Page 59 of Crimson Skies

“We lost our way when we left the realm where we found the Gargantua,” Pan told Cassius guardedly while Demetrius hugged Theo. He indicated the divine army above them with a jerk of his chin. “Their commander guided us to the Nether.”

Nildar and Archon finished talking with the regiment’s leader and swiftly winged their way over.

“I’m sorry,” Nildar said with a pained expression as they embraced one another. “We could not stop them from coming here.”

“What do they want?” Cassius asked uneasily while Archon clasped him to his chest.

The West Star let go of him and turned to frown at the silent beings in the sky. “They wouldn’t say.”

The Dominions of the Second Sphere gazed upon the Earth with inscrutable faces, their features so achingly beautiful it would have brought tears to Cassius’s eyes had he been human. At their head floated a daunting figure with twin serrated broadswords as tall as Cassius and the fearsome look of a warrior who had never lost a battle.

Atropos’s scream of rage blasted the clouds apart as she flashed toward him, her knuckles white on the hilts of her blades.

“HYPERION!”

Theo ignored Tisiphone’s protest and went after the Moira. “Atropos!”

Cassius was a heartbeat behind him. His stomach clenched when his gaze collided with that of the Titan who commanded Heaven’s Guards.

He could read a silent warning in his fierce, gold eyes.

Cassius grabbed hold of Theo’s arm and halted his charge, heat flooding his core as he prepared to unleash his powers.

“There is no need for that,Awakener,” Hyperion said coolly. He blocked Atropos’s swords with one of his blades, sheathed the other, and tugged her into his arms. His expression softened. “It is good to see you, my love.”

He ignored the apoplectic Moira’s protests and kissed her.

Clotho and Lachesis cursed.

Cassius’s sword dropped limply to his side. Theo’s wings sagged so fast he lost altitude.

He recovered and floated back up to Cassius, his eyes bulging. “What—what’s going on?!”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Cassius mumbled.

“Dammit all to the Hells.” Tisiphone appeared beside them. The Fury was scowling. “I knew this would happen. That bastard could always charm her, even when she was upset.” Her mouth pursed at their questioning stares. “Hyperion and Atropos are engaged.”

Theo sucked in air. Cassius blinked.

The rest of Atropos’s Goddess sisters joined them, their faces as dark as the Fury’s. Nildar, Archon, Pan, and Demetrius were close on their wings, their unblinking gazes full of fascination as they stared at the kissing couple.

The imps observed the unfolding drama stoically from a distance, though the biggest of them kept staring at the city below with the faintest of frowns.

Color stained Atropos’s cheekbones as Hyperion took her lips with a passion that belied his formidable appearance. Her eyelids fluttered closed. They slammed open a second later. She wrenched her mouth free and slapped the Titan with enough force to make the air vibrate.

“You lost the right to kiss me the day you closed Heaven’s Gates on me and my sisters!” the Moira hissed, her eyes full of loathing.

Hyperion sighed and touched his unblemished cheek before wriggling his jaw from side to side. “That stung a little, dear.” He studied his huffing fiancée. “That is why I am here.”His gaze swept the assembled deities and Guardians before landing squarely on Cassius.“To explain our actions. And to tell you why you must lose this war.”

25

Dark wind infusedwith Dryad magic swirled around Morgan as he watched the divine army who had just entered Earth’s atmosphere descend upon the park, his fingers gripping the Sword of Wind so hard the weapon whined. The black flames flickering around Victor warmed his flesh and armor where the demigod stood beside him, broadsword in hand.

They studied the forbidding figure between Cassius and Atropos grimly.

Morgan clenched his jaw. “He’s strong.”

Victor lowered his brows. “Yeah.”

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