“The Titans will seek retribution,” Farah said grimly. “I doubt they have enough power to travel to a different realm. We must expect their retaliation here in the Realm of Gaia.”
Cyrus nodded again. He had considered this. As much as he yearned to bring Prue back to the Underworld, he could not leave the fire witches and all the mortals here to the whims of the Titans. Whatever they had planned could not be good.
“If you’ll allow me to leave Prue with you, I can find my own way to the village for shelter,” Cyrus said in a hollow voice. “I will not impose.”
Farah’s lips thinned. She sighed, then crossed her arms. “You and your wife may stay with us.”
Cyrus looked up at her in surprise. “But my magic?—”
“You managed to rescue two fellow witches from theclutches of the Titans. I think it’s safe to say you can be trusted amongst my sisters.”
A sour taste filled his mouth. He couldn’t be trusted at all. His choices and consequences brought nothing but tragedy. Lagos was dead because of him. And Farah thought she couldtrusthim?
It was absurd.
But Cyrus would not argue. If it allowed him to remain with Prue, he would let Farah believe this lie.
“Your brother has insisted he must return,” Farah continued.
Cyrus followed her gaze. Evander stood on the opposite end of the cavern, his hand casually resting on the small of Mona’s back while they conversed with two other witches.
“Yes, I’m sure he did,” Cyrus said in a low voice. Evander had debts to pay. Had he already told Mona?
“In exchange for providing you shelter, we only request one thing,” Farah said, her voice solemn. “We ask that when the Gorgon sisters return, you confer with them about the Titans.”
Cyrus met her gaze. “I vow to do everything in my power to eliminate them from the realms. It’s my fault they are here, and I will not rest until I fix the mess I’ve made.”
Farah’s eyes shone with something akin to respect. A small smile quirked her lips. “You are certainly not like what I imagined, death god.”
Cyrus frowned. “What did you imagine?”
“Someone arrogant, believing himself to be all-powerful and untouchable. Someone who answers to no one but himself.”
Cyrus snorted. “Yes, that’s still me.”
Farah chuckled. “Perhaps so.” She waved a hand to a curly-haired witch standing behind Cyrus. “Wren will show you to the more secluded caves we use for sleeping. You and your wife are welcome to stay there.”
“Thank you, Farah.” Cyrus poured as much respect and earnestness into his voice as he could muster. Words could not convey how grateful he was to these witches for providing hospitality and refuge. Were it not for their elixirs, Cyrus wasn’t sure if they would have made it out alive.
He cringed inwardly as he realized not all of themhadmade it out alive.
Gods, he still couldn’t fully grasp that Lagos was gone.
The curly-haired witch stepped forward, her gold eyes shrewd as she surveyed Cyrus. He assumed this was Wren. “You’re quite different from Rom.” Her voice was blunt, and Cyrus imagined she spoke her opinion often and unapologetically.
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Yes, well, Romanos has more experience in the mortal realm than I do.”
Wren pointed to Prue. “Do you need help carrying her?”
“No.” The word was clipped. Cyrus rose, then reached for Prue. The moment his fingers wrapped around her wrist, she gasped, her eyes flying open.
Cyrus’s heart leapt into his throat, his pulse racing. He knelt to the floor and crouched beside her, clutching her hand in his. Had he imagined it? Or had she truly awoken?
She gasped, the sound loud and rattling. Her eyelids fluttered, and a flush rose up her cheeks. She wet her lips, then looked around, her eyes dazed. “I—Cyrus?”
“Yes, I’m here, love,” Cyrus whispered, pressing her hand to his lips. Gods, he was so damn relieved she was awake. His eyes burned with tears for the second time, and he didn’t bother stifling them.
Prue tried sitting up, then winced. “Shit.” Slowly, she raised a hand to the jagged scar where her ear had been. “That—” Her mouth fell open, and her face paled. “Oh, Goddess.” Her hand started shaking as she slowly turned to look at Cyrus. “It wasn’t a dream, was it? That… that was allreal?”
