Page 227 of The Mortal Trials

Koda gestures to his red shorts and button-down shirt. “I’ve come dressed for it.”

August moves to help Koda when Niall snaps at him. “I’ve got him!”

“As do I,” the Greek agrees.

They take turns steadying Koda while they shed their shirts and sandals. Koda’s balance wobbles whenever they let him go. Despite days of rest, it’s worse than it was at the last feast.

When they’re all ready, the three men take the short staircase into the steaming salt pool where ledges line the pool’s edges. Koda takes a seat on one, telling his helpers he’s fine and that they can stop hovering and enjoy a swim.

I smother a smile as Niall and the Greek swim deeper.

When August grabs the back of his grass-stained shirt and draws it over his head, I swear time slows for a blissful second. His dark gilded hair is still damp with sweat from his matches with Ulani. I’ve seen him shirtless every night, but right now, his skin glows golden in the sun’s last light.

I drag my eyes away.

“Coming in?” he asks with a hopeful grin.

I don’t glance at Niall. He can leave if he’s uncomfortable. I sit on the edge and ask Daedalus’s magic to release my leg, then remove my prosthesis and sheath, leaving them behind as I slip in.

The water instantly soothes my aching muscles.

August climbs in beside me. He groans as he sinks in and the warm water laps at his shoulders and neck.

Koda scowls at the fading bruises on my throat. “Niall told me what happened. Torsten is a menace. He should be made to forfeit for what he did to you!”

We all know he won’t be punished. “The gods encouraged him to get a weapon. He was probably rewarded for trying to steal mine.”

Koda watches me carefully for a moment. “We wanted to talk to you about something.”

“We?” I look at Niall and the Greek.

The Greek answers when Niall chooses to brood instead of responding. “We… are sick of Torsten.”

“That didn’t take long,” August quips dryly.

“Does Athena care if you’re fed up with him?” I ask.

“I haven’t discussed anything with her since she offered to champion me,” he informs before splashing Niall in the face.

“What was that for?” Niall sputters, wiping the saltwater from his eyes.

The Greek splashes him again. “For looking so sour. So she told you to leave when you wanted to help. It was a perfectly reasonable request when she thought you knew Torsten was going to try to steal her spear!”

“But I didn’t!” Niall shouts, staring at me instead of the Greek who soaked him. “I would’ve warned you. Gods, Callalie. I wouldn’t have let anyone do that to you.” He gestures to my neck and eyes.

I’m sure he thinks that. But when it comes down to it, Niall freezes when he’s afraid. I can’t trust that he would warn me if he knew I was in trouble.

August juts his chin at the Greek. “What’s your name?”

“Elias.” He dips his head back, soaking his dark hair before shaking the excess water out. “And to be perfectly clear about my motives, I came here because I think we should all team up. Become allies.”

Athena is a master of warcraft and strategy. He could be scheming with the goddess; she might have sent him here to befriend us so he can sabotage our effort to win. She, or perhaps Torsten.

Days ago, this man drove his chariot into mine. There’s no way he’s stopped hating me since then.

“Don’t all agree at once,” he blandly says when August and I don’t speak.

“I thought you wanted me dead.” I wait for him to look at me.