Page 19 (1/2)

"Mount Olyods?"

He nods Just that No explanation or insistence or defense of his clai than any words

"Are you--" I begin to ask, but I’m not sure how to phrase the question "Who are you--? I mean, where do you--?"

"I aoddess of law and justice"

"Themis," I echo

I suppose that shouldn’t be anythan the fact that I’on, a oddess

"Is that who sent you to protect me?"

"No And I can’t tell you who did," he says before I can ask "I won’t because it isn’t safe There are those on both sides of this ho can steal your thoughts, who can enter your mind and uncover your secrets I cannot risk the lives and immortality of those who dare to help us"

Us There is so about that word Reassuring, because it means I’m not alone I know I’m not really alone; I havedifferent Nick is onto do, not because we’re connected by blood legacy

Terrifying, because it ht

"Fine," I say, accepting--for now--that he won’t answer that particular question I’ve gotmy concern "What do you know about Ursula?"

The sadness in his eyes gives me the answer "Euryale" This time he does put his hand on mine "I know she’s been taken"

"Where?"

"We don’t know for sure," he says, still not bothering to explain e are "So held in the abyss Others think she is in the dungeon of Olyht of her in that dark, dismal place I’ve never seen it firsthand, but Ursula told me about it Dark, cold, and permeated by the stench of countless e of her there Alone Surrounded by theto keep contained I can only iertips glide smoothly across the skin beneath hand clearheaded if I want to help Ursula She needs , without hesitation I need to be here for her now

My phone vibrates into say before I pull it out Shrugging off ers--I say, "I’m late"

"Gretchen, I--"

"Where can I drop you?"