s moved through C

plagued him for months was gone, replaced by something fierce and unfamilia

The leader, the one with the blue glowing eyes, kept glancing back at

oing?" Marcus a

" the warrior said. "My name is Bjo

ther. You

y had reached an old subway entrance, chains stretched a

ended into darkness, boots echoing on cracked tile. The air grew

tom, reali

from ice and stone. A great hall stretched before them, pillars reaching into

not Chica

jorn said. "One of many doors t

that. Nothing f

eather armor reinforced with silver, a sword strapped to her ba

Ares's curse," she said, circling M

onths, Sigrun," Bjorn repl

xamining him like livestock. "The mark is there. I can feel it. But it is wild. Un

decision to make,"

It is

thunder. The warriors dropped to one kn

us t

ted from him like heat from a forge. One eye blazed gold. The other was covered by a leather

Allfathe

ow, to show submission. But another part of him,

gle eye. "Interesting. The god of war's final gift. T

, his voice stead

ild and certain death. Ares saw that. In his final moments, as Greek and Egyptian gods tore him apart, he cho

e. Screaming. A little girl trapped beneath rubble. He had pulled her

"Neither do the Egyptians. But the Vesper discovered yo

for any of this

Marcus Chen. The pantheons have maintained uneasy peace for centuries, carving territ

hat have to

d. That makes you a weapon. A symbol. Whoever controls you controls a ra

ld. "So I am j

eamed. "But to me, you are an

e is not ready. The mark is unstab

ity apart looking for him. The Greeks will join her hunt once they

w?" Marcus

d, cold and

h other, some agreeing, others protesting. Marcus stood

ne cage only to

hand. Silence

st. If Marcus survives, he earns his freedom and our protec

d worried.

her find him. Marcus will have one hour to evade her in the city

trap closing. "A

ourselves," Sigrun said. "At l

ing eye. "Choose, mortal. Prove you deserv

was still th

o survive a g

ounding him, at Odin's cold calcul

t. Of six months in chains. Of

r ag

o it," Ma

"Good. The ga