The Fate faded into nothing. And around her, whispered “No way that just happened” and “Holy skata, did you see that?” comments echoed. But she couldn’t focus on any of them, because all she could see was Gryphon looking down at her with all the love and longing she’d searched for her whole life.
“You gave up Olympus.”
She turned in his arms, rested her hands against his strong, familiar chest. “I knew it wouldn’t be half what I’d dreamed without you.”
“Sotiria,” he whispered, framing her face with his hands. “You give up too much for me.”
She gripped his forearms, and her skin warmed at the contact. “Haven’t you figured out by now, Guardian, I would give up anything for you?”
His eyes softened, and as he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her so gently, so thoroughly, she knew the sacrifice she’d made wasn’t a sacrifice at all.
“I will make you happy,” he whispered against her lips. “I promise.”
Someone chuckled. From somewhere close Titus muttered, “Way to go, Gryph.” Then to the rest of the group, “Another one bites the dust.”
A thwack echoed through the clearing, followed by Skyla’s voice saying, “Leave them alone. I think it’s sweet.”
But Maelea didn’t care what Gryphon’s kin thought. All she cared about was spending her life with the man she’d feared and hated and loved and lost. With the man she’d never lose again.
She pulled back from his mouth. “What about your Council? They won’t let me—”
“Don’t worry about them,” Theron said nearby. “We’ll handle the Council. I think it’s the least we can do, after what you did for us.”
Gryphon looked to Theron, smiled his thanks, then glanced back down at her, this time with eyes she knew she would lose herself in forever. “Anything else you need?”
“Just you,” she whispered. “You’re all I ever need.”
“Ditto, sotiria.” His lips curled higher as he leaned down to kiss her again. And as his arms tightened around her waist, she couldn’t tell where he stopped and she began.
Which, after all this time, was exactly the way it should be.
Eternal Guardians Lexicon
ándras; pl. andres. Male Argolean
Argolea. Realm established by Zeus for the blessed heroes and their descendants
Argonauts. Eternal guardian warriors who protect Argolea. In every generation, one from the original seven bloodlines (Heracles, Achilles, Jason, Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus, and Bellerophon) is chosen to continue the guardian tradition
Council of Elders. Twelve lords of Argolea who advise the king
daemons. Beasts who were once human, recruited from the Fields of Asphodel (purgatory) by Atalanta to join her army
doulas. Slave
élencho. Mind-control technique Argonauts use on humans
Fates. Three goddesses who control the thread of life for all mortals from birth until death
gynaíka; pl. gynaíkes. Female Argolean
Horae. Three goddesses of balance, controlling life and order
Isles of the Blessed. Heaven
kardia. Term of endearment; my heart
kobalos; pl. kobaloi. Gnomelike creatures who mine Hades’s invisibility ore
meli. Term of endearment; beloved
Misos. Half-human/half-Argolean race that lives hidden among humans
Olympians. Current ruling gods of the Greek pantheon, led by Zeus
Orb of Krónos. Four-chambered disk that, when filled with the four classic elements—earth, wind, fire, and water—has the power to release the Titans from Tartarus
Siren Order. Zeus’s elite band of personal warriors. Commanded by Athena
skata. Swear word
sotiria. Term of endearment; my salvation
Tartarus. Realm of the Underworld similar to hell
Titans. The ruling gods before the Olympians
thea. Term of endearment; goddess
yios. Son