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Stars poked like pinpricks through the black canvas above as we made our way to the mountains. Being in Raiden’s arms as we ran next to Thalia made me acutely aware of my mortality. The many of what I thought were near misses but were in fact carefully timed dodges from large stones, trees, or people’s houses had my adrenaline pumping. By the time we reached the snowy-peaked mountains, I was ready to collapse.
I took a minute to steady myself against a ragged stone, then sucked in a deep breath. “You could have gone a little slower.” I looked around the groove between the mountains where we stood. It was lighter here, as the snow deceivingly lit the night sky with a gray glow. The jagged edges of the stark-white mountains towered through the clouds, which misted their tips from view. “Are we?—”
Thalia extended her arms outward. “In the depths of the mountains? Yes.” She breathed in flakes of snow as they drifted toward the white blanket around our feet. “There are not many dead here. Only the occasional traveler who had died and got lost on their way to the afterlife.” She peered between two slices of rock, big enough for a person, and I shuddered, wondering who was there that I couldn’t see. “It is peaceful.”
A shiver danced through my body, making my teeth chatter. I licked my icy lips, which were numb under the heat of my tongue. “I’m mortal,” I announced, unsure if they’d forgotten. “I don’t do well with the cold.”
Raiden removed his heavy jacket and placed it around my shoulders. It was far too big, but that only went in its favor against the snow. “Better?”
I buried my chin and mouth in the black fabric, breathing in the fresh cedarwood, forest scent. “Better. Thanks.”
“Brother.” Thalia walked barefoot in the snow. Her silver cape fluttered behind her as it caught in the gusts of wind sweeping through the mountains, icing her armor. “It is here.” She swept her arms up toward an area of the mountain where rocks pointed upward in warning to any who wished to climb above them. “Our brother.”
The mountains trembled as a thunderous roar sounded through the mountains. I grabbed Raiden to keep myself up, but he swept me into his arms, catching my next breath in his throat.
“Aziel’s upset,” he said.
“He’s getting stronger.”
“He wants out. It’s what I had to do.”
Finally. “Had to do what?”
He held me tighter as the ground shook. “Let’s get him out,” he said, ignoring my question. “Before he blows a hole in the mountain.”
He handed Thalia the other key and took a step back. The trembling stopped, and he placed me down. “Stand behind me. There’s no saying what my brother will be like after all this time.”
I gulped and hid behind Raiden’s tall form. I wasn’t usually so afraid, but I was literally standing with two, about to be three, gods and one was responsible for the ground trembling throughout our province.
The portal opened into a mist of red and blazing orange. My heart skipped a beat as I peered around Raiden. Aziel stepped out and as he did, my hand tingled a magic quill.
Elle, get back here. A woman has us. She says you have something she wants and she’s going to kill us if she doesn’t get it back. Please. Naomi.
My eyes widened. The message dissolved and another tingled.
You need to get back here. Some crazed bitch has Naomi, Dora, and Edmund and she’s going to kill them. She kept asking for you and for someone called Raiden. I escaped. I’m hiding in the vaults.
I tapped Raiden’s arm. “We need to go back.” Tears swam in my eyes. “Now.” Shock erased my awareness. It was only when he spoke that I brought my attention to Aziel. He bore a striking resemblance to his brother, but his dark hair was longer, tied back into sections with bands, and his eyes were green. Tattoos covered his muscular arms, which were bare from the thick black armor he wore over his chest and shoulders. He looked as if he belonged on a battlefield and had a large scar running across an eyebrow and over one eye. I wondered how he’d got such marks when they could heal so quickly.
“Where is she?” Aziel boomed. “Where the fuck is that whore of yours?”
Raiden placed his hands on his brother’s shoulders. “It’s been a century, brother. She’s not mine anymore.”
“I’m going to tear her flesh from her bones.”
Thalia stepped in front of Aziel, moving Raiden out of the way. Her presence seemed to calm him. His balled fists uncurled, and his muscles relaxed. She spoke, her voice melodic. “Calm, brother.” She gazed into his eyes, and he stared back, transfixed. The entire thing made me uncomfortable.
“Don’t compel him,” Raiden chastised, pushing his hands into his pockets. “You swore you wouldn’t use it on us anymore.”
She clicked her tongue. “I’m just trying to calm him down.” She looked away. “Fine, let him tear down the mountain.” She pulled out a glowing dagger. “Unless you want me to use this on you again?” She teased.
Aziel growled. “What the fuck, Thalia?”
Ah. That was how he’d got the marks. I assumed, from the way it looked and glowed, it was enchanted or could hurt immortals. She sheathed it and smiled at Aziel. “Don’t be so mad. Raiden got us out. We’re back together again.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
She placed her hand on her hip. “I see your time locked away has worsened your temper.”
