Page 10 of Crown of Olympus
Hestia murmured, so softly she was nearly missed, “I will also enter myself.”
My brows rose in surprise.
Demeter entered a son named Thallo.
Athena named herself.
Hermes also chose a son. That left only Poseidon, Hera, and me.
“Leander shall champion on behalf of myself and the seas,” Poseidon decreed. “And when he wins, I shall be your King,” he grinned, a hint of malice peeking through his teeth.
I noted more than one set of rolled eyeballs in the vicinity and smirked.
“And on behalf of both Zeus and myself, I choose our son, Caelus, to be our dual champion,” Hera decided. My smirk faltered. “Competitors will report here?—”
“I enter myself,” Caelus cut in. Hera’s mouth popped open,then closed repeatedly, eerily like a fish as she processed his words.
“Zeus’ seat on the council is mine. I sit where he once did.”
“As recently as yesterday,” Ares scoffed.
Caelus shot him a glare. “I am his heir, and the crown touched my head as well, Mother.”
Hera appeared at a loss. She pursed her lips, eyes darting furiously around the room in search of a way out.
“It is his right,” Demeter spoke quietly.
“Very well,” Hera huffed. “Caelus champions for himself, which now leaves no choice but for me to do the same.”
Silence.
I’m not sure anyone knew what to do with the knowledge that our ex-Queen was opting to get her own hands dirty.
“Now, as I was saying, champions?—”
“I enter myself,” I cut in, echoing Caelus’ earlier interruption. Also noticing the parallel, Hera scowled. Her son smirked.
I rose. “I will compete on behalf of Hades.”
“Hades already rules over one realm. You cannot have both!” she whined loudly, stomping her sandaled foot on the marble tiles like an oversized toddler.
Furies, does she only possess two volumes?
“That decision rests solely upon the crown,” I replied coldly. “Would any here dare to refute its choice, no matter who's brow it rests upon?”
More silence.
Honestly, if I’d known all it took to shut them up was saying something unexpected, I’d have done it years ago.
“Hades reserves the right to put forth a champion, and as he isn’t here, I enter myself on his behalf.”
“And just where is your beloved father?” Hera hummed.
I straightened, lifting my chin. “Hades is attending to business.”
“Business, hmm? Exactly what business might that be?”
“Death god business,” I snapped. “Underworld duties beyond the scope of your comprehension.”
