Page 90 of The Mortal Trials

I smile. “I said… I deserved that much.”

Elias turns to make sure everyone heard, but his glory is cut short when Taeniset divulges what happened with the three unchampioned who died in the labyrinth.

She lives next to one of the women who were in the group. One of the men suggested making a lot of noise to intimidate the creature, but the sound agitated Daedalus and led him right to them.

He trampled one of them and gored two more in the first brutal charge. Those who got away fled into the maze, where they stayed completely quiet. They heard us working our way through. Heard Torsten’s team maneuvering, but after their three friends died, the rest were too afraid to help.

They’d used the string. So, they retraced it, hid close to the portal, and waited for it to activate.

Waiting and surviving were never going to be an option for my group. Daedalus was thrown into the dark for a reason: for me to kill.

If we had run and tried to hide, the gods would have sent something worse to flush us out. Or pushed Daedalus to us in those narrow corridors… and there’s no way all of us would be here sitting in the pool on a sunny afternoon discussing the trial, because not all of us would have survived it.

18

Ihaven’t told August that whatever power Daedalus infused into the leg he crafted for me died with him, but it did. It’s gone.

It didn’t immediately disappear when I killed its keeper. The power that wrapped around my leg when I donned the prosthesis that morning remained until I removed it at the pool to swim.

When we finished and were ready to leave, I put the leg back on and recognized the loss.

The prosthesis is perfect. Beautiful. I’m still grateful beyond measure. It still fits my thigh, and it’s way more comfortable and worlds better than the one I’ve been using for the last year. But the spark that made it feel like it was part of me – is gone.

I thought some little piece of his power had survived the gods’ wrath, but I was wrong. They snuffed it all.

There’s a knock at August’s front door. He’s in the shower and didn’t mention he was expecting visitors… I take a butter knife from one of the lunch trays and hold it beside my thigh. I doubt Torsten would knock to gain entry, but you never know.

When I crack the door open, Taeniset waves, dressed for the feast in a golden gown that drapes beautifully over her figure.

“Taeniset,” I greet.

Her shoulders are back, cheeks are pink, and the kohl rimming her eyes is winged and dark as night. Through her hair, a glowing strand of gold wends among the dark strands. Part of Ariadne’s gold thread. “You can call me Tae. Akira did.”

I nod my thanks as unease coils in my stomach. “Are you here for August?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m here for you.”

“You took the string from the maze,” I say appreciatively, opening the door to allow her inside.

“It was still tied to Koda’s wrist when we left the trial behind.” She shrugs. “It’s too pretty to go to waste.” She notices the butter knife and fights a smile. “Do you always wield so fierce a blade when you greet guests?”

I apologize and let her in. “One of my recent visitors taught me that it’s wise to be wary.”

“I walked home with Elias this evening. His oikos is a few farther down from mine. I knew Torsten attacked you, but Elias mentioned what else he did to your house and your clothes. Niall confided in him. Did you know they were such gossips?”

I laugh. “I did not.”

“Anyway, that’s why I’m here.” She hands me a canvas bag. “These are Akira’s from before she was championed. She was about your size.”

“Thanks.” I want to tell her that I know how hard it must’ve been for her to go through her friend’s things, to smell her scent. But commiserating over death seems wrong.

I smelled Carina’s perfume oil for months. Even when we shut her door, it would waft into the hallway sometimes.

She pushes past me and enters the room, looking around, her attention drawn to the bathing room where August is singing. She gives a throaty laugh and in a low tone asks, “So… you and Aymes?”

“Friends, allies, and now roommates – courtesy of Torsten.”

She grins. “What a hardship it must be for you.”