Prue and Mona exchanged a look of surprise and relief.
“Cyrus is here,” Prue whispered.
RUN
PRUE
Hyperion had slicedinto Prue’s lips with his blade before she finally admitted what she and Mona had done.
And after that, he had cut off her left ear, claiming she could keep her tongue but still deserved punishment for what she’d done.
The pain was so all-consuming that she couldn’t think. She couldn’t see straight. The ache on the side of her head pounded with a throb that seemed to have its own pulse. Every sound, every movement, only exacerbated the feeling.
Goddess, she just wanted to die. Just to take away the pain.
She had managed to rip a large chunk of her tunic, then held it against her ear to staunch the blood flow. But even that was too much effort, and she wound up curling up on the floor, pressing her head against the wad of fabric.
The chaos of the following events passed by in a haze. Screams and shouts. Thundering footsteps. Mona was there, her hands on Prue, trying to lift her. Prue wanted to help, to stand on her own feet, but she was so damnweak.The agony splitting through her was unbearable.
Mona urged her to move, and Prue’s feet shuffled forward. With each step, her strength seemed to rekindle. Her head still throbbed, but her legs were fine. Shecouldwalk.
By the time they reached the window, Prue felt well enough to wriggle through—at least, with Mona’s help.
And when she heard the Titans talking and realized Cyrus had come for her, hope crept into her chest.
Followed immediately by dread.
“What is he doing?” Prue hissed to Mona. “He’s going to get himself killed.”
Mona’s eyes were distant, and Prue could tell she was thinking hard. “Evander must be with him. He wouldn’t have let Cyrus go alone.” She looked around, as if Evander would magically appear beside them.
“A diversion?” Prue asked, horror leeching into her thoughts. Just like her, Cyrus was offering himself up as bait.
Prue’s plan had gone to shit. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if Cyrus’s plan failed, too.
Lightning ignited in the sky. Prue glanced up, realizing the strikes were from Cyrus, not the Titans.
“We have to do something.” Prue shifted, trying to step forward, but a burst of pain sliced through her. She groaned, raising a hand to the wound in the side of her head.Thankfully, the bleeding had stopped, but the injury felt like it was on fire.
Mona gripped her arm tightly and shook her head. “We aren’t doing anything. If they catch us, it’s over. The best thing we can do for Cyrus and Evander is to stay hidden. Otherwise the Titans will have leverage over them.”
The shout of a Titan made Mona and Prue jump.
“Where is he?” the Titan roared. Prue recognized Hyperion’s voice, and she closed her eyes, nausea roiling through her. She recalled his wicked grin as he carved the knife through her flesh.
Mona’s hands were on Prue’s shoulders, squeezing her to awaken her from the nightmare. Prue shook her head and took a long, shaky breath.
“I see his lightning strikes,” said the other Titan. Oceanus maybe? Prue couldn’t tell. “I can smell him. But I don’t know where he is.”
“Idiots,” Hyperion seethed. “Find him.He can’t hide from all of us.”
Prue met Mona’s gaze and widened her eyes. What did this mean? How was Cyrus staying out of sight?
A voice roared nearby, one Prue knew in her bones. Her very soul quaked from the intensity of it, and her body yearned to draw closer to him.
“I am here!” Cyrus bellowed, his voice deep and powerful. “Shall we negotiate? Or are you too frightened to face me?”
What the hell is he doing?Prue thought, her heart racing. As if expecting her to bolt, Mona pinched her arm and shook her head.
