as it stops, Jayden is in front of me, running his hands over me. I wince when he runs a palm over my ribs. His nostrils flare with anger and vengeance.
“He’s dead,” I say. “He is no threat to me anymore.”
“It’s a good thing the dead are my domain, then, isn’t it?” His smile’s wicked with the promise of pain and torture.
“We have bigger things to deal with than torturing someone over a few broken ribs. Come back to me, love. I need to see your bright-blue eyes.” I cup his cheek in an effort to calm him.
His shoulders slump as the shadows recede. The black in his eyes slowly fades away and he releases a breath.
“You made the right choice, Heracles, Theseus,” Apollo says with a bow of his head. “You were always cunning but knew the difference between right and wrong, even if you didn’t always follow it.”
“Thank you, Lord Apollo.” Heracles returns the bow.
“You may be called upon again before the war is won but for now return to the Isles of the Blessed and rest until you’re called upon to fight evil once again.” Apollo waves a hand and the heroes along with the driver vanish much like the others.
“If the queen stole the plinth and wanted to open it, why would she gift it to the winner of the Olympian games?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest.
“The queen never had the plinth. She sent her own greatest warriors to retrieve it.” Apollo’s mischievous smile is almost contagious.
“I thought Hermes was the god of mischief.” I raise a brow.
“Well, with my little brother out of commission someone has to step up,” Apollo shoots back.
“Do they really, though? That race was fucking crazy. I was poisoned and hit with magic. That is not my idea of fun,” I grumble.
“You won first blood and everything. It was spectacular.” Apollo throws his hands up.
“I also got mowed over, but Pandora wants her box back, so can we have it?” I ask.
“Pandora? That’s who sent you? Not Hermes?” Apollo’s eyes widen and he curses. “That’s the timeline we’re on.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“Be very sure of yourself before you trust anyone with the plinth. It’s not only the hope for humanity but the realms.” He transports us back to the road with that cryptic warning.
Shit.
The plinth is in my arms as I touch solid ground and instantly my friends surround me. I scan the highway until my glare lands on Pandora. Apollo gave me that warning and I don’t doubt him anymore now that we have an idea of his struggles with being the villain in his own story. How lonely that must be for him.
“You got it,” Pandora breathes and lunges forward.
