The mortals of the Thanassian Empire have been slaughtered.
The Titans devoured their souls.
So many lives lost… and for what? Power? Domination? What would the Titans do when there were no souls left to feast on?
They would never be satisfied. Never be content.
Unfettered rage roared within her. The sight of her mother’s broken and mangled body had altered Mona, twisting her into something feral and savage.
These Titans had waged war on her people. Herfamily.
And Mona vowed to do everything in her power to destroy them.
Gaia’s brilliant blue eyes shifted to Mona’s, as if hermother could sense the rage rippling from her body. Gaia squeezed her hand.
“You are strong enough for this, my darling,” she murmured.
Mona swallowed hard, her nostrils flaring and her breaths coming in short spurts. She was so full of energy and chaos that she felt she might explode. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to cry or scream… or both.
But she had to dosomething.
Prue was climbing to her feet, wiping tears from her eyes. She looked at Mona expectantly.
Mona faltered, casting a worried look toward Gaia. “I don’t want to leave you.” There were still so many unspoken words between them. So many things she needed to say.
“You have saved my life,” Gaia whispered, her eyes sparkling with tears. “And I will never forget that. End this war, and I swear we will spend an eternity catching up. I vow to withhold nothing from you ever again. You will always get the truth from me. I promise you that.”
A knot formed in Mona’s throat, and she found it difficult to swallow.
What if you die?
What if I die?
What if all the realms perish?
There was so much that could go wrong. So much that could come between Mona and her mother. What if this was it? What if this was the last time they would see each other?
Gaia leaned closer, her eyes full of intensity and fire. “My daughters are the strongest forces I have ever met.It was foretold that your power could save the realms.I believe in you.And Iknowyou can do this. This is not goodbye.”
The words were spoken with such conviction that Mona’s breath hitched. She believed her. The fierce determination in Gaia’s gaze left no room for question or argument.
This would end today.
But this was not the end of Mona’s story.
After a quick nod, Mona climbed to her feet, standing next to Prue.
“Can you sense her?” Prue asked. “You know Trivia’s magic better than I do.”
Mona closed her eyes, trusting her earth magic. But as the powers inside her stretched forward, she went perfectly still.
Something was shifting toward them. Something that scuffled in the dirt.
Mona’s eyes flew open. “Do you feel that?”
Prue froze, holding her breath. “What is that? A creature?”
Mona inhaled deeply, then uttered a soft gasp. Without warning, she sprinted into the fog with Prue right behind her.
