Page 80 of Salt & Blood

The Titans drew forward, but their steps were slow and measured. Instead of surrounding Cyrus, they formed a small circle around Apollo.

“We are finished, Apollo,” said Hyperion in his low and deep voice. “We have done our part. Our bargain has been fulfilled.”

“You haven’t doneshit,” Apollo spat. “I’m not King of the Underworld!”

“That was not our agreement. We vowed to help you during the challenge. And we did. But we will not follow your orders any longer.”

“We are finished,” said the Titan next to Hyperion—a beast of a man with deep purple skin, lengthy claws, and two large ram horns protruding from his temples.

“You’renotfinished.” Apollo’s cheeks were turning red, and his eyes were wild with rage and panic. “You obeymycommand, and I order you to?—”

The purple Titan didn’t let him finish. With a swift motion, he stabbed his claws right through Apollo’s chest.

Prue shrieked and clapped a hand over her mouth. The Titan pushed harder until his claws completely impaled Apollo’s chest. Silver blood bubbled from the sun god’s mouth, dribbling down his chin. With a hoarse, wet cough, he crumpled, then slid backward. The Titan withdrew his claws as Apollo’s form collapsed in a heap on the ground.

Shit,Prue thought as the purple Titan turned his black eyes toward her. “Do not get in our way, little goddess.”

“We cannot let you roam freely,” Cyrus said, his voice still resonant despite the sight of Apollo’s dying form. “You must return to Tartarus.”

A few of the Titans laughed. Some of them growled, baring their teeth in fury.

“Try and stop us,” Hyperion challenged, spreading his arms as he smirked at Cyrus. “It will be fun to watch you fail so spectacularly.”

“Cyrus,” Prue whispered, gripping his arm tightly before he advanced on the Titans. He may be wielding the Titans’ power, but as far as they knew, he was still mortal. All it would take was one swipe of that purple Titan’s claws, and Cyrus would be dead.

Cyrus fixed his blue eyes on her, and they were full of pain and regret. “You need to get out. Take your sister.”

“No!” Mona said.

“Like hell,” Prue hissed. “If anyone should leave, it’syou, Cyrus.”

“I can’t just let them go,” Cyrus whispered, his voice pleading. “They will destroy the realm. They’ll slaughter our people.”

A knot formed in Prue’s throat as she looked at the sorrow in her husband’s eyes. She thought of the arrogant, power-hungry god she’d first met and how little he had cared for those around him, even his own subjects. This man before her was so very different. He was willing to give his life for his people—forher.He was willing to battle an impossible foe, even if it meant his own death.

Heat stung her eyes as she continued to stare at him. But Prue refused to cry any more. She had done enough of that already.

“Then I will fight with you,” she said softly, lacing her fingers through his. “For our people.”

Admiration shone in his eyes, and he nodded once. He glanced over her shoulder to meet Evander’s gaze. “Evander?—”

“We’re staying,” Evander said, arms crossed in defiance. Beside him, Mona lifted her chin, eyes flashing.

Prue took a shaky breath as she turned to look at the Titans. They were already advancing toward them, their steps casual and slow, as if this fight would be nothing more than an inconvenience to them.

But Cyrus wielded that same power. And Mona and Prue had embraced their goddess powers. Evander still had his demonic qualities, though they were a strange echo of what they had once been.

The four of them were a force to be reckoned with.

The thought sent fire shooting through Prue’s veins, and she clung to that strength, using it to fuel her courage. With a shout, she raised her fist, then slammed it into the earth. The ground shook, and the cracks in the ground widened to massive crevices. The holes spread, causing rocks and roots to crumble as a wide crater formed between them and the Titans. It continued spreading, and the Titans began backing up in alarm. But Prue pressed onward until the hole swallowed up two of the Titans. Their screams echoed as they fell and then, with a loudthud,they went silent.

Cyrus looked at her with a mixture of surprise and pride.

Prue gave him a wicked smile. “Let the games begin.”

BETRAYED

PANDORA

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