Page 102 of Crown of Olympus
I looked down, noting the pooling of darkness around my palm, but unlike Arch’s smooth glow, my power oozed unevenly.
It’s okay.
I spoke to my power as though it were a living entity.
You’re not leaving me for good — just becoming more useful. Something that might save my life.
I squeezed the blade a little tighter, feeling its rough edge cut into my palm. The shadows flowed freely now, coaxed by my reassurances, pulsing with an eerie darkness.
I lifted the weapon and placed it gently within the fires of the forge. A sizzling hiss followed as flames burned a wealth of glistening blood from its surface.
Startled, I turned my hand over. A deep gash marred the skin, golden ichor dripping steadily onto the stone floor.
A lightning-scarred hand grasped my fingers tenderly, with a gentleness belying the strength I knew he was capable of. Caelus took one look at the wound and wrenched his shirt from his brown leather breeches, tearing a strip of linen from the hem. He wrapped my bleeding hand without hesitation, as if it were no inconvenience to him at all.
It felt like fate pressed pause — we were stuck in this endless moment between tasks. Neither of us could look away. He was loath to let go of my fingers. That gentle tugging inside my chest pulled again, and I felt my brows draw together just as Caelus’ eyes flashed as brilliant and white as a lightning strike. He quickly blinked and looked away, finally releasing my hand with a sharp flare of his fingers.
Almost like he had to force his muscles to relent.
A throat cleared, jolting us out of that paused moment, and I spun to face an impassive Archimedes. He leaned against his work station, arms crossed casually over his chest. There was no doubt in my mind he’d witnessed the entire exchange.
He did,Velira confirmed, cracking open one golden eye.
Great. The whole council will know by morning.
Hmmm,she hummed.I do not think so,Vel replied quietly, eyeing the small red fox curling its tail around Arch’s left boot.The fox says he will not tell.
Then she promptly closed her eye and fell back to sleep.
Arch said nothing. Just shook his head and moved onto the next step.
“Now, we quench the blade.”
He picked up the tongs, placed his blade back into the forge, then swiftly pulled it out and tossed it into a bucket of water.
I scrambled to copy him, feeling Caelus do the same behind me.
Three blades hissed as they hit the icy water, steam billowing out in hot clouds. In the cover of it, Arch leaned close.
“I don’t know what that was, or what you think you two are doing, but don’t be so bold about it,” he murmured. “Do you have any idea the war your parents would wage if they found out?”
It was a valid warning. Hera would rather see me dead than tainting the arms of her son. And truthfully, I didn’t even know whatthiswas. Or what either of us wanted from it. No point inciting violence over something that didn’t even exist.
“It’s nothing,” I murmured.
“What next?” Caelus asked with a frown, standing so close his arm brushed against my own, leaving goosebumps in its wake.
Archimedes pursed his lips, considering. “Now we temper the steel. Then we grind the edges and sharpen them so they’re ready to slice into any foe.” He grinned savagely as he showed us the techniques.
He reached under his station to retrieve a rolled-up leathersatchel. Arch laid it out, revealing a series of oddly shaped, wickedly sharp tools.
“Pass me your weapon, Nyssa.”
I handed it over. He picked up a fine-tipped tool and began gliding it across the flat side of the blade.
Caelus and I watched intently as shapes began to appear, etched by the gifted hands of someone I had poorly misjudged as little as a few hours ago.
Whorls of shadows, fluid and serpentine flowed down the blade, perfectly capturing the form of the power I wielded.
