Xyn went cold at the ethereal beauty of the ancient goddess who eyed them all with malice. Her black gown blended in perfectly with the darkness, but her white hair and eyes seemed to glow, making her appear even more haunting and frightening.
Her gaze went to Styxx, Stryker, and Bethany, who had found the others. Then to Xyn. “I should be furious.”
She narrowed her gaze on Xander. “Beyond rage … and if this were anyone other than Urian, I’d skewer the lot of you for being here. As it is …” Apollymi threw out her arms and the walls opened.
“Wish you’d joined the party sooner.” Bethany had the audacity to admonish her.
Apollymi’s jaw dropped.
“Yes, I yelled at you. I have not forgotten the ass-whipping I still owe you. Remember that I was pregnant at our last encounter. Not pregnant now, Pol. You want a rematch …Anytime.”
“Beth, Beth, Beth.” Styxx pulled her gently away from Apollymi. “Let’s not anger the nice goddess who opened the door so that we could get our son. Okay? Focus on Uri. Your baby needs you. Save the whup-ass for the bad guys who have our child.”
She pointed her finger at Apollymi before she nodded. “Okay.”
Xyn expected Apollymi to blast her. Instead, the goddess actually smiled.
When she realized Xyn was watching her, she gave her a smirk. “What? I’ve always admired Bet’anya.”
Xyn wasn’t about to get in the middle of that. Besides, she had more important things to think about. Like finding Urian. Running to catch up with the others, she quickly learned why this wasn’t the side to be on.
Holy evil …
The screams that echoed on this side were deafening. Xyn covered her ears. Even Simi was grimacing.
Xander looked at Stryker. “Why don’t you eat some of these and shut them up?”
“Really? You just went there?”
“Given how loud this is? Yeah.”
“Shield your ears,” Apollymi warned.
Xyn knew what was coming. She transformed into a dragon an instant before Apollymi let loose with a sonic blast so loud, it shattered two of the walls around them. She barely extended her wings in time to shield her charges from the rubble of the ceiling that rained down on them.
Styxx was the first to recover from it. “Thank you, Xyn.”
“Yes.” Bethany petted her on the wing. “Thank you so much!”
“No problem.” She carefully lifted her other wing to make sure everyone was safe. Luckily no one had been harmed.
“What? No one thanks me for stopping the noise?” Apollymi shook her head. “Ingrates! I’m always surrounded by ingrates!”
Bethany grimaced at her. “We wouldn’t be ungrateful, Polli, if you hadn’t dropped a house down on top of us.”
“There’s just no pleasing you.”
Slack-jawed, Bethany looked at her husband. “Why did you stop your conquest? One more day … just one more friggin’ day!”
“Don’t go there.”
Xyn changed back into her human form and moved to stand next to Brogan, who was being strangely silent. “You have something?”
“I’m not sure.” She had that glassy, odd look about her that she got anytime she was communing with the aether.
Then Brogan’s eyes cleared. “We have to hurry.” She took off at a dead run.
They followed.
