Cutting a hand before him, Percy interjected. “Wait, wait, wait. I need to know what’s going on, first.”
Turning her gaze onto him, Cerys smiled. She leaned toward him, studying his features, turning the idiot bard red as a beet. “Another tainted? I thought the Merchant Isles killed our kind.”
“They do.” He swallowed.
She leaned back. “Set didn’t tell you he calls Duath Nun home, did he? I’m not surprised.”
I shimmied away from Percy’s accusing glare. “You said you were fromfar away,” he spat.
“In all fairness,” Cerys interjected, “he is.” Her eyes narrowed. “We don’t have time to talk. You make for Hades. For the Acheron hidden in its depths. But if you hope to sneak in unseen, you’ll be sorely disappointed.”
“Why?” I asked. “No one knows we’re coming.”
Cerys’ eyes lowered, and she approached the window. Percy still watched her like he’d never seen a woman before, eyes tracing the flowing silk behind her.
Placing a hand on the glass, she turned back to us. “You left someone important at the beach.”
Every muscle in my body tensed, and I reached for my blade.
“She’s in danger,” Cerys said in a low tone.
“How do you know that?” I demanded, marching toward her.
“Because the divines whispered it to me: the first Maiden of Elpis from foreign shores has arrived upon ours.”
Snapped from his daze, Percy held out a hand. “Wait, you can actually see the future? Then, do you know where Aethra is?”
I closed my eyes, cursing the idiot bard for saying her name.
“I do,” Cerys said. “And I already told your father.”
It felt like she’d driven a knife through my back. Snarling, I drew my dagger. “Why? Why would you tell him anything?”
She studied my face, eyes drinking in my expression. “Oh, Set,” she said sadly. “Didn’t you learn to stay away from Elpis maidens?”
I staggered away from her, heart pounding as my worst fear came to life.
My father knew about Aethra. Knew where she was.Whatshe was.
Cerys glanced at me, and I saw the intent in her eyes. Lunging, I tried to stop her.
Too late.
A scream tore through the building as Cerys called for her guards—called for help. Flinching, I grabbed the windowsill and measured the dizzying fall to the courtyard before whirling around.
“I am sorry, Set,” Cerys said calmly. “All this is necessary. You’ll understand in time.”
“Godsdammit, Cerys,” I spat.
She’dcalled her guards off, lessened their presence in the streets to ensure I arrived.Why? I hadn’t told her a damn thing ofworth.
Racing away from the window, I grabbed Percy’s sleeve and hauled him into the hall. Thundering steps shook the walls as an army of glittering gold bastards pounded up the steps and whirled in our direction.
Pushing Percy back into Cerys’ room, I slammed the door and ran back to the window. Cerys stood calmly by her bed, watching with interest as I slit my palm.
“A talented general brings an army of men to watch the eastern beach,” she said. “For the first time in decades.”
“Am I supposed to thank you, or curse you?” I hissed, shaping my blood into swords.
