We just needed to get there to find whatever there was to find.
So I bent over my horse and did my best to keep her at Apollo’s heels, thanking God Hans was really good at teaching me how to ride a horse and I’d had four months’ practice.
I knew Apollo was terrified too. But hot-guy-badass-from-another-world terror manifested itself through fury. The kind of fury that wafted off him in a way that it seemed even the breeze was too scared of him to show up.
But I kept on his heels as dusk of the next day moved into a dark evening and we finally galloped through the village where I’d spent the night at The Swan.
The village outside Karsvall.
Ten minutes later, we galloped up a pine edged lane and I saw it.
Illumination, and it wasn’t the moon.
We came out into a clearing and Apollo didn’t slow so I didn’t either. But I did see that torches and barrels of fire were all around, lighting the space. There were lots of horses. Lots of sleighs. Lots of men. And also a big house I didn’t take in but I did take in the fact that a light was burning in every window.
This was not a good sign.
Apollo reined in and I did the same beside him at the front door.
And I saw that there were bodies lined up in the blood spattered snow.
My eyes frantically slid over them, and although a couple of them were face down, none of them were faces I knew.
I had no time to feel this relief. Suddenly I was yanked from my saddle.
Apollo had his hands on my waist and he was tugging me down. When he had me on my feet, he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the house, barking, “My children?”
“They’re fine, Lo.” I heard Achilles say. “They’re in Élan’s room—”
He said no more as Apollo pushed through him and kept dragging me behind him. I had half a mind to at least aim a relieved smile at Achilles as Apollo pulled us by but I had to keep up and watch my footing so I had no shot.
It was a good plan because, in no time at all, I was going up stairs.
Then down a hall.
Then I was being hauled into a bright room, and with his hand firm in mine jerking me into his side, I came to a halt, lifted my eyes and caught sight of the children in the bed.
My systems shut down instantly.
All I could do was see.
A boy, I knew he was eight, almost nine. A girl I knew who was six.
They were all Apollo, the girl a female version, a very cute, very pretty female version, but they both were all him. No red hair. No brown eyes. No freckles.
Dark thick hair. Olive toned skin.
Jade eyes.
They were beautiful.
Beautiful.
My heart started bleeding.
The boy was in bed with the girl, holding her close, and she was trembling so badly, she shook her brother and I could see the tassels on the canopy on her bed shaking as well.
She was petrified, her face saturated with it.