Page 52 of Crimson Skies

Cocytus and Lethe shuffled their feet behind him and grumbled in agreement.

Styx curled a lip. “Come, Achi. We would not want our dear brother’s dismal presence to taint the humans’ offerings.”

She pulled Acheron away. Pyri ignored them, helped himself to a pile of food, and strolled over to where the Reaper God stood with the Black Fates and the Furies.

“By the way, are you still hiding that charming assistant of yours inside your robes?”he drawled innocently.“You can let him out. I promise I won’t do anything to him.”

The Reaper God studied the fire deity icily. “I trust you as far as I can throw you.”

Pyri’s mouth curved in a supercilious smile. “Which is not very far at all.”

Shadows detonated around the Reaper God.

“Calm down,” Tenebra warned.

Mortis’s quavering voice emerged from the Reaper God’s cloak. “Hmm, Master? I could eat.”

The Reaper God hesitated, clearly conflicted. “Okay. But you must make haste and return to my side.” He opened his robe and allowed Mortis to slip out. “Benjamin, go with him.”

Benjamin appeared out of thin air and floated dutifully beside Mortis as he scampered across the marquee.

Pyri observed Death’s assistant with a gleam in his eyes. “That Khimer sure looks appetizing.”

He grinned when the Reaper God unleashed his scythe.

Tenebra and Tisiphone grabbed the God of Death’s arms and yanked him back before he could swing his weapon at the fire deity.

Menippe squinted at Pyri. “You seriously have a death wish, don’t you?”

Pyri’s grin widened.

A vein throbbed in Atropos’s temple. Clotho put a large glass of wine in her hand.

“Any news of Pan and Boreas?” Cassius asked the Moira to distract her.

“No.” Lines furrowed Atropos’s brow. “I cannot sense Pan’s presence beyond the Spirit Realm. He and Demetrius must have traveled to a world beyond our reach.As forBoreas, Kes said he vanished soon after they went in search of the Gods of the Underworld.”

Her unease was reflected on her sisters’ faces.

Cassius frowned into his drink and wondered once more who this seventh mage was.He must be incredibly powerful if he’s managed to stay under the radar for so long.

“Wherever this mage is, it must not be one of the commonly known realms,” Reuben pondered.

“Yeah,” Jasper muttered. “I have no doubt Elios would have tried to win him over and bring him to his side if his whereabouts were common knowledge.”

“Oh. Are you referring to Myrdin?” Hecate had wandered back from the buffet and caught the tail end of their conversation. She chomped down on a hotdog, froze, chewed rapidly, and swallowed. “What is this? It is divine!”

She licked her lips and was about to march back to the sideboard when Atropos grabbed her arm.

“What did you say?” the Moira mumbled.

“This hotdog thing is amazing. You should try—”

“No.” Atropos’s voice went up an octave. “I meant before that!”

“Oh.About Boreas looking for Myrdin?” Hecate shrugged. “Let’s face it, that guy is the only one who fits the bill.A powerful, elusive mage who can give the Moirai the slip? Who else could it be but Myrdin?”

Atropos cast a worried look over her shoulder when Yuan made a strangled sound. Shadows were filling the tent.