Mr.NovalightSmith. Piers picked up his sword. “Thank you. You can send him to the room.”
If the next few minutes didn’t go as Piers hoped, the last thing he would do on this world would be to run Novalight through. The billionaire scientist wouldn’t bother Sophie again—because Piers had no doubt the man would try to study and use her abilities, with or without the Shard of Olympus to make them work.
Earlier, he’d made sure people in the lobby had seen Sophie leave, her luggage in hand. He’d spoken to the concierge about the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, just so the man would remember seeing her go. He’d even gone back to the desk and told them he was staying one more night on his own and would take care of checkout in the morning. Piers had watched enough of thisnews channelduring the afternoon to know that killing people, even dangerous ones, carried a different weight here than it did in Thalyria. Systems in this place kept people accountable in ways he’d never seen in his life, and he wanted to make damn sure no one could blame Sophie for the dead man in their room.
Between the slow elevators and long corridors, it would take Novalight several minutes to get here. Hopefully, just on time.
Piers started chanting.
Call a god, lose a soul.He couldn’t believe he was doing this again. He knew it brought misery. But he also believed it would keep Sophie safe. And put the shard back where it belonged.
Power gathered in the air around him. The chant required several repetitions. He spoke faster, louder. The windows frosted over, filtering out the day’s last light and the gently falling snow.
Piers started the final repetition. Would he even remember his time on Earth after Athena took him? Would he remember Sophie?
Yes, by gods.She’d burned herself into his soul.
He ended the chant and spoke the name of the goddess who put him here to begin with. “Athena!”
Golden light swirled in the room. It heated the air and melted the frost on the windows. Athena slipped out of the sunlit glow and regarded him with interest. She was a good foot taller than Piers even with her head cocked to one side. She wore a flowing white gown as opposed to the armor he’d last seen her in. Perhaps in New York, she had no need for her spear and shield. Piers couldn’t help staring in awe. He didn’t blame anyone but himself for his exile from Thalyria, and he almost wanted to thank Athena for bringing him to Sophie.
A small smile curved her lips, and her golden-brown eyes softened, as if she’d read his thoughts. The radiance around her disappeared, leaving only the electric lights. Athena outshined them all. “Piers of Sinta. You summon an Olympian again. Are you foolhardy or brave?”
Piers bowed his head. “Neither, I think. But I saw no other way.”
“Call a god, lose a soul. Is that not what you learned?”
“It is.” He lifted his hand, palm up, and presented the Shard of Olympus. Sophie had been able to wear it, though it burned his hand with cold. “But this was in danger of falling into the wrong hands, and it was putting an innocent woman and her family at risk.”
Athena hummed in the back of her throat. “Indeed, it was.” She reached out, and the shard floated from his hand to hers. Piers watched in wonder as she tucked it inside her chest, passing it through her skin and bones. The glacial-blue glow illuminated her from the inside out before disappearing, swallowed whole.
Piers let out an unsteady breath. A knock sounded at the door.
“In terms of losing a soul, I have an option to present.” He moved toward the door. “I know it’s not my choice, but please consider who caused the trouble here.”
Piers opened the door. Novalight stood there, looking ready to take what he believed was his. He’d come alone, as requested. Maybe his ruffians were down the hall. Piers didn’t care. He pulled him inside and shut the door.
“You’re not Sophronia Iraklidis.” Novalight glared beyond Piers’s shoulder.
Piers turned, and his jaw slid ajar. Athena now wore an outfit much like Sophie’s—slim-fitting jeans and a loose sweater that hung off one shoulder, something strappy underneath, and bright Christmas socks on her feet. She’d shrunk, though she remained tall. Her tight, upswept curls had given way to long, loose waves that tumbled to her waist. She could sit in a New York restaurant and fit in just like anyone else. Piers snapped his mouth shut. Maybe she did sometimes.
“I hear you’ve been terrorizing a young woman,” Athena said. Even her voice had changed, losing power and resonance. She sounded human and reminded him so much of Sophie, it hurt. The two females could be friends. Family. In a way, they were.
“I’ve been trying to get back what’s mine from athief. Are you a thief, too?” Novalight demanded.
“What’syours?” Athena laughed, the sound like shattered glass falling from a skyscraper. Her human veneer cracked, hinting at the deity beneath. “You speak awfully boldly for a man who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
Color mottled Novalight’s cheeks. “And who are you?”
Athena’s smile turned blade sharp. Maybe she couldn’t fit into the city that easily after all. “I’m the one who knows who that…crystal…really belongs to. It belongs to my father. I’m taking it to him.”
Novalight barked a laugh.
Athena looked far from amused, and Piers drew his sword, flanking her in the now-crowded room. Novalight looked at Piers’s weapon with disdain, maybe thinking it was a fake. Then his breathing changed.
Piers smiled.That’s right. Not a toy.Novalight had scared Sophie. He deserved to know fear in return.
Piers didn’t want him dead, though. Novalight was his alternate solution in this game of bargaining souls.
