Page 96 of The Mortal Trials

Athena leans back in her chair.

“Tell him,” August dares her, staring the goddess down in her temple.

Silence is a loud, cruel thing.

Elias bristles as his champion excuses herself.

August gestures to her back. “Nothing. That’s what she offers you, Elias. She only serves as a gate to games that’ll kill all but one of us. I’m not even convinced there’ll be a winner.”

Aphrodite, who was temporarily rendered speechless by the exchange, stands and grabs her cup of ambrosia and Athena’s. “You’re all here because you’ve made an enemy of Ares. If you become Athena’s, she won’t waste her energy with fanfare. She’ll eviscerate you and you’ll never see her coming.”

“I’d welcome her fury. It would be a mercy compared to what her brother has planned,” I numbly reply as she turns to leave.

The goddess doesn’t look back as she crosses the room.

Koda lets out a long, tense breath.

Elias doesn’t look sick anymore. He’s pissed. He angrily shrugs out of his jacket. The buttons pop off his shirt when he tears it open and shucks it off, too. My eyes find the scar I gave him.

His dark eyes flick to the laurel on my head. “I want to stay in the group. Please.”

Koda calms him with an “Of course,” then leans in to offer some words of encouragement.

I take the opportunity to speak with August. “Brigid is interested in championing you. If you are unsure about Ogun, you should accept her the second she offers. She won’t wait and she won’t offer twice.” I don’t tell him everything Morrigan said, but enough that he understands the urgency.

“How well do you know her?”

I nod. “Well enough. And I trust Morrigan.”

He finds Niall and Morrigan seated at a table across the room. Brigid is with them with her wild, fiery hair. Her features are delicate, feminine. They’re the kind bards have long written ballads about. But she’s a warrior at heart and she’ll wisely guide August through the games.

Koda gets his attention by gently patting the table, “Ogun is also still open to championing you, I think.”

“Would he champion Callalie instead?” August asks. “Brigid can’t because of Niall and the blood rule, but Ogun could.”

Koda shakes his head, opening his palms. “I can’t think of a reason he wouldn’t, but I can’t say for sure.”

“You can’t worry about me or whether or not someone champions me,” I tell August. “You need a champion, and you have two good options. Time’s running out.”

His lips thin like they do when he’s about to argue, but he doesn’t get the chance before Hermes calls for everyone’s attention.

The messenger god strolls through the tables, stopping in the center of them and waiting until all eyes fall on him. “Congratulations on surviving your second trial. Your third will take place tomorrow at midday.”

Koda, Elias, and August remain quiet.

Many of the others are caught off guard with the news. I’m grateful Ulani and Vailea shared it with us beforehand.

Hermes continues. “It will begin as an individual event. At the start, the gods will offer each of you a gift to celebrate the midpoint of the trials. Enjoy the rest of the celebration.” He saunters away, pausing to whisper with Ares, who claps him on the shoulder before allowing him to pass.

Anxiety rakes its claws down the inside of my ribs. I don’t want whatever they’re offering us. Gifts from the gods come with strings upon strings attached. Mortals can only entangle themselves in them.

Koda clasps my hand. “Don’t worry, Callalie.”

I try to smile, but worry doesn’t even begin to describe the emotions roiling through my chest.

I look across the table at Elias. He scoots his chair back and braces his elbows on his knees, his hands in the hollow between them. His head is hung low. If he’s considering all the horrific possibilities, he’s not the only one.

August’s foot nervously bounces as he glances at everyone around us.