Pegasus and the Rise of the Titans (Pegasus #5) Read Online Free Page B

claws. On his back was a large set of wings.
    ‘It worked!’ Emily cried. ‘Tom, you’re a Sphinx!’
    ‘I sure am!’ Tom’s rough paws pulled Emily up into a powerful embrace. ‘I thought I was content to remain a tree, but now I can see again! I can smell the sweet fresh air and feel the wind on my face. I can taste salt on my lips and I can touch you! You have given me more than I ever deserved. Thank you!’
    Emily laughed as she hugged him back.
    ‘Just look at my wings! Can I really fly? I always dreamed of flying when I was a kid. But now, is it really possible?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Emily chuckled. She had never seen him behave like this. Tom was right. Agent T of the CRU was long gone. This was a man who finally understood happiness. ‘You’ll have to ask Alexis.’
    ‘Alexis!’ Tom rose and started to hop around the area like an overexcited dog. His four large lion’s legs and paws were gangly and unruly as he tried to learn how to use them together. ‘Get up! We must find Alexis!’
    Alexis was still alone in the maze when Pegasus flew over it. Emily pointed down. ‘There she is – she hasn’t moved.’
    Tom’s large paws were wrapped tightly around her waist as he sat like a dog, behind her on the stallion’s rump. His wings were open and causing a drag behind them. He’d nearly fallen off twice on the way to Jupiter’s palace. Yet despite that, his spirits were higher than she’d ever seen them as he whooped and laughed all the way back.
    ‘Don’t say anything,’ Tom whispered to Emily. ‘Let me surprise her.’
    Pegasus touched down on the ground beside the giant maze. Tom leaped off and crashed to the ground in an awkward heap. He laughed in embarrassment. ‘I think Alexis has a lot to teach me. I never realized how difficult it is to walk with four legs.’
    When he righted himself, he said, ‘Will you wait here for us? I’m sure Alexis will want to thank you.’
    Emily nodded. She closed her sore eyes and rubbed her aching shoulders. She still felt nauseous and as if she might be sick at any moment.
    Each beat of her heart seemed to cause her head to pound harder. ‘I need some aspirins,’ she said softly to Pegasus. She closed her eyes, leaned forward and lay down on the stallion’s neck to wait for Tom.
    Emily woke and rolled on to her back. A gentle breeze was blowing her bedroom curtains and the bright sunshine of an Olympian day greeted her.
    She sat up and yawned.
    Pegasus was standing at the window. He turned, nickered excitedly and trotted over to her bed.
    Emily rubbed her tired eyes. ‘You won’t believe the dream I just had. Alexis was in it. She was miserable because she was separated from Tom. So you and I went to Tom and, with Riza’s help, we turned him into a Sphinx. But something went wrong and I got sick . . .’
    Pausing, Emily became aware of the dull, throbbing pain in the centre of her head. It wasn’t as bad as the one from her dream, but it was there. ‘Actually, I really do have a headache. I guess that’s what started the dream.’
    Emily climbed out of bed and reached for her clothes. She frowned. ‘The funny thing is I don’t remember going to bed. We were swimming and then . . .’
    The stallion walked to her side and nodded his head. His eyes sparkled and she could feel his excitement. She had barely tied her braided gold belt around her waist when he leaned down, caught her hand in his teeth and drew her towards the door.
    ‘What’s got you so excited this morning?’
    Pegasus led her into the main living area of the apartment. Her father was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. He was wearing his Olympian tunic, but had a very Earth-like apron tied around his waist.
    ‘You’re up!’ he cried. He put down the dish he was carrying and greeted her with a hug. ‘I am so proud of you. That was the kindest thing you could have done for those two. Everyone is thrilled.’
    Emily frowned. ‘What are you talking about? Thrilled