Hurried footsteps approached, and Evander stiffened. Was this a friend or a foe?
Several shapes took form, and only then did Evander realize it wasn’t one person answering his call—it was many.
Unease wriggled through him. In his condition, hecouldn’t fight off multiple assailantsandkeep his brother alive.
Through the fog, two women appeared. One of them had Mona’s exact shade of raven hair. She also had the same almond-shaped eyes and stubborn chin.
This had to be Gaia.
Evander went rigid, unsure of how to react to the presence of the earth goddess. He knew Mona had a very strained relationship with her mother.
But… this was far better than facing a Titan or a harpy.
“Please,” Evander begged, gesturing to Cyrus. “Can you save him?”
Behind Gaia, another woman appeared. Evander glanced over her briefly before he recognized the dark hair and emerald eyes.
Marina. She, too, was a healer. Surely together, these two goddesses could heal Cyrus.
Gaia knelt by Evander’s side, her brow furrowing as she looked over Cyrus’s shredded form.
“Please,” Evander whispered again. Tears burned in his eyes. Gods above, he couldn’t lose Cyrus. Hecouldn’t.
Gaia pressed a hand into Cyrus’s chest, then closed her eyes. A faint hum pulsed in the air.
“His wounds are severe,” she murmured. “But… he is still tethered to this world. His connection to Prudence is holding him here.”
A knot formed in Evander’s throat. “Can you save him?”
Gaia’s brow furrowed, her lips forming a thin line. “I—I cannot healeverything. But I will try. Marina, can you assist me?”
Marina obediently joined Gaia’s side, her hands emitting an amber glow as she placed them on top of Gaia’s. Together, the two witches began chanting in another language. A brilliant white glow engulfed Cyrus’s form, and for the third time, Evander shielded his eyes.
After a long moment, the light faded, and Cyrus was no longer covered in blood.
But his eye was still missing.
Evander stared hard at the sight of his brother, still unconscious, but no longer wounded. “His eye,” Evander whispered.
Gaia withdrew her hands, then smoothed them on her skirts. “I am sorry. I cannot repair it.”
Despair filled Evander’s chest, but he nodded. Cyrus was alive.Thatwas what mattered.
But he knew in his bones that Cyrus would wake up despising himself.
“Thank you,” Evander said in a strained voice. “Both of you.” He nodded to each of the goddesses in turn, then frowned. “Are you both all right? The fire witches? Romanos?”
Marina sighed heavily. “Most of the fire witches died in battle. But Romanos still lives. He took down Prometheus himself.” Her mouth twitched in the ghost of a smile, but her eyes were haunted. She, too, had seen much death today.
Evander looked at Gaia. “And… Mona?”
Gaia’s smile was triumphant. “You saw her magic, I’m sure. She did what she was born to do.”
“So, she’s all right?”
Gaia’s expression dimmed. “I—I do not know. But I can sense the Titans are dead. She has succeeded.”
This should have come as a relief to Evander. But it didn’t. He hated himself for thinking it, but he would rather let the Titans live than sacrifice Mona’s life.
