Farah stepped forward, her movements slow andmeasured. Her gaze never strayed from Cyrus. The flames in her hand rippled as she walked. “What unholy magic have you brought to my coven, God of the Underworld?” Her voice was soft and lethal.
Cyrus swallowed. How could he explain this in a way that wouldn’t mark him as an enemy? With a steady breath, he said carefully, “I was struck by a Titan in a duel. I managed to absorb a modicum of his power, and now it flows through my body.”
“Impossible,” Farah said at once.
Cyrus shrugged his shoulders. “What’s your explanation, then? I am clearly not a Titan.”
“We have dealt with deities before who dabbled in Titan magic, death god. It did not end well for them.”
Cyrus stiffened, thinking of Pandora. “I did not willingly acquire this power. I can assure you, I have not meddled in the magic of the Titans. I am here to destroy them.”
Farah’s flames flickered, and something like recognition stirred in her eyes. “You know the Titans are here?”
Cyrus nodded. “Can you tell me where they are?”
“We do not know. We felt the earth tremble when they came into the realm. Wherever they are, it is close enough to send power rippling through our caves. One of our tunnels collapsed from the force of it.”
Cyrus’s chest tightened. The Titans were here. They were so close…Pruewas so close…
“Will you let us pass through?” Evander asked, his voice laced with urgency.
“I cannot possibly allow Titan magic to fester among my sisters,” Farah snapped. “It is far too dangerous andvolatile. It would likely cause another of our tunnels to collapse. You must return through the portal and find another way.”
“Farahplease—” Evander begged, but Cyrus was done negotiating.
He spread his hands, summoning his power again. Lightning flashed, igniting the cavern. Several witches gasped as he struck the cavern wall next to him. Rocks trickled from the ceiling and crashed to the ground.
“My brother asked kindly,” Cyrus growled, “but I will do no such thing. You will let us pass, or I will tear this cavern apart piece by piece. The choice is yours.”
Farah let out a low hiss, her eyes flashing. For a moment, her pupils narrowed into snake-like slits. The fire in her hand intensified, spearing toward the ceiling until a pillar of flames appeared beside her. “Go ahead and try, death god. You will not get far.”
But Cyrus only cocked his head and smiled. “Perhaps not. But how many of your beloved witches do you think I’ll take down before you manage to stop me? How many lives are worth losing over this petty argument? Simply let us pass, and no one will get hurt.”
Farah hesitated, her expression conflicted. But she did not vanquish her fire. Behind her, the other witches summoned more flames as well, until a wall of amber fury stood between Cyrus and the exit.
This was about to get messy.
But Cyrus bared his teeth, unafraid of the challenge. If he had to kill these witches to get to Prue, he would do it without a second thought.
He was no longer in the Underworld. These people were not his to protect.
They were dispensable.
Evander hurried forward, hands outstretched as he placed himself between the witches and Cyrus. “Please.Please.Farah, you know me. I would never intentionally put you or your coven in danger. You know the Titans must be stopped. And Cyrus is the only one who can do it. He’s the only one with enough power.Pleaselet us pass so we can put an end to this. Would you prefer they remain in your realm, wreaking havoc and destruction?”
Farah shrank back a step, her brows knitting together. The flames next to her shrank until they were nothing more than a ball in her hand.
“Is Romanos here?” Evander asked.
“No. He is in the Thanassian Empire with the Gorgon sisters.”
Cyrus’s chest hollowed. Damn. Clearly the fire witches weren’t on their side. And with Romanos gone, he wouldn’t be able to help, either.
From his left, Lagos cleared his throat and stepped forward. Cyrus withdrew his power, momentarily forgetting the demon was with them.
“If I may,” Lagos said politely. “The sisters we are here to rescue are quite precious to us. There is nothing we would not do to save them. Please understand that we have no intention of going back through the portal. Not when Prue and Mona are so close to us. This is the only way, fire witch. And the three of us are willing to die for this cause.”
Cyrus blinked, emotion stirring in his chest at the fervorin Lagos’s words. It touched him in ways he’d never known before.
