Page 50 of Thorn & Ash

Leonidas jumped backward just in time, but one of Evander’s wings swept forward, obscuring Leonidas’s vision for long enough for Evander to sink his claws into his leg.

Leonidas fell to his knees with a scream that echoed in the forest.

For good measure, Evander slashed at the other leg, too, just to ensure he couldn’t hobble away. It was the least he deserved, after centuries of bullying and assaulting Evander.

“Explain,” Evander snarled.

“It was a lie!” Leonidas screeched. “It—we didn’t poison anything. The river was already poisoned. Some—some darkness has been seeping into the realm for a while now. Aidoneus only took credit for it to make Cyrus panic.”

Evander frowned. “So you did nothing?”

“Nothing,” Leonidas insisted. “We would never knowingly destroy our home. It was all a bluff.”

Evander turned his head to stare at Marcellus, who was climbing to his feet. The older brother wiped blood from his chin and nodded slowly. “He speaks the truth.” His voice was a low rasp.

“So what is happening?” Evander demanded. “What is this darkness you speak of?”

“Aidoneus said he recognized it from eons ago but wouldn’t tell us what it was,” Leonidas said quickly. “He only said it came from Tartarus and must’ve been unleashed when Cyrus bound himself to the Book of Eyes.”

Evander’s brows knitted together. That was ages ago. Had this darkness been creeping through the realm since then, merely biding its time before it struck?

And why now? Why was this the opportune time to take over the Underworld?

“Many souls escaped Tartarus when Cyrus went to the mortal realm,” Marcellus said. “Aidoneus speculates whatever thing is attacking this realm must’ve escaped during then, too, and was too powerful for Cyrus to send back.”

Gods above, Evander thought, his body stiff with horror. What the hell could’ve escaped from Tartarus and escaped their notice for so long?

How long before it devoured this realm entirely?

“That’s all we know,” Leonidas said, pressing against the wounds in his legs. “I swear it on my life.”

“I believe you,” Evander said, though it wasn’t completely true. He wouldn’t put it past Leonidas to withhold vital information. He was always far too cunning for his own good.

“Please, Evander,” Marcellus said, his palms raised. “We don’t have any quarrel with you.”

Evander raised his eyebrows. Marcellus was practically begging. The thought made him want to laugh. “No quarrel with me? Is that why you tormented me for eons, beating me and belittling me?” He shook his head, his eyes narrowing. “I should rip your limbs apart.” He cocked his head as he considered doing just that, if only to hear their screams. “But unfortunately, I have more important things to do… like clean up this mess everyone seems content with ignoring.” He shook his head in disgust, for once seeing his brothers for what they were: cowards. They were over here, hiding and scheming, instead of doing whatever it took to save their home.

Evander was finished with it. He was done with hiding and cowering, avoiding others out of fear. No longer would he succumb wordlessly to their cruelty. He was power and vengeance now.

He felt nothing but grim determination as he spread his wings. Before he could take off, leaving his brothers to lick their wounds, the ground began to quiver.

Evander froze, his gaze flicking to Leonidas and Marcellus, who both looked equally bewildered. The trembling intensified, causing the trees to shake. Several branches snapped, landing with a loud crash among the brush. The earth cracked with an ear-splitting boom that made Evander’s ears ring.

Pebbles and dust rained from above. Evander squinted up at the sky, baffled by the flecks of dirt falling from… where?

“Gods above,” Leonidas breathed. “The enchantment. Look.”

Evander followed his gaze and felt bile climb up his throat.

The sky was no longer blue. It was a cold gray, the color of storm clouds. It had a roughened texture to it as if it were made of stone instead of magic.

The sky had never been real; Evander had known this. And yet, there was something about seeing the enchantment die that cast a horrifying light on his home.

It wasn’t real. None of this was real; the trees, the grass, the smells… It was all an illusion.

And now, that illusion was falling apart.

“What the hell is happening?” Marcellus bellowed.