The Minotaur’s jaw snapped as it closed in. They were going to die, and it was all Tethys’s fault.
She’d risked their lives coming down here.
She’d been reckless, blinded by her own nightmares, torefuse primordial help.
Now, her siblingsfaced the consequences.
“Stop, please!” Tethys wailed.
The Minotaur froze, halting with raised claws and gnashing teeth.
Tethys drew a breath, feeling every muscle attempt to comprehend what was happening.
The beast turned to face her, its eyes now void.
“Wh-what?” she breathed. No longer was there violence erupting throughout the corridor. The walls, once cracking, now silenced. The ground, once tremoring, now stilled. The Minotaur simply huffed with heavy breaths and watched her.
Waitingfor her, she realized.
Tethys took a step toward her siblings, cautious and slow. The Minotaur didn’t charge.
“Do not attack,” she tried. Again, the Minotaur only watched. Tethys knelt beside her siblings, keeping her eyes fixed on the beast. It didn’t move. Nor did it rear its horns and huff a violent breath.
“Are you alright, Altair?” she asked.
He nodded, carefully bracing himself on the wall.
“I’ll be fine. Are you…are you commanding it?” His eyes flicked to the Minotaur, still merely watching, merely waiting.
“I don’t know,” Tethys said. “We need to get you up.”
Polaris drew in a breath, helping their brother to his feet. The three, still followed by unwavering ruby eyes, shuffled to the door.
“Are you strong enough to cast a ward, brother?” Polaris asked, smoothing her black locks. Altair nodded and shifted his weight. He raised his palms and sunlight bloomed once more. The magic hummed in his hands then extended around them, encircling the three immortals behind a shimmering curtain.
“Will that hold?” Polaris asked, her eyes never leavingthe Minotaur’s vacant ruby stare.
“I fucking hope so,” the summer king replied, grounding himself to the floor. The ward pulsed with Altair’s heartbeat—weak, but steady.
Tethys placed a hand on her belly, searching for reassurance from her little light, and looked to the Minotaur. He offered a small kick that propelled her forward.
“Return to where you came from and don’t come back until we’re gone,” Tethys commanded. The beast dipped its chin and turned on its heels. It ascended the steps slowly until nothing but scarred walls, singe marks, and spattered blood was evidence it’d been there at all.
“Let’s make this quick, Tethys. I don’t know how long I can hold this,” Altair said, straining under the weight of his magic.
Tethys nodded and approached the door. Although nothing more than rotten wood, the gate’s threshold hummed with ancient energy. She placed her cheek against its frame, feeling the power coursing just behind its lock.
“Sister, now, please.” Altair grimaced, with open palms and gritted teeth. The exhaustion etched over his brow mirrored Tethys’s own as she retrieved the prism key from her cloak.
She sucked in a breath.
Iridescent light gleamed from the door frame, as if responding to the keys presence, beckoning it. Tethys squeezed her eyes, her hand shielding her belly, and plunged the key into the lock.
Chapter 67
Araes flew down the narrow passageway, the screams of men outside raising the hairs across his arms. He plummeted through the storeroom, muttering a quick word to Niko. The soldier sprang into step beside him, passing the rotten plates and dust covered tables.
“What the fuck happened in there?” Niko asked, his sword swinging at his side.
