A small thread of black mist seeped out of the cracks; the entire structure looked like it was moments from shattering. No wonder Zeus was trying to stuff all the sins into the necklace—if they got free, he’d lose control of their power.
Narida straightened her back. “I’ve magically programmed the necklace to detach from Zeus in the event he loses.”
“And if I win?” Zeus grinned, and it was a demonic grin with all teeth and no heart.
Narida looked at Cronus briefly. “Then I will perform your bonding ceremony to Maisey myself.”
Bitch. Did she have to go that far?
Cronus growled. “Let’s do this!”
Narida nodded and clapped her hands three times. A large cage appeared, a steel cube sixty feet tall and wide. “You have one minute to pick a partner. You will fight in hand-to-hand combat, powers allowed. Each person that passes out or submits gives one point to the other team.”
She clapped again and a large canvas sign rolled down from a tree.
Titans- 0 Gods- 0.
I saw why Cronus had chosen Narida. She was quick, efficient, and definitely had more power than she likely let on about. All in all, she had been the only one strong enough who wasn’t a god or a Titan.
In way less than a minute, Cronus and Hyperion were paired up, along with Koios and Rhea, Okeanos and Phoebe, and the rest of the Titans. On the god side, Zeus, and Ares, the god of war, were paired and I felt myself growing nervous.
“Because the Titans are hosting this event, they choose their opponent,” Narida told everyone. “Cronus, Hyperion, who do you—?”
“Zeus and Ares,” Cronus growled before she could finish.
She nodded and then each paired Titan group called out who their opponent would be. Reaching into her pocket, Narida pulled out a coin and flipped it for which team would go first. Gods got to pick.
Zeus’ eyes glittered. “We’ll go first.”
Fear spiked through me even though I knew Cronus was a badass. The problem being, I also knew what those sins could do, and depending on how many he was carrying now, it could be a closer fight. Was it really fair play that he be allowed to use them during this tournament?
Did any of these assholes even care about fair play?
#ThatWouldBeANo #ZeroFucksGiven
They entered the cage and Narida called out the rules. “No weapons, no portaling in and out. This is hand-to-hand combat with use of your powers.”
Zeus had a wicked smile, his hand coming up to rest on his necklace. Cronus wore no expression, his eyes cold and hard, and of the two his was a little more terrifying. I wouldn’t have liked to be Cronus’ enemy.
Rhea tugged on my arm. “Step back, Maisey.” I blinked, realizing I’d moved really close to the cage. Cronus pulled me to him that way; he always had.
We took about ten giant steps back, and I still had a good view, even as my nerves went haywire. In my belly, baby girl kicked and I rubbed the spot on my tummy, trying to reassure her.
All four men stepped into the cage and Narida waved her hand around the lock as a blue light sealed it. “Begin!” she shouted, and chaos erupted.
Cronus and Zeus flew from the ground and went at each other’s throats, while Ares and Hyperion did the same. Cronus slammed Zeus up against the bars at the back of the cage and started throwing punches directly into his face. Three punches in, a black burst of fog erupted from Zeus’ necklace, shooting Cronus backward.
My heart stuttered, until I saw that he was okay. Rhea was holding my arm, and it was clear I’d lurched forward without thinking about it.
“Don’t shave my hair, fetus,” the Titaness muttered. “I’m keeping her alive.”
There was no time to laugh about that though, because the fight was just getting started.
Hyperion threw Ares to the ground, shoving his foot into the god’s throat, while Cronus stood, brushing off the black inkiness of the sins.
The sky darkened overhead.That’s right, baby, bring in the big guns.
From what I’d seen, both Cronus and Zeus could affect the weather. They used lightning, thunder, and rain to their advantage. Zeus went to lash out at Cronus again, a black blob flying from the necklace, just as a bolt of lightning shot from the sky and electrocuted it. Zeus flew backward as the blob burst back into the necklace.
