“They haven’t come back from their search in the forge yet.” Greyson jogs to the door and peeks out. “I hope they didn’t touch anything.”
“Adrian was the one who warned us that they may come to life; he wouldn’t touch anything.” I step closer to the door.
“Unless it’s something he thinks we need, but it’s all over now so why would he risk it?” Jayden asks.
“I don’t know. I hope he wouldn’t. We need them here so we can all get back to the academy and let everyone know that we won. It’s over and life can go back to normal.”
“We all leave together, always.” Jayden squeezes my hand.
“It feels like a trick. Is it really over? We can just be normal college students again?” I scan the faces of my friends.
“You guys can. You can finally rest without the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Kira grins and squeezes my arm.
I roll my shoulders back and blow out a relieved breath. They’re right. It’s finally over and in the end, it wasn’t all aboutmy choice. It was the people I surround myself with being willing to step in and take the choice out of my hands. Draven did it at Mt. Etna and Kira just did it again with Hera.
“You will call me to help if you need it.” I point a finger at her.
“Not a chance,” Kira says. “Jayden will send me to the underworld if I disturb your peace.”
“Like hell he will. The only reason he’s still here is because you saved us all. I mean it. Once your war begins, you know how to find me.” I narrow my eyes on her.
“Only as an absolute last resort, the world is burning down around me, will I call you for help. You have earned your peace.” Kira shakes her head.
“So have you,” I argue.
“Nah, we stayed on the sidelines too long while you guys went out and risked everything.”
“The ground support at the academy was appreciated, though. You didn’t have to help us, and you did,” I point out.
“Daughter,” Zeus calls. “You have another choice to make.”
“What kind of choice?” I ask.
“You and Jayden have changed a lot in the past months with overexposure to divine blood. I would like to offer you both a place in Olympus.” He grips my shoulder.
“If we stayed here, we wouldn’t be able to help our friends, though.” I turn to Jayden. “What do you think?”
“I think I’ll follow you anywhere, so it doesn’t really matter to me.” He kisses my temple.
“This is an amazing offer, Father, but I don’t want to be a goddess if it means I can’t assist my friends when or if they ever need me. Gods aren’t allowed to directly interfere, and I don’t sit on the sidelines with my hands tied. I’m not built that way.”
Apollo pops up next to my father with a grin. “Told you she wouldn’t accept that offer. I don’t know why you doubt the god of prophecy. I see all.”
“Yes, you were right.” Zeus’ shoulders slump. “It doesn’t hurt to try, though.”
Zeus holds his hand out and motions for me to put my hand in his. Once I comply, he does the same with Jayden. A golden band wraps around my wrist a second later.
“What is that?” I ask.
“That is the key, so to speak, to Olympus. You both may come and go as you please without being attached to it the way we are.” Father nods.
“You had to do it first, didn’t you?” Hades grumbles.
“You snooze you lose, Hades. You haven’t learned that yet?” Zeus laughs.
“Whatever. I was saving this for you just in case you made the choice I was dreading.” Hades holds his hand out to me.
“Wait, you had a plan for me to see Jayden if he died in this war?” I gasp.
