Aurelia's thoughts tangled into knots. None of this made sense. If Astrae was her mother and if she was born from a Titan and a goddess, then how could she have been mortal?
Her voice came out hoarse. "But… you said you were mortal. If Uranus made you a goddess, then how?"
Astrae sighed, as if she had expected this question. "Because I chose to be."
Aurelia blinked. "What?"
Astrae stepped closer, "When you were born, I knew the gods would never accept you. Not because they knew you held the Aeternum Heart…. at least not yet. But because you were Uranus's child." Her gaze flickered with pain. "The Olympians feared him, feared what he represented. Even after he was overthrown, his existence was a threat to their rule. And if they ever learned that he had an heir…."
"They would have come for me." Aurelia completed.
Astrae nodded . "So I did what I had to do to keep you safe."
Aurelia's chest tightened. "What did you do?"