tion burned wi

ured from Marcus like water from a broken dam, mel

trol it. The mark had taken over, a

e cut through the chaos

him, flooding out, searchi

im. A mortal body cannot contain a god's essenc

kin was too hot. His heart beat too fast.

us gasped, fall

eside Marcus. Lightning erupted from the weapon, forming a circle around

e. "The mark is not your enemy. It is responding to yo

s vision blurred. Blood ran fr

said simply. "And Ares's gif

that word before, whispered in Viktor's basement, mutte

hell. Had jumped from a building and lived. Ha

not a

listened to it. Felt it. The rage was not his own. It was Ares's

Ares had not marked him out of cruelty. The god had seen Ma

ur

ed that thre

tly, it began to flow back into his skin. The symbo

d. Not gone. Jus

apsed, gasp

studied Marcus with new interest. "Impressive. Most morta

t mortals," a

one t

s pockets, looking completely out of place among the destruction. His face

were pu

r tone wary. "What brings

wn, his shoes somehow never touching the rubble. "The Greek Council has

said. "He needs time to a

inally looked at Marcus, his silver eyes unreadable. "The Council believes

"That is insane. I was human. Po

"Which is why you will come explain your

ifying into her human form. "The Norse wil

hich was four minutes ago. The mortal survived. His debt to the

"I have offered him sanctuary

es your personal claims." Hermes smiled, sharp and danger

cus thought she might actually fight. The

ns. But remember, the Council does not summon m

ded his hand

t the Vesper who watched with hungry eyes. He had

would hunt him. At least the Cou

ook Herm

rld tw

r carved from white marble, columns reaching toward a ceiling lost in shadows. Thr

remained of the pantheon

enter, the largest throne, sat a man whose presenc

e

of th

stand accused of deicide. Of murdering Ares, god of wa

ber fix on him. Felt the weight o

word, and

plead that I am telling the truth. Ares marked me with his

le

with hate. "Lies. My brother would never mark a morta

witness," Ze

nd of the chamber. Guards

lve years old, di

s heart

from the Crimson Nigh

aid to the girl. "Tell us what

t Marcus, her eye

she s

he god. I sa