As he followed the witches through the tunnel, he curled and uncurled his fingers into tight, trembling fists. His breathing was erratic and shaky, and he focused on deep inhales.
This did nothing to calm his raging pulse. Gods, he felt ready to burst at any moment.
“How long have Romanos and Marina been gone?” Evander asked, his soft voice echoing off the cavern walls.
Cyrus wiped sweat from his brow and shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and focus on what Farah was saying.
“A few weeks,” she replied. “And you should not refer to her asMarinahere. She is known as a Gorgon sister, or Hestia’s chosen vessel.”
Cyrus’s brows knitted together. Who was this Marina, and why was she with Romanos? Were they romantically involved?
He shouldn’t have been surprised by this. After all, he and Evander had bound themselves to powerful earth goddesses. It only made sense that Romanos would also be drawn to a powerful woman.
“Do they know about the Titans?” Evander asked.
Farah was silent for a moment before responding. The flame from her hand cast half her face in a soft golden light, illuminating the frown lines that marred her expression. “They were not here when we sensed the Titans’ presence. But I am sure the Gorgon sisters are aware of it. A disturbance of that magnitude is difficult to overlook, especially by those with great power.”
Great power.Well, damn. It was a shame that these Gorgon sisters weren’t available to assist them against the Titans.
Before he could think better of it, Cyrus asked, “If these Gorgons are so powerful, do they have a plan foreradicating the Titans? Or Pandora’s box? Surely there’s something they can do.”
He felt Evander stiffen beside him. He had probably crossed a line with his questioning. But he didn’t care. The fury pounding within him made him reckless.
Farah’s lips grew thin, and her eyes flashed with irritation. She kept her gaze fixed forward as she continued moving through the tunnel. “This may come as a shock to you, death god, but the Gorgon sisters have matters to deal with all over the realm. They are not merely weapons waiting to be wielded as you see fit.”
Cyrus rolled his eyes, knowing she wouldn’t be able to see it. “I never said such a thing. If the Titans’ presence is as monumental as you say, then surely the Gorgons intend to do something about it. I am merely curious.”
Farah huffed a wry laugh. “Curious to know if the Gorgons can be summoned to your aid, you mean.”
Cyrus did not deny it. It was no secret that he and Evander sought help in rescuing Prue and Mona.
“I do not know of their plans,” Farah admitted. “They answer to a higher power than I am worthy of. But I know they care a great deal about this realm and its inhabitants. They were tracking down a pack of violent chimeras that had been terrorizing the human villages. I am sure that, once they return, they will develop a plan for the Titan… situation.” She heaved a sigh, then added, “But there is a limit even to their magic, death god.”
That wasn’t nearly as reassuring as Cyrus had hoped.
Evander nudged Cyrus’s elbow, then shook his head slightly.Let it go,he seemed to say.
Cyrus raised his palms in mock surrender. Fine, he would drop it. Clearly the Gorgons and these witches would be of no help to them.
That was fine. Cyrus was eager to take down the Titans all on his own anyway. His magic was ready for it.
The tunnel opened up to a massive cavern about the size of the throne room in the Underworld. Several witches in tan robes meandered about. There was a fire pit in the center, upon which rested a bubbling cauldron. Shelves had been built into the cavern walls, stocked with various jars and vials.
Farah spread her arm, indicating a tunnel across the cavern. “That will lead you out into the desert. But be warned, the dry heat can be quite brutal. We can supply you with waterskins for your journey.”
“Thank you,” Cyrus said, inclining his head to her. “Do you happen to have an idea of where in the desert the Titans might be hiding? Or where we should start looking? You are far more knowledgeable of this realm than we are, and we could use your expertise.”
Farah’s lips quirked in a knowing smirk. “Flattery is a much better strategy for you, death god, but it does not work on me. Unfortunately, the Rhea Desert spans over a hundred miles, and I have no idea where the Titans might be hiding. There are likely various cave networks underground that we haven’t yet discovered, similar to this one. That is where I would start searching.”
Cyrus frowned. “With their explosive magic, I don’t think they would settle somewhere underground. The risk oftunnels collapsing would be too great.” He rubbed his chin, considering.
“It would be a place without magic,” Evander said. “A place where the blood of the gods is considered useless. Unseen by prying eyes and hidden from mortal minds.”
Cyrus’s head whipped toward his brother, his eyes narrowing. Those did not sound like Evander’s words at all.
Had he gotten this information from the Wild Spirits?
Farah’s brow furrowed, her gleaming eyes flicking from Evander to Cyrus and back again. This witch missed nothing.
