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Neeka winced as Maximus took a swing at Rathbone, missed, and tripped over his own feet. He came up swinging, missed again, and shouted vile insults. Rathbone just stood there, accepting the abuse.
When the kid quieted, the King of Agonies asked, “We’ll take a break, and you can tell me why you ceased aging.”
Ohhhh. Yes, please do. She returned her gaze to the boy, her superior harpy eyesight allowing her to easily read his lips.
“Hera paid a sorceress. Said she’d keep me at peak stupidity, so I’d impregnate anyone willing to climb into my bed. Which you would’ve figured out already if you had cared enough to visit.”
Rathbone flinched. “I was unaware of your existence.”
“Excuses!” Maximus took another swing. And missed. The cursing started up again.
“Did you do it? Impregnate anyone?”
“Not for lack of trying,” the kids replied, smug. “My little swimmers are too powerful. Eggs get ravaged.”
“Boo! Hiss!” Neeka threw a handful of lightly salted corn kernels at her family. “That’s disgusting, young man.”
Rathbone pinched the bridge of his nose. “Break time is over. The urge to hit you is too strong.”
Okay, back to business. “What should we offer Hades in exchange for a hobnob with Siobhan?” she asked Reflection.
“So relaxing is nixed? Just like that? Okay.”
“What about a coupon for one free makeover?”
“Maybe?” Reflection spread her arms. “I’ve tried reaching out, hoping to bypass Hades altogether, but it’s been a no go. I mean, she’s in a mirror, and I’m in a mirror, so there’s got to be a way to intersect.”
If you wish to save everyone, Neeka, you need onlyspeak with the girl in the mirror.Did Siobhan have a bead on the missing bones? Or something else?Did sheownthe bones?And dang it, who had spoken those words to Neeka in the first place, and why? How was the deaf girl supposed to make a voice identification?
“Maybe a coupon to find Hades his one true love, too,” she mused.
Cherry... Crimson... Scarlet Avenger handed his son a dagger and demonstrated a basic move, his muscles rippling. Mmm. Maybe relaxing wasn’t a bad idea. “I’m gonna get me some of that first.”
Professor Hotness glanced up, as if he’d heard her words, and winked. She preened and waved like a schoolgirl with a crush.
“I miss single Neeka. She was enamored of me,” Reflection muttered.
A soft smile played at the corners of Neeka’s mouth. The expression on Rathbone’s face—she snorted. He looked as if he’d sucked on a lemon as Maximus continued punching the blade through the air, grinning like a toddler with a new toy.
The desire to be with them proved too strong to ignore. “Excuse me a bit,” she said, setting her bowl aside.
Wings stiffening, she prepared to drop and join the festivities. A vision stopped her, barging into her mind without warning. She jerked as the world around her faded...hmm. The landscape remained mostly the same, with only slight differences.
She saw the field beneath the balcony, where Rathbone and Maximus were practicing. Except, in the vision, Rathbone wasn’t there; Maximus stood alone, staring with horror at... She tracked the line of his gaze and gasped. He watched Rathbone and Neeka.
A wealth of arrows protruded from future Neeka’s chest. Her consort held her limp form in his arms, feeding her blood and shouting commands at her.
Her heart thudded. Not because of her multitude of injuries, but Rathbone. He was so absorbed by her condition, he didn’t notice Azar. The Astra materialized behind Maximus and captured the kid in a choke hold.
Azar called, “There’s nothing you can do to keep me from your kingdom, Majesty. No place you or those you protect are safe.”
Future Rathbone’s head whipped up. Aggression radiated from him as he clocked the danger to his son.
“You have twenty-four hours to give me the orb, or I will execute the lad,” Azar continued. “I look forward to hearing from you.” He flashed away, taking his prize with him.
The vision morphed, whisking days ahead, revealing—No! No, no, no. Tremors cascaded through Neeka’s limbs. Maximus lay on a stone altar, a gaping hole in his chest. Azar towered on one side of him, resolved, and Rathbone towered on the other, grief-stricken. Tears streaked his cheeks, and the sight nearly broke her.
“You should have given me what I sought,” the Astra said.
