“I’ll find him.” I don’t mean to say it. I have bigger shit to worry about than where Dionysus has holed up. He’s got too good a heart; after the last couple months, he’s bruised and no doubt feeling broken. He’ll go to ground if he’s got a lick of sense in his head. Finding him means devoting time and energy that should befocused on outmaneuvering Circe.
I’m just not entirely positive Icanoutmaneuver Circe.
“Hermes.” The censure in Atalanta’s tone is light but present. “Circe ishere. Most of the legacy families aren’t interested in taking up Hades’s offer of sanctuary. Athena and I have been going from building to building and it’s all the same. They think they’re untouchable because they’re rich and powerful and nothing bad couldeverhappen to the rich and powerful.”
I snort, but my amusement fades immediately. “Stick close to Athena. At leastsheis being reasonable.”
“For now,” Atalanta says sharply. “She’s not going to step down, either. She’s held the position too long. She’s smart and cunning…and entirely certain that she and Zeus and the rest of them know what’s best for the city. Maybe not the whole of the Thirteen, but their little faction. Even if Zeus steps down—and that’s a hugeifat this point—I don’t know if she’ll follow.”
“A problem for tomorrow.” I’ll add it to the list.
She sighs. “Hermes, we have nothing but problems for tomorrow. We can’t keep putting this shit off.”
“I am all too aware.” I wrestle open the door and duck out of the wind. “With the caravan of civilians behind her, Circe will be occupied playing devoted queen for a day or two.” Hopefully. “We need to get everyone behind the lower city’s barrier before then.”
“Oh, only that?” Atalanta sounds just as tired as I feel. Sleep has been in short supply for the last few weeks.
We might be damned elite in every way, but we’re still human with human needs. I am very pointedlynotgoing to think aboutthose needs beyond sleep and food. Not in connection with Atalanta and sure as fuck not in connection with Circe.It was a really good kiss…
I shake my head sharply. “I need Athena—and you—behind that barrier so we have eyes on Hades and the rest. At this point, I doubt we can keep them from doing something heroic and foolish, but at least we’ll have some warning.” I hesitate. “You’ve been going hard, Atalanta. Try to catch some sleep. Maybe even a warm meal.”
“How luxurious.” The smile is clear in her voice. “Is it worth the breath to tell you to do the same?”
I haven’t seen Atalanta since the ill-fated kiss with Circe that resulted in a drugged stupor that laid me out for several hours. Just long enough for Circe to make her move, stepping into the public eye with Demeter as her right hand. I managed to extract Zeus and Hera and ferry them to Hades’s sanctuary, but I was almost too late. A couple hours later, and they would have been in the middle of the caravan and as close to untouchable as a prisoner can be.
I also haven’t told Atalanta about the kiss.
Guilt pricks me even though we’ve made no promises to each other. The possibility of more has stood between us for years, but the downfall of Olympus must come first. If I allow myself to behappy… Well, Circe’s return already caught me flat-footed. How much worse would it have been if I allowed myself to fall in love with my best friend?
Happy people don’t start revolutions. They have too much to lose.
I clear my throat. “I managed a little sleep before staging mydaring rescue. I’ll hold awhile longer.” I hate that it feels like a lie… Probably because itisa lie. Yes, I’m not as tired as I was before my forced nap, but it was, in fact, a forced nap.
“Text me once you’re done with Poseidon and heading for Apollo. We’re about to hit the last legacy family, and then I’ll do my best to convince Athena to make a tactical retreat to the lower city.”
“That’s my girl.” Damn it, I didn’t mean to say that. I clear my throat. “I’ll keep you updated. Stay safe.”
“You too.” So many emotions linger in those two words. I have a moment wishing things were different. What would have happened if I let Atalanta’s steady presence heal me fully? If I let myself love her the way she deserves instead of hatching a plot that still leaves me breathless with its ambition? If we’d settled down in the country, adopted some cute babies, and made a life there?
I shake my head and start down the stairs. It’s a pretty fantasy, but ultimately nothing would have changed. Circe, the love of my life, the woman whose death made my world dull and gray, still would have returned. She still would have sought the blood of those responsible for her pain. She still would have made her plans to conquer Olympus.
At least, this way, I have a chance of stopping her.
2Atalanta
There’s something wrong with Hermes.
It’s not the setback—we’ve had plenty of those over the years. She might use the flicker and flare of cheer to distract people from the person she is beneath the mask, but sheispositive to an overwhelming degree. The nature of this ambitious scheme is isolation. We’ve been able to talk more regularly in the last few weeks than we have in years, which has been a welcome change. When we set out on this path, we decided that there should be nothing to link us, to give the vultures of Olympus reason to look deeper. For years, we communicated solely through little messages passed secretly back and forth.
Even so, I know Hermes.
The worst part of being a soldier isn’t the discipline orruthlessness required to fulfill the mission. It’s the personal sacrifice. The mission has to come first. Any distractions can mean literal life and death, not just for me, but for the people of Olympus.
I believe in what we’re doing. The Thirteen have spent generations isolating themselves more and more from the common people, turning their attention away from the growing suffering in Olympus. If it happens outside the glass and steel and concrete perfection of the center of the upper city, it might as well not happen at all.
Things have to change.
I’m just…tired. So fucking tired. We’re in the middle of a thankless task, and we won’t be praised at the end of it, even if we manage to figure out the Circe problem. Hermes says she has it under control, but I can’t help the doubt sprouting inside me.
