“I know. Shh.” He tugged her close and buried his face in her hair. “I know.”
She closed her eyes and held on tight, feeling the strong steady beat of his heart against her own, letting his heat chase away the chill inside her.
“I should have trusted you. I should have…” His arms tightened around her back. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He swallowed. Then whispered, “It’s gone. The voice, the darkness. It’s all gone because of you.”
It was gone. She couldn’t feel even an ounce of the Underworld inside him anymore. But even as he held her, fear crept in.
Would he want her, now that he didn’t need her light?
She opened her eyes and looked over Gryphon’s shoulder toward Zander, who was crouched on his knees, hugging Max across the clearing in much the same way Gryphon was hugging her, tears in his eyes as he checked to make sure the boy was okay. Then to Theron, Titus, Orpheus, and Skyla, who were all staring down at Atalanta’s smoking body with wide and surprised eyes.
Orpheus looked toward Skyla and smirked. “Now that’s what I call a mortal wound.” Then toward Maelea. “Way to go, Ghoul Girl.”
From the front of the compound, roars erupted, then faded to nothing. The dark energy that had permeated the compound—this whole area—dissipated until only light, blessed peace remained.
Maelea pushed back and looked up. Gryphon’s blue eyes sparkled, and as he stared down at her, one corner of his lips curled in a smile that shot heat straight to her belly. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
She waited for more. Waited for him to tell her he still loved her. Fought back the panic rushing through her veins. Looking down at his chest, she caught sight of the circular outline of something disk-shaped beneath the fabric of his shirt.
The Orb of Krónos. He had the Orb. He really didn’t need her anymore. None from his world did. They had what they’d been seeking.
A burst of light erupted behind her before she could figure out what to say. Gryphon shoved her behind him. She blinked at the burn in her retinas, held up a hand to block the glare. Slowly, the light dimmed until what faced them wasn’t man or creature or monster. It was a god. The King of the Gods. Her father.
A collective curse rumbled from the group.
Stunned, Maelea stepped out from behind Gryphon, shrugged off his hand when he tried to stop her. Three thousand years she’d waited for this moment. To look upon her father with her own eyes. He wasn’t gray and aged, as she’d envisioned over the long years of her life. He was youthful and strong with short, dark hair and a lean body covered in…very human-looking jeans, a T-shirt, and a light jacket.
His eyes softened when they landed on her. And a smile—a real smile—spread across his lips. “My child, this has been a long time coming.”
Light radiating from him drew on something in the center of her chest. She took a step toward him.
“Maelea,” Gryphon said warily at her back.
She stopped in front of her father, still unable to believe any of this was real.
Zeus’s smile widened. “You’ve finally earned your place on Olympus. You found the strength to call upon your gift. And you killed what my brother Hades created with his darkness.” He held out his hand. “Come, child. It’s far past time. Come and secure your place with the gods.”
She looked down at his hand. Everything she’d ever wanted was only inches from her. All she had to do was reach out and take it.
Slowly, she turned to look behind her. At the Argonauts standing with their feet apart, arms at their sides, bodies ready for whatever battle Zeus might throw their way. To Sklya at Orpheus’s side with her hand at her lower back, reaching, Maelea already knew, for her dagger. At Atalanta’s smoldering body at their feet. And finally to Gryphon, at the front of the group, staring at her with wide, light blue, mesmerizing eyes.
I would give up anything for you.
Her heart contracted. And the road home, a home that had nothing to do with Olympus, spread out in front of her like a winding trail of gleaming gold.
She turned back to face her father. And knew as soon as she made this choice, she could never take it back. Even if it turned out Gryphon didn’t want her anymore. “I’m not going with you.”
Zeus’s smile dimmed. “What did you say?”
“I said…I’m not going.” Her chest warmed. Telling her yes. It was the right choice. The only choice. “I don’t want to leave.”
Shock filled Zeus’s eyes, and his gaze shot past her. “You stay because of him?”