Hot tears burned my eyes. I blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. It had been years since I’d fully cried, and I would not do it now in front of my enemies.
“I don’t have any answers for you then,” I said, turning my back on them both. “Now good night—morning. This conversation is over, and we mustn’t speak of it again.”
13
SELENE
Itossed and turned all day. The curtains blocked out the sunlight, but the darkness felt suffocating for once. Images flared on the back of my eyelids, memories I’d fought so hard to block out. I could see my mother’s ashes so clearly now. When I’d buried them that day, I loosed a wordless scream and fell to my knees, feeling like the ground beneath me would swallow me whole.
Just like Hera said, Zeus had found a loophole.
And so I dreamt of her now, hearing her song. When I was a child, she sang it to me nightly. Until one day, she’d abruptly stopped. For a long time, I’d forgotten it. Now the words rang in my head, echoing in my dreams for hours.
Oh Selene, little albatross
Born beneath a different moon
The light of it is in your heart
But with it comes the doom
Oh Selene, Oh Selene
My beautiful little albatross
After hours of fitful sleep, I finally rose and wound my lace robe around my shoulders, pushing out onto the balcony under a dusky sky. I breathed in the humid, salt-thick air and gazed up at the dark abyss. Heavy clouds blotted out the stars and the moon.
Sighing, I leaned against the railing. The first day on Aiaia had been fraught with unanticipated confrontation, wild requests, and complicated emotions. I’d expected it to be tough. The Olympians wouldn’t want to make it easy on me. But now that my introduction was out of the way, hopefully we could turn our full attention on the reason we’d journeyed to the island in the first place. We would make our first sacrifice tonight. It would please Erebus, and Zeus would feel more at ease because of it—at least I hoped.
I had to put what Hera and Aphrodite—and Ares—had said out of my mind.
With a nod to myself, I chose a deep red velvet gown that trailed across the floor behind me as I walked, its edges embroidered with golden crescent moons. It was one of my only gowns without sleeves. The neckline cut low across my breasts, barely held in place by two thin straps around my shoulders—also embroidered with moons. I chose a pair of black lace gloves and sturdy boots. I enjoyed dressing in my beautiful, luxurious gowns, but I always chose practical shoes, particularly when I could hide them beneath my longer skirts. As a final touch, I added a few sprays of my jasmine perfume, and the sweet floral scent was a reminder of home.
After I’d dressed, Hector settled on my shoulder and poked my cheek. It was a hard peck he only gave me when he wanted me to notice something. I ventured out of the bedroom and into the drawing room, following his agitated path. There, on the floor. A paper curled across the carpet right beside the door. Someone must have shoved it under the gap.
I knelt and plucked the paper with the tips of my fingers, squinting. A list of instructions was written in black ink, and a thunderbolt symbol had been stamped into red wax near the bottom. I’d recognize that handwriting and symbol anywhere. It had been on the invitation Zeus had sent me.
My lips curled back.
Dearest High Queen Selene,
I hereby summon you to the first sacrificial ceremony of Nekros. Tonight, the following will be required of you:
1. All members of the Thirteen Crowns must meet in the megaron at sundown.
2. We will leave for the amphitheatre promptly. Do not cause any delays.
3. Once inside the amphitheatre, no monarch may cause a disruption to the proceedings. This includes, but is not limited to, engaging in a disagreement, speaking too loudly, participating in sexual activity, playing music, or interrupting the sacrifice.
4. All monarchs must participate in the sacrificial feed.
Archon Zeus
A low growl rumbled in the back of my throat. I crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it into the silent fireplace. As much as I couldn’t admit it at the time, everything Hera and Aphrodite had told me was frustratingly true. Zeus wielded power like a sword he’d stolen from someone else.
Hector flew into the fireplace and angrily pecked at the paper. Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, my love. I appreciate the show of solidarity.”
He cawed and blinked up at me, ruffling his feathers.
