Evander could be free.
Typhon could be free.
They could both be released from their chains and bindings. They could both finallysoar.
A resonant cry tore from Evander’s mouth. His backarched as his voice poured from him, echoing in the vast space and spiraling around him. His arms were rigid, spread on either side of him. Something heavy tugged at his chest, and his cry sharpened in pain. His body jerked wildly as a massive energy violentlyrippedthrough his chest, tearing through muscle and flesh. His bones shattered. His rib cage cracked. His body was breaking, breaking, breaking… Howling screams filled the woods, sounding more like a feral wolf than his own voice.
His vision blurred, then went black. He fell into nothingness as darkness swallowed him.
He was dead. He had to be. The pain of Typhon tearing through him was too much for his body to bear.
“Wake, prince of death,” said a soothing voice.
Evander inhaled a rattling gasp that felt like his first breath of air in days. He sucked in gulps full of it, swallowing greedily, his throat raw and cracked.
Echidna hovered over him, her eyes shining. Her long serpent’s tail curled behind her. Dozens of pearly forms lingered beside her, their eyes wide and fixed on something next to Evander.
With a jolt, Evander touched his chest, expecting to find it carved open, to find blood and intestines all over his body.
But there was nothing there. He was unharmed.
And yet… there was somethingdifferentabout him. Something empty and yet whole. Something settled and yet unfamiliar.
“Evander,” said a deep voice.
Evander tensed, his body rigid as he slowly turned to face the figure nextto him.
Gods, it couldn’t be…
Towering over him, his wings stretched wide and his massive muscular arms at his sides, was Typhon. He was much taller than Evander, and he had long hair that fell down his back in dark waves. His forehead was elongated, and large tusks protruded from his mouth.
He was every bit the beast Evander envisioned. But… he wasfamiliar. Evander knew him almost better than he knew himself.
A stunned laugh burst from Evander’s lips. Tears brimmed in his eyes, and he choked on a sob as he beheld Typhon for the first time.
He couldn’t believe it. Typhon was free. Typhon washere.
Evander stepped toward him—whether to clap him on the back or embrace him, he wasn’t sure—but then he stopped, his expression falling.
Typhon had the same shimmering silver form as Echidna and the rest of the spirits.
He was dead.
“You—You—” Evander’s voice broke, and he couldn’t speak around the lump in his throat.
Typhon’s mouth twitched in what appeared to be a smile. It was difficult to tell around his massive tusks. “I am well, brother. I amhome.”
Gods, that deep, resonant voice was so easily recognizable. It felt like Evander was speaking to himself.
Echidna slithered forward, her arm sliding around Typhon’s waist and pulling him closer. He towered over her, but as he gazed down at her, the soft, tender glow on his face was unmistakable.
Evander’s chest swelled with something akin to relief. Yes, he could tell by the look of contentment and peace on Typhon’s face that he was truly home now.
“We owe you a debt, death prince,” Echidna said, tearing her gaze away from her lover to cast a grateful look at Evander. She inclined her head deeply, a sign of respect which Evander returned.
“A debt we intend to pay in full,” Typhon added.
Evander blinked, tears still leaking from his eyes. “Can you?” His voice was barely a breath. He didn’t dare hope, didn’t dare believe that Jupiter’s curse had truly been broken.
