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“The one advantage we have on our side is they still don’t know Olivia is my daughter,” he confesses. “The only information passed on to them was that there is a female student who possesses god-like powers and the golden wings of a major.” He lets the information settle over us before continuing, “They won’t want to take immediate action knowing she’s my daughter.”
The others mull his words over, Kyros goes to speak before my father interjects, “You should all stay here though, you aren’t needed, and we shouldn’t reveal all of our cards so soon.”
“I’m not fucking waiting behind, and I can sure as hell tell you my brothers won’t either,” Mateo announces, and the others all nod in agreement, even Adrian. “Besides, Titus already knows all four of us are her mates. So the council might as well too.”
“For fuck’s sake,” My father exclaims. Turning, his fist launches into the drywall. Slamming through it as though it were tissue paper. He takes a deep breath, calming his flaming rage, before spinning back to the group.
“How in the fuck did you manage—you know what? It doesn’t matter.” His nostrils flare as he attempts to simmer his anger. “Fine, we’ll regroup when we hear their verdict and plan a course of action.” The others nod at this, finally agreeing on something for once.
“Now, if anything happens, the closest one of us to Liv will get her out of there,” he explains, and the others agree again.
My mouth falls open, a protest on my lips, when Kyros cuts me off, “There is no way any of us will allow any danger to fall upon you.” He levels me with a firm look. “There’s no use arguing.” My shoulders slump, not liking this in the least. I don’t want to be the one that everyone else needs to look after, the one that needs to be saved—but my power—I wouldn’t use my powers.
“They’re waiting in the auditorium,” Phillip announces, breaking the tense silence that has settled across the room since Kyros’s statement.
I pause, waiting for someone to make the first move. Taking the lead makes me feel as though I’m walking towards my execution. Reading the hesitance on my face, Kyros reaches out a hand for me. I can do this, I assure myself. I’m not alone. Letting the sentiments bolster me, I reach out to grasp his hand. He wraps his fingers around mine, giving me a tight, reassuring squeeze.
Phillip opens the door, and we file outside in silence, the earlier jabs and barbs gone now as a stifling weight settles around us. Uncertainty ratchets my nerves. Kyros pulls us into the shift, and we dissipate, reappearing back on the cobblestone path before the towering academy, the rest of our group appearing around us a moment later.
How long has it been since we were here? What seemed like hours could have only been minutes. Time melds together in my mind. Before I know what’s happening, Mateo marches forward, charging towards the entrance as though he’s about to go on a rampage, which knowing him, he might just be.
My father curses under his breath, pausing to dart a wary glance back at me before hurrying after the god of war. I purse my lips, unsure if that’s truly the best idea. The two of them fight like cats and dogs. I’m not sure either of them will even make it to the auditorium if they’re left alone together.
“I’ll go after them,” Adrian mutters before sprinting away. My heart sinks when he doesn’t even give me a backward glance.
“So—” Phillip starts. He reaches out towards me but is cut off abruptly by a low, threatening rumble emanating from Maximus. I give him a sharp look, and the sound cuts off abruptly. The surly god of destruction doesn’t even feign abashment. Instead, he merely shrugs, his emerald eyes meeting my gaze head-on.
I see Phil glance between the two of us out of my periphery, his eyes wide in shock and disbelief.
“I guess there’s no use wasting time. Let’s face the firing squad,” I chirp, pulling my lips up into a teasing smile that doesn’t reach my eyes while my stomach twists with anxiety.
Kyros grimaces at my reference but leads the way, my gaze roving over the lush green grass, before catching on the marble stairs we head towards. Kyros tightly clasps my hand as he directs us up the pathway. Maximus follows close behind, grumbling something unintelligible under his breath. His towering form acts as my shadow, and I can feel the body heat radiating off of him from his nearness.
My feet are leaden with every step, apprehension ratcheting up as we climb the marble flight of stairs to the academy entry way. My eyes catch on the massive golden statues, finally able to place the one I’d had a feeling of familiarity towards. The details are still hard to make out since it’s a solid gold statue but now I finally see the resemblance to my father. I huff out a breath of amusement, unable to blame myself for missing that before. The imposing grand door to the school ominously stands cracked open at the top of the stairs, the dark interior of the entryway contrasts with the bright sunshine outside. I can’t help but interpret the stark difference as foreshadowing the events to come.
I balk when we pass through them and pause in the massive entrance. The hallway is completely barren—Not a single soul in sight. I swallow dryly, my gaze anxiously darting around the corridor. The last time I took in this hall was right before the Ascension. The same trepidation unfurled in my chest as it had before the ceremony. I expel a long breath. The only difference is that the last time I went in there was not knowing my deep connection to the four gods. This time I know I have them, as well as my dad and Phil. Despite the fear that floods my veins at the thought of using my powers, I can at least be reassured that I have them as a backup plan if all else fails.
I turn towards the doors to the auditorium, seeing them knocked open haphazardly, meaning my father, Adrian and Mateo, must have entered just moments before.
“What is the meaning of this?” I hear a deep voice roar just before a chorus of words follows, the others in the room speaking over each other to be heard.
“I guess we better get in there,” Kyros sighs, looking at me, and I give him a hesitant nod before he moves towards the door. He squeezes my hand reassuringly. I pause just past the doorway, taking in the auditorium. I’m not exactly sure what I expected, but my eyes pop open in awe. When I last saw the cavernous room, there was debris littered across the stage. The drapes tattered, and the chairs strewn around the room.
I stop so abruptly, Maximus nearly rams into my back, his massive hand landing on my shoulder to steady himself. I chew on the corner of my lip before looking back and meeting his gaze. My face contorts into a glower in an attempt to match his on our first encounter.
“Watch where you’re going,” I sneer, keeping my voice low so only the three of us can hear. My face shows the same annoyance as he had on that first run-in, but my eyes tilt up, betraying the teasing smirk I so want to give him right now. Attempting to use humor to mask the fear and anxiety tightening my chest.
Maximus shakes his head in exasperation. Gesturing me forward with a nod. I take a deep breath, steeling myself, before I move my gaze back to the front of the room. His grip tightens on my shoulder in a comforting gesture before falling away. My spine goes ramrod straight, and I puff out my chest to portray an air of confidence I don’t feel.
My strides are strong and sure as I make my way towards four unfamiliar gods seated in large gold wing-backed chairs lining the stage. They look down upon the rest of the auditorium with authority. I spot Mateo, Adrian, and my father standing before them, angrily shouting from the ground. Phillip hurries forward, rushing down the aisle to break up the fighting, I can only assume.
“We sent for the girl, and her alone,” a tall male god bellows, standing from his chair. His shoulder-length black hair swinging around him as he spits the words, and his floor-length red robe sweeps out around his hulking form. He stares menacingly down at them.
Noticing Phillip, his gaze moves to focus on him. His eyes spark with interest when they move to me. I almost jump in surprise at his fiery amber eyes, but I scold myself. Do not let him intimidate you Olivia, do not look weak in front of this man. The words come through so strong and clear I can’t help but listen to them. Keeping my gaze narrowed, I continue forward.
The others follow his gaze, seeing his eyes trained on me. Mateo grits his teeth and his wings unfurl behind him, his eyes glowing with a hint of his battle lust, burning with both excitement and anger. Before he can move a muscle, the stage disappears. Dropping the four gods on their chairs to ground level. Roars of outrage echo around them. The three gods that were seated remain so, only being jostled by the abrupt drop. The fourth god, however, falls flat on his face. His black hair splayed around him as he pushes up from the floor—bright red welts shining on his face, visible even in the distance.
My father strides forward, wiping imaginary lint from his suit in a show of power and dominance. His wings spread gracefully behind him, the movement so effortless and self-assured compared to the abrupt flaring of Mateo’s in rage.
