Page 48 of Crimson Skies

Atropos nodded. “In his hands, yes.We can assume he will make further attempts to acquire them.We must protect you and the mages who will command them until the war is upon us.”

Though Eden and the mages seemed less than enthused about the idea, everyone else agreed with the Moira’s suggestion.

“Has the seventh mage arrived yet?” Kazmi asked in a tired voice.

“No.”Atropos faltered, faint lines wrinkling her brow. “We have yet to hear from Boreas.” Gold glinted in her pupils, bringing with it a look of determination that brightened her troubled expression. “But our sisters Alecto and Kes will soon return. And they bring allies we will very much need, however reluctant they may appear to assist us at first.”She paused and cast a contrite glance at Cassius.“Among them is a deity who has evaded Elios’s grasp since even before the War in the Nether. One who safeguards the final weapon that was used to seal Chaos in the Abyss.”

Cassius recoiled. Morgan stilled.

Shock reverberated around the command center.

Even Loki seemed stunned by the Moira’s revelation.

“There is another artifact?” Cassius asked in a thin voice.

Atropos dipped her chin. “Most otherworldly only recall six weapons, but yes, there are in fact seven.”Her face softened at Cassius’s accusing stare.“I make no apologies for concealing this until now, Icarus. We could not risk the news reaching Elios’s ears before the artifact was close at hand.”Her jaw set in a hard line.“It appears Kes and Alecto have finally found the deity who guards it. They will reach Earth within the hour.”

* * *

Morgan roseand stormed out of the tent when the meeting ended. Atropos’s bombshell disclosure took a temporary back seat in Cassius’s chaotic mind as he went after him.

The emotions echoing across their bond made his heart heavy with grief. Morgan was holding himself responsible for the death toll from this morning’s incident.

“Leave them be,” Kalliste told Loki quietly when he made to follow.

The imp watched the two of them leave with a forlorn expression.

The noise of the busy camp washed over Cassius as he walked out into bright daylight. His gaze found Morgan. The demigod was striding down the slope toward the lake where Kalliste had appeared.

Cassius caught up with him scant seconds later. “Stop.”

He grabbed Morgan’s shoulder and spun him around. His stomach twisted. Morgan’s face was a picture of agony. The demigod stood with his shoulders hunched and his fists clenched at his sides.

“We should have been here,” he said bitterly. “I should never have taken you to the cabin.”

Cassius’s chest tightened. He grasped Morgan’s face and kissed him, heedless of the curious eyes on them. Morgan stiffened before sagging in his hold, his mouth loosening under his lips.

“Don’t say that,” Cassius whispered. “Don’t belittle those precious memories.”

Morgan shuddered, fresh remorse darkening his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled wretchedly. “I didn’t really mean it.”

Cassius pressed his forehead against the demigod’s. “I know. We are soulmates after all.”

He smiled tremulously.

Morgan squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before releasing a shaky breath. He took Cassius’s left hand and kissed his palm reverently before pulling him into his hold. Cassius stood in his embrace for a long time, his ear pressed to the demigod’s chest.

His stomach knotted as he listened to the strong beat of his heart.

I will do everything in my power not to lose him again.

A commotion drew their attention. Atropos and the Goddesses had emerged from the command center with Theo and Victor, Kalliste and the others in their wake. Cassius’s pulse spiked when he picked up on what the deities and Theo had detected.

Morgan tensed. “What is it?”

Cassius looked to the sky, his mouth dry. “Alecto and Kes are back.”

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