Page 66 of A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows

I scoffed. “Is that right?”

“It is. I understand why that offends your mortal sensibilities, but much more is at play here than your feelings.”

I crossed my arms. “You know, I had imagined meeting my father for my entire life. I always thought I wouldn’t like you, but I’d stupidly hoped it would be different.”

His lips pursed, and he remained quiet for a dozen heartbeats. “I imagine the story you would like to hear is that your mother and I were very much in love. She made a mistake with Zeus, and she and I pledged ourselves to each other. Her death has haunted me since then, and I’ve spent the last two decades longing for you.” He pinched his mouth together again. “But none of that is true, Artemis, and I would do you a great disservice to lie to you. Besides…” He flicked his wrist, and the waves swept back with the motion. “You have the resolution to handle reality.”

Tears bit at my eyes. “That no one loves me? That my father doesn’t feel a drop of affection for me. He abandons me to be raised by strangers in our mother’s village, leaves me to think that I’m a mortal. And then he meets me,” I growled, my mouth foaming with spit, “only to look me in the eye and tell me he couldn’t care less?”

Poseidon cocked his head to the side. “I never said no one loved you. Your mother’s feelings for you were fierce. And your brother—for all his flaws—is deeply devoted to you. Furthermore, I care very much about you. The world’s future rests on both of your shoulders.”

My nose flared. “You’re concerned about my prophecy, not me.”

He considered that, tapping his thumb against his arm. “That’s true.”

“Really? You’re not even going to deny it?”

He blinked twice. “I won’t lie to you. If that’s what you’re longing for, you will find yourself disappointed.”

I blew out a breath and turned back to the sea. Dark clouds rumbled over it in the distance, wind picking up and peppering salt spray over my skin. “Fine. Tell me what I need to know then.”

“Amara gave up her divinity to shield you, so that the other high gods did not recognize who you truly are. Otherwise, Zeus would have killed you at your birth. As you saw Amara earlier, you know she sacrificed much to do so. She can pull the veil back and restore your powers. She longs to, in fact; the magic calls for her. But”—his jaw tensed—“you must be ready for what you’ll encounter. If, once she unbinds your veil, the gods discover a future high deity with a prophecy of ruining them walks the earth, you will face a great deal of wrath.”

I clenched my fingers into fists. “You already told me I’m resolute enough to face it.”

“That you are.”

“Fine, then. Release the shield and let me get back to my life, and you back to yours.”

“It’s more than that, Artemis. You and your brother must move when the time is right. You need to take the spark of Olympus for yourselves.”

I leaned back from him. “Neither of us has any desire to be the reigning gods.”

He reached out, placing a large hand on my shoulder, and my muscles froze. “Which is precisely why you must be the ones to take it.”

Feelings swept their way through me. I was pretty sure I hated this man. My father. Apollo had always liked him, but he hadn’t known who he truly was. And he probably had looked out for Apollo for my sake. Not for me—Temi’s—sake, but me—the prophecy holder’s—sake. And that made me furious.

I was a goddess, though.

And unlike Apollo, that future didn’t scare me as much as it did him.

“Unveil me, then, and leave.”

“Very good.” He nodded back at the shore we’d walked from. We returned in silence. As we approached Amara, Poseidon bobbed his head, and she stepped forward. I studied her as she took my hands in hers. She’d said I was her hope. And the way she looked at me, it made me feel exposed and found wanting. How many deities knew of me and my prophecy, and counted on me for answers? That weighed on me much heavier than the idea of ascending.

“Are you ready?” Amara said.

I nodded because I couldn’t get words to form.

A sparkling sensation, like a glass of champagne fizzing, washed over my skin. And then a silver shimmer slipped over my dark arms. Energy swelled through my body, filling my limbs. I felt buoyant, as if I could float over the surface of the planet.

I released a breath as Amara dropped her hands. Her eyes glowed golden, the divine luster surrounding her once more. I twisted my fingers in front of me, the silver light blurring through the air above the khaki sands.

My heart thundered.

I’d known I was a goddess, had accepted that.

But this.