Page 87 of Harbinger

Victor took him in his arms.

Atropos paused, confusion warring with hesitation on her face. “I…do not know for certain.”

Cassius recalled how she’d given them that very answer when Victor had asked her the same question the day she’d arrived on Earth.

“It’s because I introduced three confounding factors to mitigate that risk,” Atropos explained at their strained looks. “Loki, Eden, and Theo.”Her voice hardened as Loki, Eden, and Theo startled.“The outcome of this war is not set in stone. Even I cannot divine its ending right now. But, though I am unable to see the future beyond Chaos coming to Earth, it isn’t because death awaits us and the universe will cease to exist. It’s because the possibilities are still in flux.”

Cassius swallowed, hope sending his pulse racing. “So, we still have a chance?”

Atropos nodded solemnly. “Yes, we do.”

“It won’t just be us against Elios,” Tisiphone added, her expression growing determined. “Just as the Naiads swore their allegiance to us, so did the Nereids. And they won’t be the only allies who will stand by our side in the coming war.”

37

Cassius staredout through the glass wall of the bedroom at the terrace and the city beyond. Golden rays pierced the sky to the east as the sun started to shine upon San Francisco. The first light of the new day danced across the waters of the bay, sending sparkles rippling across the dark surface.

Warm arms closed around him from behind. Cassius relaxed against Morgan’s chest, the bond that connected their souls pulsing brightly in his belly.

“Are they all settled in?”

“For now.” Morgan sighed and rubbed his nose in Cassius’s hair. “I’ll have to find them a permanent place to live. We can’t have them camping out in your living room and my place forever.”

Cassius smiled and turned in his hold. “It’s not that bad.”

Morgan grimaced. “I am not having my sisters stick around to eavesdrop when we’re making out.”

Cassius punched his chest lightly. “That’s all you care about, isn’t it? My body.”

A low chuckle left Morgan. “Is that a trick question?”

Cassius’s fake frown melted at his husky voice. He buried his face against Morgan. “No.”

Morgan’s hands found Cassius’s back. He rubbed his flesh in slow, comforting strokes. “It’s going to be okay.”

Cassius tensed. “You don’t know that.”

His protest hung between them, a discordant tone that threatened to shatter the peaceful atmosphere.

Morgan tipped Cassius’s chin up with a knuckle. “Do you trust me?”

Cassius gazed into the demigod’s beautiful eyes. “Of course.”

The smile that curved Morgan’s mouth made his heart skip a beat.

“Then know that I will always protect you.” Morgan rubbed a gentle thumb across Cassius’s lips. “Wherever you go, whatever you need, I will always be there for you.”

Cassius shuddered and closed his eyes, his chest tight with emotion.

Every time he felt down, every time the fears that plagued him weighed upon his heart, Morgan was always there to lift him back up. To dust him down, tend his wounds, and put a strong hand on his back to urge him forward once more.

It was a blessing he did not deserve. A salvation he still felt he had no right to claim after all the suffering he had inadvertently visited upon so many realms.

I almost lost him twice. I don’t think I could bear losing him a third time. And I’m afraid that might happen if Chaos does come to Earth, like Atropos divined.

Tender kisses rained on his eyelids, scattering his dark foreboding.

“Don’t,” Morgan whispered raggedly.

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