Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
And now she’s gone.
I pull the note from underneath my pillow and read through it, each line stoking my disbelief and rage. I knew the shit at the party fucked with her. I knew better than to let my control slip its leash in the maze. But this thing between us has been simmering for most of our lives, and she wanted it just as much as I did. We have forever; I haven’t been in a rush to corner her again. I thought she’d come to me on her own timeline. She likes to think about shit until she turns herself into knots, but I knew she’d reach the same conclusion I did years ago.
She’s mine. I’m hers. Nothing else matters.
But that’s not what this fucking note says. I read it again, as if this time, the words will change into an order that makes sense. They don’t.
Asterion—
You deserve more than me telling you this in a letter, but if I say it to your face, then I won’t be able to do what’s necessary. I know the loyalty you hold for my father. I respect you too much to ask for you to choose between us, but I can’t stand by while more people die for petty politics and the illusion of power.
No. That’s the truth, but it’s not all of the truth.
The real truth is that I’m scared, Asterion. I’m fucking terrified. I’m sitting in the bathroom staring at two pink lines, and I can’t do this. If he finds out I’m pregnant, what little choice I have will be gone. And as for you…I might care about you, but I have no illusions about the kind of man you are. You’d lock me away from the world in order to protect me, but you might as well kill me instead, because my soul would wither away to nothing as a result. I can’t risk that. Not even for you. I’m getting an abortion, Asterion. I’m sorry. I don’t expect you to forgive me for this or what I’ll do afterward.
I know this makes me your enemy now. And I’m just selfish enough to ask you for mercy that I don’t deserve if we ever meet again.
Goodbye,
Ariadne
I sit on the edge of the bed and I let the knowledge roll through me. She’s gone to them, to the Olympians. She wouldn’t trust Icarus with this; and as much as her brother loves her, he’s no match for me and her father. Even now, she’s trying to protect him. My girl’s got too good a heart. Can’t stand the thought of innocents dying. She’ll try to work with the Olympians to save people. I could have told her it’s a lost fucking cause. It doesn’t matter what information she hands over; it’s too late to stop what’s coming.
The Olympians have no reason to honor their promises to her. No matter what their origins, powerful people think the rules don’t apply to them. How long has Minos been dragging out his promise to me? He says it’s because I haven’t fulfilled my part of our bargain, but the truth is that he’s never going to allow me near his daughter. The Olympians sure as shit aren’t going to stand aside and let me come for her.
I crumple the note in my fist. I don’t give a shit about her being pregnant or about her getting an abortion. That’s her choice. It’s always been her choice. But she’s running from me, from us, and that I won’t forgive.
Ariadne knows me. She should fucking know better than to ask for mercy. I meant what I said in the maze all those weeks ago. She’s mine. I’m never going to let her go.
Even if I have to hunt her down to prove it to her.
3
Ariadne
Now
From the moment I agreed to my bargain with Hades—giving him all the information I have in exchange for sanctuary and an abortion—I knew I was damned. I didn’t expect the Olympians to keep their word. What motivation did they have to protect the enemy? My only value is in being a captive, but my father will happily watch me burn once he finds out I walked into enemy arms willingly.
There is no forgiveness when it comes to Minos.
However, I didn’t expect the care taken by Eurydice and the others in the wake of my abortion. They have no reason to show me kindness, and even as I attempted to keep my guard up, it faltered. I’m so tired. I feel like I’ve been running and resisting for years, even though it’s only been a few weeks. When I made my deal with Eurydice, I didn’t expect to survive it.
I still might not.
That thought should fill me with determination to fight, but I hold no power here. I don’t think I ever have.