The Maiden’s sister? That could mean any number of lesser goddesses. But among the Twelve, it could only be the Huntress… or the Cyprian.
“Oh, Uncle…” The goddess sighed, settling on the fountain’s edge with a dramatic flourish. “Always so hard on the poor mortals. Can’t you see we’re in the presence of something far greater and more precious than a wedding vow?”
Her lips curled into a knowing smile. For a breath, the Sea God hesitated. Then his gaze snapped to the queen, still standing on the steps with an officer’s arm braced protectively around her waist.
“Soulmates?” he thundered. “Impossible! What have you done?”
The goddess trailed her fingers through the water, sending ripples dancing across the surface. “Technically, Father is to blame,” she said airily, as if discussing a minor inconvenience. “He’s the one who created them.”
Alena barely breathed. She knew little of soulmates—only that the Achaeans revered the bond as sacred, a thread spun by the Fates themselves, deeper than blood and more binding than marriage.
All around her, the crowd turned their focus towards the queen and the officer at her side.Soulmates.It explained the way their postures eased, how their hands found each other without hesitation. They stood as if some invisible tether had just snapped taut between them, eyes wide and lips parted in silent recognition.
But if Queen Charis and the officer were soulmates… What did that mean for Leukos—and his alliance?
She had no time to ponder. The Sea God’s voice roared like crashing waves. “Soulmates, ha!” His laughter was a deep, scornful bellow. “The Fates mock us. I see it now—and clearly, they are not the only couple.” His gaze speared Leukos. “Boy!”
Leukos met his stare with such contempt Alena feared the god might smite him on the spot.
“I do not like seeing Megara in the hands of the enemy,” the god snarled. “You have more power than you know. I expect you to do something about it. And when the time comes, I will stand with you.”
With a final, menacing glare, his towering form began to dissolve. His essence surged upwards, gathering into a massive wave that loomed high above the courtyard, casting everything into shadow. A salty chill swept over them, sharp as winter, and gasps broke from the crowd.
Alena pulled Kaixo close, shielding him. The wave crested, crashing down with a roar?—
But the impact never came.
When she opened her eyes, the water was gone, flung across the cobblestones like scattered rain. Leukos stood between them and the Sea God’s fury, his back braced, one arm raised. A crescent wall of ice arched behind him, water dripping down its sides.
Relief swelled in Alena’s chest as she rose. He looked back at her, and for a heartbeat, warmth softened his dark eyes. She smiled, heart racing, daring to believe he’d been waiting for her, too. That maybe?—
But then his expression shifted. His brow furrowed, his jaw tightening, as though he meant to speak—to bridge the gap between them. Yet, pulled back by some unseen restraint, he turned away, his features hardening once more.
The sudden withdrawal struck her like a blow. Her hand dropped to her side, the warmth between them replaced by a cold ache. She swallowed against the sting of rejection and forced herself to stay composed, unwilling to let the depth of her disappointment show.
“Ugh, such a sore loser,” the goddess muttered, waving a hand at the flooded courtyard as if it were an insult to her taste.
Alena had been so focused on Leukos she’d almost forgotten the woman entirely. But now, after everything that had unfolded, she was almost certain: she stood in the presence of the Cyprian—the goddess of love, first born of the sea foam near Cyprus.
Movement caught her eye. Apollo and the other two wolves wove through the debris, padding towards her and Kaixo. The boy stood wide-eyed beside her, mesmerised by the arcing wall of ice, already slick with melt under the sun.
Leukos still kept his distance, his face unreadable. The goddess cast him a sidelong glance, her eyes glimmering with appreciation.
Alena resisted the urge to click her tongue. “And who are you?”
The goddess gave her a knowing smile. “I think you already know, Omega. And it’s time we had a little chat.”
With effortless grace, she adjusted the folds of her gown before letting her gaze sweep over Alena from head to toe. Her lips pursed with faint disapproval. “Is that what the Amazon made you wear?”
Alena blinked, taken aback by the question. She glanced down at her chain mail, worn furs, and dirty riding leathers, a flush rising to her cheeks.
“Chain mail is cumbersome,” the goddess remarked. “We can’t have the Omega running around red-faced and exhausted before the battle even begins. And honestly, it’s so inelegant.”
Kaixo giggled beside her, but Alena’s frown deepened. Only the Cyprian could be so vain. Chain mail was meant for protection, not aesthetics. Still, the goddess had a point—it was rather cumbersome.
“Here, let me help.” The Cyprian opened her palm, a shimmer of light swirling with the soft hues of dawn. With a playful wink at Kaixo, she blew the ethereal mist towards Alena.
The magic swept over her in a warm wave. The chain mail’s weight lifted from her shoulders, dissolving as if it had never been there. A tingling sensation curled around her skin, and when the enchanted cloud dispersed, Alena glanced down and froze.
