Fates and Furies (The Sphinx Book 4)

by Raye Wagner

“I worry you’ll wake up one day and realize how much better you could do than me.” She opened her mouth to protest, but his next words took her breath away. “That’s my insecurity, and it has nothing to do with you or how you treat me. You are beautiful, kind, and faithful. I love you.”

Hope stared at the god who had cursed her family. His fanatical declaration made no sense, but it was clear, as evidenced by the colossal amount of death surrounding them, that he was sincere.

“Chaos is more than a lack of pattern. It is complete disarray or confusion.”

“Being afraid is a feeling.” He mirrored her, bracing his back with his bag. “Acting afraid is a choice.”

“It will take significant power to change the course Apollo has set for her. And to set the answer in stone would be to remove the very thing she is fighting for. But she has all she needs to accomplish her goal.” Her features softened. “You have shown me much kindness, Athan Michael. Someday, I will do what I can to repay your kindness.”

Chaos was more than the first deity. He was the actual matter, and his children . . . “Erebus is darkness. Chaos gave him the power of unpredictability, pandemonium, and turmoil. His power is vast and insatiable, and it surrounds us. It is the natural inclination of all creation to default to the madness of Erebus because the insanity of dark feeds itself.” Nyx took a deep breath. “In an attempt to provide survival, Chaos created a daughter, someone to balance the disorder of darkness. Night is the epitome of organized darkness. It is predictable and orderly, functioning on a regular system. It provides consistency and stability. That is the true meaning behind my name.” “And each of my children was created to provide order or balance. That is their power and their responsibility, and we hold each other accountable for it.”

“Love isn’t about deserving. It’s about choice.”

“But you have to know this is only the wrapping. Which, don’t get me wrong, is quite stunning. But you are far more than a pretty face.”

There had been lots of lessons from the son of Ares over the years, but the lesson he taught by example was the one he’d sealed with his life; Courage wasn’t the absence of fear. It was action in spite of it. So Athan would choose courage.