Page 33 of Salt & Blood

Lagos shook his head. “That is an awful idea.”

“I agree. But if we unleash justoneTitan, and Apollo trusts me, then perhaps he will tell me how he intends to release the others. If I refuse to help him, he’ll never tell me anything.”

“Why does he need you to release one Titan if he has a plan to release them all?”

“I don’t think he can release them all on his own. He needs a stronger magic. A more powerful magic. I have to figure out what that is and how he is accessing it. I have a feeling it involves Titan magic. Perhaps with one Titan free, Apollo will use that Titan’s magic to craft a spell that will grant him the ability to unleash them all.”

Lagos nodded slowly. “And if Apollo can do that with Titan magic, then perhaps you and Prue can utilize such magic as well.”

“Exactly. With that amount of power, we could stop Apollo. We could banish him from the realm.”

Lagos sighed. “Very well. I will help you.”

Relief surged in Cyrus’s chest. “Thank you, Lagos.”

“On one condition.”

Cyrus froze, dread coiling in his gut. “What?”

“As soon as Apollo has finishedgloating, you tell Prue everything.”

Cyrus’s heart sank into his stomach. Oh, gods. That was the last thing he wanted. Prue would be so angry and hurt, and to confront her after betraying her… Would she even believe him?

When Lagos blinked expectantly, Cyrus swallowed hard, then nodded. “All right. I agree.”

So here Cyrus sat, drinking the disgusting wine and struggling to gather the courage to seek out Prue and explain everything. She deserved the truth. And he could alleviate her suffering by telling her of his plan. Perhaps it would lessen the blow of his treachery.

And Gaia had left… Cyrus hadn’t been expecting that. Now, Prue was truly alone. She needed him more than ever.

With a groan, Cyrus climbed to his feet, his head buzzing from the alcohol in his system. Gods, his pathetic human form was so weak. He used to be able to drink several glasses of wine before feeling its effects. Now, after only two, he was already muddled.

He rubbed a hand down his face and strode to the door. Before he could open it, a heavy pounding echoed from the other side.

Cyrus straightened, his heart hammering painfully in his chest. With a deep breath, he opened the door and found his wife on the other side, eyes blazing. Her face was red and puffy from crying, but pure hatred burned in her lavender eyes.

“We need to talk,” she bit out.

Shit.Cyrus was too late. There would be no convincing her now.

Wordlessly, he stood to the side to let her in. She stormed past him, and Cyrus closed and locked the door before turning to face her. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her hair even wilder than normal. Her eyes were so wide and feral that Cyrus expected her to lunge at him at any moment, like a deranged animal.

Prue took several shaky breaths before she spoke, her voice low and menacing. “How dare you.”

“Prue, just let me explain,” Cyrus began, palms out as he tried to appease her.

Her nostrils flared. “I gave you an out! If you wanted to be rid of me, you could have left this realm. You didn’t have to run off toApolloto stab me in the back!”

“Prue—”

“Are you—Are youpunishing me?” she cried, spreading her arms. “Is that what this is? You still blame me for that spell that turned you human?”

“Gods, Prue, no! I was?—”

“Well, congratulations.” Prue’s voice cracked, and tears brimmed in her eyes. The sight nearly undid Cyrus completely. “You’ve officially broken me. I’m not strong enough to face youandApollo. Even with my mother here, I didn’t think I could do it. But now? I?—”

Cyrus surged toward her, unable to help himself. She was so shattered, so devastated, that he couldn’t take it anymore. He brought his hands to her face, cradling her cheeks, and drew her mouth to his.

She stiffened, uttering a small gasp of surprise as their lips met. The kiss was soft and pleading at first, as if Cyrus were asking a question. His lips moved gently over hers, capturing her mouth over and over with deliberate slowness.

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