‘You can’t dwell on that. Metis knew those words were said in the heat of anger.’
Danae looked up at the warrior through swollen eyes. ‘Do you think she was right? Am I like the Olympians?’
Atalanta sat back on her heels.
‘You are and you aren’t.’
Danae’s heart plummeted. That was not the answer she’d hoped for.
‘It’s not a bad thing. You killed another false god today. No mortal has ever done that. Perhaps being like them is what it takes to be the champion of mankind.’
Danae tried to find comfort in the warrior’s words but she could not. Then her mind settled on the last part of what Atalanta had said. ‘You believe I’m the champion of mankind?’
‘That’s what the prophecy says, doesn’t it?’
As she held the warrior’s gaze, light sparked in the hollow cavern of her chest.
Then the pound of footsteps sounded behind them.
Danae turned to see Telamon sprinting through the tawny grass, a bloody gash across his forehead.
‘Heracles has gone,’ he gasped.
Danae hurriedly wiped her face as she and Atalanta leapt to their feet.
‘What?’
‘He hit me,’ Telamon pointed to his head. ‘Came at me with a rock. By the time I was on my feet he was on the back of that horse, flying away.’
Icy dread seeped through Danae’s body. ‘Pegasus …’ She tilted her face to the sky. There was nothing, just endless blue. No white wisps of cloud or airborne steeds. She wondered if this was how Heracles had felt, when he discovered she’d abandoned him. Perhaps this was his revenge. But Pegasus … the horse’s betrayal cut like a silent blade. She had felt their bond weakening ever since she learnt his true name, but when the moment came, she’d hoped he would choose her.
‘No.’ Atalanta’s voice was deep and hollow. ‘He would never …’
‘He’s gone, Atalanta!’
‘What did you say to him?’ The warrior rounded on Telamon, pushing him in the chest.
‘Nothing, he … oh gods.’ Telamon ran a hand through his flame-red hair.
‘What?’
‘He said he couldn’t go on like this.’
Atalanta paled. ‘If he felt that way why would he take the horse?’
A terrible thought unfurled in Danae’s mind. ‘What if he tries to get more strength elixir from his father?’
‘He wouldn’t betray us,’ said Atalanta quickly.
Telamon sank down into a squat, cupping his head in his hands.
Blood pounded in Danae’s ears. How could she have been so careless? Heracles had worn his misery like an open wound, and she had just twisted the knife in deeper.
‘He would never go to his father … not after everything Zeus has done to him.’ Telamon shook his head, his eyes gleaming like polished bronze. ‘He must have realized he couldn’t come with us, not as he is. He’s a proud man. He’d never have been able to admit that to us.’
Atalanta’s limbs trembled. ‘I’m going to kill him. If I ever see him again … I’m going to fucking kill him.’ She stormed away across the shore.
Danae was about to follow the warrior when a strong hand stilled her.
