Nix came crashing through the sliding door and I took off again, determined to get to Ryder before it was too late for both of us.
I leapt to the balcony railing and then threw myself to the sandy beach below. I barely made it over another railing that separated the sand from the patio and pool area. My body hit with a harsh thud and I felt my muscles and bones scream in protest.
When I jumped to my feet, I knew I sprained my ankle, but my adrenaline was pumping hard enough that I managed to fight through the pain and keep running- although I was significantly slower.
I ducked between gigantes and demi-gods. I avoided the furies and I barely made it past something that could only be described as a sea serpent.
Ares lunged forward just as Ryder took off running at him. My feet stumbled as I watched Ryder’s quick legs dodge to the right, out of reach of his enemy’s stabbing sword. As soon as Ryder had taken one step beyond Ares, Ryder lifted his arms and swung the sword in a deadly arc that should have cut off Ares’ head.
Instead, Ares spun around and slammed Ryder with his shield. Ryder’s body flew up into the air and landed in a folded heap on the sand ten feet away. The sword flew out of his hands and sailed out of reach.
The blade buried into the sand and the silver hilt glinted in the warm sun.
Ryder shook his head and tried to wake up from the stupor of the hard hit, but when he finally pulled himself to his feet, he wobbled unsteadily.
Ares grinned at him. Taking slow steps forward I watched the god of war start to enjoy this kill. He would take Ryder’s life and he would relish every second of it.
Ares flashed a look of lust at me and his smile stretched across his face. “I’m going to kill you now,” he told Ryder. “Then I’m going to take your girlfriend home with me and show her what’s it’s like to be with a real man. With a god. After that, I’ll let her sing for a while and see how world domination suits me. I’m sure it will fit just fine. Just like death will look so nice on you.”
I pushed forward, diving for the sword that lay equidistant between Ryder and me.
In hindsight I could have kept the sword. I could have turned around and used it on Nix. If I killed Nix, this entire coup would have fizzled out quickly.
But I didn’t think about Nix or Ares or anything other than saving Ryder’s life.
I grabbed the sword and threw it toward Ryder, aiming it blade down in the ground.
For the few seconds I felt it in my hands, the power inside of it pulsed through my palm, straight to my blood. I felt the enormity of the weapon, the sure confidence it held. I sensed that it could kill a god… that it could kill a god for breakfast, lunch and dinner without ever blinking an eye.
So, yeah… I should have kept it.
But I didn’t.
I gave it over to save the man that I loved. It landed five feet from Ryder and only half like I intended it to. But, I had been worried I would be the one to accidentally behead Ryder… so I was satisfied.
Ares let out a war cry of intention, leaping on Ryder to finish the job. Ryder rolled out of the way at the last second and grabbed the sword with two hands.
In a move I had no idea he was capable of, Ryder jumped to two feet before Ares had even registered that he didn’t hit his mark.
Just as Ares turned around to attack again, Ryder dropped his arms and carved off the head of the god of war.
I heard the slick slice of metal against flesh over every other sound. Lightning flashed in the air, wild and worked up.
The entire beach stopped fighting to watch one of the last of the great gods disappear into the netherworld.
My sincerest hope was that he joined his friend Crete in the Underworld.
Persephone could have them both.
Ryder dropped to his knees and let out a breath. His face was wet and red; his hair had been soaked with blood and sweat and his body was equally drenched. I could see that he had been fighting a constant battle. He was exhausted. He was weary.
But this was far from over.
I stumbled toward him, intent on giving him some words of encouragement.
His eyes lifted to meet mine and something passed between us that was as profound as it was moving. His gray eyes found mine and promised a thousand things in that silent moment.
I saw that he loved me.
