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Henry stood, and so did the others Across the circle, Ava held hands with Nicholas, and I looked away I’d known the council for a year They’d known each other since the dawn of hu was in-consequential coh

As the clock chimed, Henry stepped into the center of the circle, and the others joined hiave oodbye

When the twelfth chiainst the ar sobs escaped me Overwhelmed with helplessness, I pushed led to see the

So off the platform My vision was blurry, but I made out a blonde with her hands on her hips, and for one terrifying ht for her to kill me nohile the others were away

"It’ll be okay," she said, and I let out an audible sigh of relief when I recognized Ava’s voice I wiped my eyes on rew hot when I realized shehere?

Shouldn’t you be with the others?"

"Soain," she said, and even though she was joking, her words sucker-punchedI’m more of a make love, not war kind of person

Coe this in thirty seconds?"

A handkerchief appeared out of nowhere, and I let her wipeto do that ain, and she rubbed ly

"Let’s sit, shall we?" She ledthe thrones altogether "Don’t worry so ot a great plan They’ll be back before you know it, I promise"

Her reassurance was nice, but she had no way of knowing, and I couldn’t s false hope "If anything happens, it’ll be my fault," I said in between sniffs "I’ed me "Don’t tell me you really think that Of course this isn’t your fault The only person to blame is Calliope, and by the ti bad to anyone ever again"

"They can’t defeat Cronus without her though," I said