Page 50 of Crimson Skies

A handful of other Gods materialized out of the portal and looked around like this was the last place they wanted to be.

“Great.”The Reaper God stared morosely at the last deity to emerge from the doorway before it sealed up.“That flimflam is here too.”

The flimflam was a God wrapped in a storm of flames. A divine energy not dissimilar to that of the Eternity Key resonated with Cassius’s soul core as he studied the deity.

It was the power he’d felt moments before.

Loki flinched when the weapon inside him started to glow, lighting up his belly and the hill. He looked at Atropos, his eyes rounding.

“Wait! Is he the one who has—?!”

The Moira nodded, her face fierce. “He possesses the last artifact that was used to seal Chaos in the Abyss.”

Cassius’s heart thudded against his ribs.Whatever this thing is, it’s powerful.

From Morgan’s faint frown, his lover could feel an echo of the weapon’s deadly force across their bond.

The fire deity sneered when he spotted the Reaper God. “Why, if it isn’t little Temir.” His gaze landed on Mortis. He stilled, interest sparking in his eyes. “And who do we have here?”

Shadows thickened around the Reaper God. He pulled his startled assistant inside his robe of darkness.

“I see you are as polite as ever, Pyriphlegethon,” Tenebra observed in a warning tone.

Atropos’s expression turned long-suffering as the Reaper God and the fire deity glared at one another.

Clotho patted her on the shoulder. “You’ve got this, sis.”

* * *

Hecate pressedher face close to Eden, starry eyes twinkling with fascination. “You have an interesting soul, child,”

Eden leaned back and smiled glassily. “That’s, er, good to know.”

She took an awkward sip of her soda. Cedric shifted closer to her.

“Where’s Woody?” Julia whispered to Eden while Hecate was distracted by another guest.

“Sulking in the woods next to the lake,” she muttered. “He’s trying to avoid his maker.”

Loki wrinkled his nose. Kalliste’s expression turned commiserative. Charlie grimaced.

To be fair, Eden could hardly blame the devilwood staff. From the way Hecate had been scrutinizing the weapon since her arrival, it looked like the Goddess was itching to dissect him.

Eden’s gaze swept the marquee that had been hastily erected in the middle of the park. It was intended to be used as a field hospital for the wounded during the war. Right now, it was playing host to the fresh arrivals.

Perspiration beaded Wilcox’s waxen face where he greeted the last Gods of the Underworld and welcomed them to Earth. Strickland passed the mayor a drink after the deities wandered off to inspect the hastily arranged buffet. Wilcox gulped it down in one go.

“Lucky him,” Eden murmured glumly. “I wish I could have some liquor right now.”

“Same,” Loki mumbled.

“What?” Cedric said suspiciously.

“Nothing,” Eden and Loki muttered.

Zach swallowed a smile behind his drink.

Wilcox flinched when a loud yelp came from somewhere in the camp. The specters of the Spirit Realm had turned out to be surprisingly mischievous.