“Damien!” Erebus demanded through gritted teeth, pulling me back to the present.
I blinked back the burn in my eyes, shoring up my grip on Cassie, holding her in place. I lowered to her ear, praying I could help her in some way, to keep her tethered here. “Stay with me, Cas! Stay with me!”
Fates please. Not like this... Not again.
Darkness continued to pour out of her, spilling onto the marble floor around us as Erebus reached deeper into the void he’d found. Seconds felt like hours as he fought with whatever struggled to cling to her. I jerked my gaze to Cassie’s chest as his weight shifted and he pulled back. With his hand came something so dark, so evil, it sent my hairs on end.
The pale white light from the ageless dimós trees dimmed, as if they might die out entirely. Dark wind sliced through the air, and the blue flames of the sconces surrounding us flickered as the shadows spread. The winds whipped around us, ripping the delicate petals of the night-blooming jasmine from their buds. Something within me stirred, that dark void deep within me, enticed by something. I’d felt it before, though it had been hundreds of years. I’d never been able to forget this feeling, this pull. I bit down, keeping myself in place, forcing that void within me to still.
Selene’s war horses came to life at her altar, their heads whipping around, hot air spilling from their flared nostrils in puffs as they snorted, hooves smashing into the marble floors as they reared and pawed.
“Gods.” The word left my lips on barely a breath as Erebus pulled it from Cassie.
Notit....her.
“Eris.” Selene’s voice was laced with more fury than I’d ever heard mar that angelic tone. Her lips peeled back from her teeth, her canines sharp and bared at the mass of black mist.
Erebus rose, his hands clasped around something within the shadows as he held it above Cassie. The black mist dispersed, melting and fading as it drifted down her body, revealing the Goddess whose rage had become so palpable. I almost couldn’t breathe for how it tainted the air around us. Her onyx hair flowed around her, the darkness still faintly licking her gray skin as her onyx eyes narrowed on Erebus.
A wicked grin spread across her face. The fact that Erebus’ fingers were wrapped around her throat seemed to be of no consequence to her, but why would it? Selene, having been weakened in her imprisonment, couldn’t stand up to her, and Eris’ power rivalled his. Erebus turned, carrying her away from us.
I couldn’t focus on the Goddess as she glowered down at Erebus, my eyes immediately falling to Cassie as she lay on the floor, unconscious.
My heart sputtered. Her skin was pale, cold to the touch. Her lips, once blush and bright, had turned a pale shade of grayish purple. My eyes drifted over her body; she was so still and for a moment I couldn’t see even the faintest movement of breath.Please Fates, no...
“Cas?”
I pressed my ear to her chest. It was quiet, weak, but I was able to hear her heart beating. I reached up to lay a hand just above her parted lips. The softest of breaths caressed my skin, but I didn’t know how far gone she might be, or how much damage Eris had been able to do before she was pulled from Cassie’s mind.
“She’s breathing.” I cupped her cheek, leaning over to rest my forehead to hers. I’d give anything to see those eyes open. “Cas? Stay with me, please.”
Gods, I felt so damned useless! Physical wounds I could help with. If she were bleeding, I could staunch it, could stitch it closed, but this? There was nothing I could do but watch helplessly at her side, praying the fates might smile down on her and give her another chance.
Selene didn’t speak, and I lifted my gaze, ready to beg her, whatever it took. I froze. I couldn’t believe what I saw. Worry filled the Goddess’s eyes as she stared down at Cassie, a mother’s worry. It had been centuries since I’d seen such emotion in those opalescent eyes, and I’d feared she’d forgotten, that she’d become numb, like many of the Elythians had.
Words escaped me as Selene extended her hand to Cassie’s forehead, her eyes closing. A warm glow came to life in her palm, and I wondered if she could sense what Eris had done to her, if she could repair whatever damage had been wreaked.
“When did Eris get her hands on Moira’s mind?”
“I-I don’t know. She had a training accident and was knocked out. When she came to, she started telling me that Eris manipulated Marcus, that Eris was the reason she’s been struggling with her magic, but this is the first she’s told me about it.”
Selene opened her eyes as she continued to push that light into Cassie, and I watched in silence, praying to gods I hadn’t believed in for centuries.
“Eris has been holding her captive,” Selene said softly, eyes intense as she focused.
My stomach twisted, my mind flying through every occurrence that might’ve hinted at Eris’ involvement. How long had Cassie known and been unable to tell me? How long had she suffered under Eris’ watchful eye while I was oblivious?
“What do you think you’re doing, Eris?” Erebus asked from behind us, and I glanced over my shoulder.
A grin spread across the Goddess’ face, and I restrained the urge to snap her neck. “I was merely helping the little goddess.”
“It didn’t look like that to me,” Erebus said casually, a dark brow cocked.
I pulled my gaze from Erebus and Eris to look back at Cassie. Air slammed into my lungs in relief as the color slowly returned to her skin. She groaned, her face scrunching.
“Cas?” I lifted my hand to brush my fingers along her cheek. She already felt warmer.
Her eyes fluttered opened, those hazel eyes I loved so much lifting to me, and my shoulders sagged. She tensed and tried to sit up, her hand cupping her side as she grimaced. My hands shot out to help her.
