Page 77 of Crimson Skies

“It’s not that wicked,” he murmured. “I mean,Menippe told us some pretty daring things last night.”

Atropos snorted. She drew back and punched him lightly in the chest, a scowl darkening her face once more.

“Ow,” Cassius chuckled.

“I can’t believe you’re joking right now,” the Moira huffed.

“It beats running around screaming in panic.”

Atropos sobered at his words.

Disquiet filled Cassius once more. “Did you see where Loki disappeared?”

The Moira dipped her head. “That’s why I’m here. I think there’s something at the top of this mountain.”

Cassius inspected their surroundings with a frown. He got a vague impression of something large looming above them. There wasn’t much else to see.

There are mountains in the Abyss?

They set off on foot. It was better than flying around in the dark since they would likely lose sight of the massif if they got more than fifty feet from it.

A vague glow appeared above them after they’d traveled two miles. It grew gradually, bringing with it a smell Cassius could never have imagined finding in the void.

“That’s burning wood!” Atropos exclaimed.

They scaled the rest of the incline at a run. The sight that met their eyes when they reached the summit drew a gasp from them both.

The land dipped before them, forming a hollow three hundred feet wide. A fire crackled in the middle. The soft light it emitted washed across the two figures sitting beside it.

One was a handsome, dark-haired man with an affable countenance.

Relief clogged Cassius’s throat as he gazed upon the second figure. “Loki!”

He bolted down the embankment. The imp looked around. His crimson eyes rounded.

He jumped to his feet. “Ca—Cassius?!”

He darted toward him and jumped into his waiting arms.

Cassius shuddered and hugged Loki tightly. “I’m so glad you’re safe!”

The imp cried and whimpered, his claws scraping Cassius’s armor like he never wanted to let go. It took a moment for Cassius to realize Atropos wasn’t with them. He turned and found the Goddess frozen at the top of the ridge still.

Her eyes were locked on the man next to the fire. “Hypnos?!”

* * *

Atropos’s heartthundered violently against her ribs.

Elios’s twin stared at her with a puzzled expression, the shadows making up his inky robes fluttering a little around him. “Do I know you?”

Atropos’s stomach curdled. Hypnos’s blank face told her he wasn’t faking his ignorance.

She navigated the slope on trembling legs. Cassius put Loki down and followed her, his hand wrapped tightly around the imp’s.

“He rescued me when I fell into the void,” Loki explained guardedly. “He couldn’t tell me his name.” He glanced worriedly at Atropos. “Is he really Elios’s twin?”

Atropos nodded, her mouth full of ash.How is this even possible?! I thought he must have died the day the Nether tore!