49

49

To Run, Or Not To Run

“I have a tip about Aphrodite’s Labor,” I blurt out.

Dex scowls. So does Neve. “More lies,” she snaps.

I shake my head and look straight at Dex. “She told me the day you tried to attack me on the road.”

Doubt flits across his features, there and then gone behind a reinforced scowl. “I don’t believe you.”

I shrug. “Anyone who doesn’t hurt me…or any other champion…during this Labor, I’ll tell you the tip after we’re all out of the cave.”

Dex’s hands form fists at his sides, but it’s Rima who speaks. “If any of you help Lyra, we’ll assume you’re on her side.”

I see the way Dae reaches over to squeeze Rima’s arm and the subtle nod she gives him in return.

“I didn’t say to help me,” I announce. “You don’t have to be my ally. You just have to not try to hurt anyone, me included. I think that’s fair.”

Dex opens his mouth, but Rima beats him to it. “If you’re going to join us,” she tells the others, “come with us now to strategize. We’ll return for our vodka.”

After she gives him a little prod, Dex lets Rima lead him away from where we’re all standing. Neve and Dae go with them. Samuel, too, though he gives me a long look before he does.

Is he having second thoughts? Not enough of them to go against Neve and Dae, his fellow Strength virtues, I guess.

“Sorry,” Jackie says as she backs up, gathering her long, blond hair into a ponytail. “I’ve spent most of my life as a target for assholes. I don’t know why he wants to win so badly, but I can’t be on Dex’s shit list. I’m not joining anyone. I already told Diego and Meike I plan to do the Crucible alone.” She gives her two fellow Heart virtues an apologetic look. Where Neve manages to turn a Canadian accent menacing, Jackie’s warm, Aussie vowels make even this rejection feel friendly.

With that, she bends over a case and digs out two bottles, and then, out of nowhere, massive, white-feathered wings appear on her back. She spreads them wide and leaps into the air, flying for the passage to the second doline.

Diego stares after her, hands on his hips, then hangs his head and sighs.

“I’d like to stay with Lyra and Zai,” Meike says.

Zai and I both do a bit of a double take. We haven’t had a chance to get to know the other champions. Not enough time. I can already hear Hades’ arguments against her, given her small stature and general cheery demeanor, but I’ll take any help I can get.

Diego considers her a long moment, then, with no rancor in his face, nods. “I think I’ll go this Labor alone as well.”

With that halo of his, he has the best shot of doing okay solo. I don’t blame him for that choice.

Meike crosses to Diego and wraps her arms around him in a hug. “Take care of yourself, D,” she says.

He hugs her back, also grabs bottles—four, which he has to juggle awkwardly—then gives the rest of us a wave and heads into the forest the opposite way from Dex and the others. Before he’s out of sight, he disappears entirely, using his prize from Poseidon’s Labor.

That leaves only two. Amir looks at Trinica with his good eye—the other is still swollen shut from his fall, along with bindings wrapping his ribs, a medical boot on one foot, and scrapes and bruises that disappear into the neck of his shirt. That look says he’ll do whatever she does. After losing Isabel, they are the only two Courage virtues left.

She considers Zai and me with a hard stare. Not unkindly—more like she’s weighing all her options.

“I’m not saying we’re allies,” she finally says, “but Amir and I will stick with you for this Labor. Safety in numbers, and any hint, no matter how small, we can get about future Labors is worth it.”

“If you don’t hurt anyone, I’ll tell you anyway. You don’t have to stay with us.”

I glance at Zai. If he were Hades, he’d be pissed, but he just gives me a nod.

Trinica’s expression softens. “I appreciate that. Safety in numbers still stands, and you have that vest on again, which I assume means you have more tools.”

She’s right about that. I grin, and she raises her eyebrows in return, a tiny smile lighting her eyes.

“Let’s figure out a way to take as much of this with us as we can,” Zai says.

Together, the five of us start discussing options with no clue what walking vodka through a cave has to do with testing our hearts.

But at least I’m not beaten to a pulp.

Chalk today up as a win…so far.