Hearing Vax's voice over the earrings had been a relief, but it wasn't enough, couldn't be enough to overcome the cold, black emptiness that had been in Vex's chest since her brother had disappeared into the kraken's maw. Seeing Vax here, blurred by tears but only a few feet in front of her, Vex felt maybe she could breathe again for the first time in an eternity.

A little less sure her legs would hold her up to walk, Vex glanced back to Percy and the reassurance there, before she could cross the short distance to her twin, choking back a sob as she slung an arm around his neck to pull him in.