Page 62 of Crimson Skies

“I—” Theo faltered and lapsed into an uncomfortable silence.

Morgan took a menacing step toward Hyperion. “What did you do to them?”

“I didn’t do anything,” the Titan replied dismissively. “Is there somewhere private where we can have this conversation?” He glanced at Strickland. “He can come too. As a representative of Earth, he needs to hear this.”

Cassius glanced guiltily at Morgan before reluctantly leading the way to the tent they had just abandoned. Rizen followed them inside with Loki.

“Shield us,” Hyperion ordered Theo once the flaps closed behind them. “These words are meant for your ears only.”

26

Theo hesitatedbefore calling forth a barrier that blocked out the world.

Frustration churned Morgan’s stomach.

It wasn’t just the tension radiating from the four Guardians and his Goddess sisters that was quickening his pulse. He could sense Cassius’s angry confusion across their bond. From the way Victor stuck close to Theo, he felt the same thing from the South Star.

Whatever Hyperion had said to them in the sky had clearly upset them all.

The Titan waited until he had their undivided attention before dropping a bombshell that had air locking in Morgan’s throat.

“You must lose this war.”

Shocked gasps echoed across the tent as his somber words faded into silence.

Strickland fisted his hands so hard he almost drew blood.

The color had drained from Thetis’s face. “What?!”

“Explain yourself,” Hesperia demanded harshly.

Ladon hissed angrily where he perched on her shoulder.

Hyperion sighed. His armor clinked as he removed his helmet and laid it on his knee, exposing iridescent, golden hair.

“You have to lose this war,” he repeated in a tired voice, “because of the Covenant that was made between the first Primordial God and the deities who cast him into the Abyss.”

Ice danced down Morgan’s spine.

“A Covenant?” Cassius repeated after a strained pause.

His jaw was set in a hard line. Morgan touched his hand. Cassius flinched. He took a ragged breath, turned his palm over, and locked their fingers together, silently accepting his strength.

“You mean to say the Gods who vanquished Chaos, many of them his own children, made some kind of promise to him?” Tisiphone asked, disbelief coloring her voice.

Myrdin maintained a neutral expression. Judging from his lack of reaction, Morgan suspected he was already aware of this devastating revelation.

The Forest God’s bearing did not escape Tenebra’s attention. She turned to him, her eyes blazing. “Did you know?”

Myrdin hesitated. “Yes, I did.”

Tenebra recoiled. The Reaper God’s pupils dimmed in dismay.

Remorse etched lines in Myrdin’s face. “Forgive me. It was not my secret to reveal.”

He took their hands. Tenebra clenched her jaw but did not pull away. The Reaper God slumped.

Hyperion rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly in the tense hush. For a moment, Morgan felt a trace of pity for the Titan.

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