Page 54 of Crimson Skies

Atropos furrowed her brow. “Now I know why you never revealed who you were looking for.”

Cassius’s heart raced as he watched the Forest God. He could feel the strong pulse of energy coming from the deity’s core. It tasted of a primeval power. One that had existed long before his creation.

He must be one of the very first Gods of Nature Chaos breathed life into.

Myrdin met his inquisitive stare with a solemn expression. He dipped his chin. “Awakener.It is good to see you.”

“Ugh,” Tenebra groaned.

The Forest God’s stoic gaze landed on her. He stilled, his emerald eyes widening. His face lit up like the sun in the next instant.

“Ten, my adorable little rose of darkness! It has been too long!”

To everyone’s surprise and the Reaper God’s mounting horror, he scurried over, lifted a stiff Tenebra by the waist, and spun her around. Shoots and buds sprouted under his feet as his delighted laughter rang across the parkland.

Jasper grimaced. “Adorable—”

“—little rose—” Theo muttered.

“—of darkness?” Eden finished leadenly.

“Put me down, you fool!” Tenebra snarled at the Forest God.

She punched his shoulders. Myrdin ignored her and beamed, his silvery chuckle causing the closest trees to blossom.

Kes’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “I forgot how sickening that guy is.”

“I spent an hour with him at a banquet once and almost got a cavity,” Orena said darkly.

The Reaper God’s pupils were crimson pools of trepidation. “Mo—mo—mother!What is the meaning of this?!”

He pointed a trembling finger at Myrdin.

The Forest God froze. He stared at the shocked Reaper God, equally stunned. He slowly released Tenebra and raised a trembling hand to his mouth, his face crumpling.

“My love, is that—?!”

Tenebra sighed. “Look, Myr, I haven’t told him—”

But Myrdin wasn’t listening. He closed the distance to the Reaper God, studied him with a dazzling expression, and promptly plucked him from the ground before giving him a twirl.

“Temir! Look how big and strong you have gotten!”

Kes and Orena watched on with disgusted expressions. Tenebra looked at the sky and mumbled something under her breath. Atropos pinched the bridge of her nose.

The Reaper God’s eyes bulged as Myrdin pirouetted him around like he weighed less than a twig. “What are you doing?!” He struggled in the deity’s arms. “Unhand me, you fiend!Agh! Why are you so strong?!”

Cassius blinked, the truth striking him like thunder. “Oh.”

“I think I know where this is going,” Bostrof said dully.

“Yeah,” Loki muttered.

Benjamin sucked in air, scarlet glowing in his orbits as he clutched his scythe to his chest.

“What is it?” Mortis asked everyone worriedly.

“Now, now, there’s no need to be shy.” Myrdin put the God of Death back on his feet and pressed his head to his chest. “I am here and will never leave your side again.”