PROLOGUE
“It’stime for me to retire.”
Libra dropped his bombshell, and Aries couldn’t help but bark, “You’re choosing now to quit?”
It always sucked to lose a warrior, but, in this case, the timing couldn’t have been worse. In the past week, they’d been struggling to keep up with an unexpected flurry of murders, the slaughtering separated by hundreds and thousands of miles, yet all sharing the same violent hallmarks. It almost seemed like the work of one particular monster, only, what creature had the ability to essentially be in numerous places at once?
A stone-faced Libra stood in front of Aries’ desk and took a deep breath before saying, “I can’t do it anymore. My family needs me.” The announcement didn’t entirely surprise. Libra had been distancing himself from his brothers and duties for years.
“Does it have to be right this minute? You’ve seen the surge in monstrous violence. Now more than ever, we need everyone to fight.”
The rebuke lifted Libra’s chin. “And who will protect my family when I’m gone?”
“They’d be safe if you brought them to Tower.” Other warriors who had partners and children had done so.
“That’s no life for them,” Libra argued. “My children deserve a normal upbringing with other kids. Not to mention, I can’t exactly dump my wife here and run off without an explanation.”
“An explanation that wouldn’t have been necessary if you’d been honest with her from the start.” Libra had chosen to keep his Zodiac Warrior side a secret.
“Too late now. I don’t know why you’re so worried. I’m sure it won’t take long before I’m replaced.”
“With someone who will require weeks of training.” Aries couldn’t have said why he tried to convince Libra. A warrior who’d lost his purpose would only be a detriment.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve made up my mind. I have to do this.”
“In that case, I wish you well, brother.” Aries held out his hand, and Libra clasped it tight before dragging Aries into a hug.
“It’s been an honor fighting with you,” Libra murmured, his voice raspy with emotion.
Aries hugged him back. “You will be missed.”
“How soon can I relinquish my position?”
“Guess there’s no point in waiting. Let’s head down to the portal room.”
Since all the warriors had been deployed on assignment, only Aries and his wife, Sage, were present for the ceremony. Not so much a ritual as a stripping of powers. Libra stood on his sigil—for the last time—and bowed his head. Nothing needed to be said. The magic that transformed them into Zodiac Warriors read the hearts of those who served and knew when the time came to let them go.
The saddest part was losing a friend. Once a warrior left, the brothers cut off contact. They had to because their former friend wouldn’t remember any of them. Libra’s years of service, all those memories and experiences collected while he servedthe stars, would fade. Alas, those who’d served with him would never forget.
A light flashed, and Libra—henceforth Jonathon Montgomery—disappeared, leaving them down a warrior.
Sage, cradling their child in a chest carrier, put a hand on Aries’ arm and murmured, “I’m sorry.”
“I knew it was coming, but it still sucks.” Aries sighed. He’d begun seeing hints years ago as Libra pulled away from his brothers and balked at assignments. He’d hoped reassigning him to watch over the Athens portal would give him a chance to recoup and come to his senses. It obviously hadn’t worked. Aries glanced at his wife. “Any clues as to who’s going to take his place?”
“No. I’m going to try and see, though, after I put little bean down for a nap.”
A seer who’d long guided the Zodiacs, a fatigued Sage had struggled since the birth of their child with her foresight.
“Should I talk to Olivia? Maybe she knows something.” Leo’s young daughter also had the gift of seeing branches of the future, but her age and limited vocabulary, as well as life experience, made deciphering her visions a challenge.
“It wouldn’t hurt, but don’t worry if she can’t tell you anything about our next Libra. I doubt we’ll have to wait long.” While the constellations never revealed the process they used for choosing a candidate, the position of warrior—and avatar—wouldn’t remain vacant for long.
Aries held Sage’s hand as they began trekking up the many stairs to their apartment, pausing at the dining level for their midday meal. As Sage stroked little bean’s head, she sighed. “I hope Jonathon finds the balance he’s been seeking.”
“Me, too, but his timing is shit. We’ve never been this busy before. Something’s changed because this kind of violence in so many places at once is unheard of.”
“Change isn’t always a bad thing.” She smiled down at the baby. “But I agree; something is afoot.”
