That's where Zeus had to go.
I dug down, deeper than I thought I could go, letting the power I'd been gifted fill me up. I tied that cord to Zeus, tethered it to him as I forced him to stone. There was no escaping it. It was part of him now, sealed inside him. The connection to the place Zeus sent Castor was fading, but it was still there. He wasn't a god anymore. He was fish on a line.
Don't. Look. Away.
With one last shove, I pushed everything I had at him. I used my curse to keep him stone, and with the guys' gifts coursing through me, I let go of the line.
His bright gold eyes went milky as he fought against me, but he didn't stand a chance. I had desperation, and more hope than I could ever contain, on my side.
Thunder cracked and lightning flashed with the last gasp of a dead god.
Every bit of strength I had left disappeared with Zeus. I hit the ground, arms and legs heavy, barely able to keep my eyes open. From the corner of my eye, I saw my serpents coiled around my head. Their bright emerald and gold colors faded as their forms collapsed into piles of dust.
“So, that's that,” I said, letting exhaustion overtake me.
Leo
Iwoke in a warm nest of blankets, unable to move. Around me, Orestes, Paris, Hector, Achilles, and Pollux slept. The sun was shining and the sky blue.
I feltdifferent, but more like me than I had in a long time. Shutting my eyes, I tried to find the otherness that had been my constant companion since Athena had first revealed herself, but it wasn't there.
I was just me.
“You're awake.” Hector propped his head on his hand and shifted until his body faced mine. His voice woke the others, who stretched and sat up.
I raked my fingers through my hair, wincing when I pulled out knots and had to fling away a few sticks.
Achilles moved behind me, then tugged me against him. His fingers went to work, smoothing my hair the way I had, before he rested his forehead against the back of my head. “I can't believe this is real.”
I reached behind me to grasp his hands. Pulling them around me, I snuggled back. “I'm alive. We're alive.”
“Zeus is gone,” Pollux said, and I had a horrible pang of guilt. He read it on my face and was quick to shake his head. “No, Leo. It's good. He's gone. Dead or trapped—it doesn't matter. He's never escaping.”
“I'm so—”
He put his finger to my lips. “Don't apologize for him. What you gave me today? You freed my brother. Gave me a chance to say goodbye and to know, for certain, he'll be at peace.” He withdrew his finger. “Then, you saved the world.”
I laughed, and next to me, Hector chuckled.
“We really did it?” It didn't seem possible. After running across continents, fighting Poseidon and dying, it was really over.
“We did,” Orestes answered. He slid off the bed, as did Pollux, but neither of them went very far.
Paris got to his knees, and with a quick glance at Achilles, reached for me. I didn't hesitate. I went to him.
Body trembling, he shifted until he could hold me in his lap, my legs on either side of his and my head resting against his chest. “I thought I'd ruined everything.” He kissed my hair. “Again. Leo...”
I pressed my head against him, squeezing him even tighter. “You didn't. And even if it hadn't worked, Paris, you had to try. It was the bravest thing to do. The smartest.”
He sucked in a quick breath and didn't answer.
Around us, the guys were quiet. I shut my eyes, focusing on the man who held me. Then I heard it. A rhythmic thud in his chest.
Jerking back, I lifted my gaze to Paris, who stared down at me, confused. “What?”
I pressed my ear against his chest again. There it was. A steadywhoosh.
A heartbeat.