Astrid parked the snowmachine and came running up to him.
Her eyes were a deeper blue now that she could see.
"Is he contained?"
He nodded.
She threw herself into his arms. Zarek stumbled backward.
"Easy, princess. The only reason I'm standing and not sitting is mere strength of will."
Astrid looked past Zarek and saw Thanatos on the ground, cursing both of them. "Why didn't you kill him?"
"Not my place. Besides, I'm through being Artemis's lapdog. It's time I told the 'heifer goddess' to get lost."
Astrid went pale. "You can't just leave, Zarek. She'll kill you."
He smiled grimly. "Let her try. I'm in the mood to fight." He snorted at that. "Then again, I'm always in the mood to fight."
Astrid held her breath at his words. They gave her hope.
"What about us?" she asked.
For the first time she could see the anguish on his face as he looked at her, see the pain in his midnight eyes. "There is no us, princess. There never was."
Astrid opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, her mother appeared with Sasha, who was in his human form.
Astrid gave her a droll look. "You're a little late, Mom."
"Blame your sisters. Atty told me to stay put. I came as soon as she would let me."
Sasha curled his lip at Zarek who glared back at him.
"Sorry, Scooby, I'm all out of LivaSnaps."
Sasha curled his lips. "I really hate you."
Zarek gave him a matching sneer. "Feeling's entirely mutual."
Themis ignored the men as she addressed Astrid. "Have you judged him, daughter?"
"He's innocent." She pointed to Thanatos, who was still cursing them. "There's the proof of his mercy and humanity."
An ear-piercing shriek sounded. It was followed by total silence.
"What the hell was that?" Zarek asked.
"Artemis," Astrid said in unison with her mother and Sasha.
Themis sighed. "I wouldn't want to be in Acheron's place tonight."
"Why?" Zarek asked.
It was Sasha who answered. "Never piss off a goddess. There's no telling what she'll do to him for getting you off the hook."
Zarek felt ill as he remembered some of the things Acheron had said to him in the past that hinted at the fact Artemis took her anger out on him. "She doesn't really punish him?"
The looks on their faces gave him the truth.