Page 91 of Crimson Skies

“I am no longer an Awakener.”

“You are still a demigod and the wielder of Heaven’s Light,Icarus,” Nildar insisted. “You were chosen as the Awakener for a reason.”

“Both of you are right.” Atropos shot a troubled look at Cassius. “Chaos himself advised us to maintain the Guardians’ roles. He also said the weapons his children helped create are an important part of our arsenal against a future Elios.”Her tone hardened.“But one of those Guardians needs to be an Awakener. And Icarus isn’t that Guardian.”

“We will not remain in this state for long,”Tenebra explained at Nildar and Archon’s dogged looks. She looked at her hand and closed and opened her fingers.“Already, I can feel my awakened powers starting to ebb.”

“Tenebra is right,” Thetis said. “Our roused state is far from permanent. And so it should be.”

A fraught hush ensued.

Theo broke it. “I have a solution.”

Cassius’s pulse quickened.

Theo cast a hesitant glance at Victor and Kalliste. They bobbed their heads encouragingly. Resolve tightened Theo’s face. He met Nildar and Archon’s guarded stares.

“Kalliste told us that Rohengar also possessed the potential to be an Awakener, when we first met her in Rain Vale. You were there too.”

The East and West Stars traded a wary look.

“Where are you going with this?” Nildar said in clipped tones.

Cassius stared at Theo.What does he mean by—?!

His stomach roiled when understanding dawned.

Theo’s face softened at his shocked expression. “Victor and I have spoken about it at length, Cassius. Ever since London. We also consulted with Kalliste before the war began.”

“They did,” Kalliste said quietly. “And I approve of their proposal.”

Archon furrowed his brow heavily. “Which is?”

Victor clasped Theo’s hand.

Theo gave his lover a grateful look and inhaled deeply. “Let Icarus train me to be the next Awakener. I will absorb the soul fragment in his palace and take on his role. And let Victor fill the empty seat of the South Star.”

His bombshell words had everyone drawing a sharp breath.

“But—” Nildar stopped and ran his hand through his hair, his frustration clear.

“Look, Icarus training you to be an Awakener makes sense,”Archon said with a pinched expression.“But Victor is not a Guardian candidate.”

“He is of Nyx’s bloodline,” Boreas said.

Archon ground his teeth. “Stay out of this, Boreas!”

The Winter God sighed and muttered something under his breath as he went back to making ice in the kitchen.

“My soul bond with Victor means I can share my powers with him to make him a candidate.” Theo jutted his chin out. “And Guardians are picked by their predecessors. I pick Victor.”

“Why, this little—!” Archon growled.

Nildar stopped the West Star as he made to rise. “Calm down. We need to think about this logically.”

“The South Star’s proposition is pretty logical, if I say so myself,” Hyperion drawled.

Everyone looked over at the breakfast bar where the Titan sat sipping a drink with a contented expression.

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