“That’s it, then? You’re literally washing your hands of us?”
Savitar shrugged. “You have a new life. You should enjoy it.”
“Until the Fates have us killed, you mean.”
Savitar had gone stock-still. “Come again?”
“The Greek Fates? Because of Apollo and Zeus, they’ve ordered all of us to be put down.”
“You should have led with that, little brother.”
“Meaning?”
Savitar smiled. “Meaning there isn’t much I wouldn’t do to make those three bitches scream in agony. Take me to your camp.”
By the time they returned, most of the Apollite-animal hybrids were dead. While Max had been gone, the guards had found their camp and slaughtered them down to a meager handful before they’d driven them off.
Disgusted by the cruel horror, Max had walked around the other newly made shapeshifters, assuring them as best he could.
“What are we to do?”
He met Savitar’s gaze.
Finally he saw the spark there that lived in his heart.
Savitar stepped forward. “As a new species, I offer you my protection. I will make it known that the Chthonians are aware of you and that no one, especially the gods, are to prey on you without repercussions.”
While Savitar dealt with the new species, Max had finally removed Illarion’s collar.
About time.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Why did you wait?
“In case we were taken, you could have passed as the prince and escaped. So long as you remained in a human body.”
Illarion shook his head as he scanned the others. We are an abomination. Are you sure we should have survived? Perhaps it would have been kinder to consign us to death.
“Perhaps. But then life isn’t kind. All we have to get through it is each other. I couldn’t stand by and watch them die.”
Illarion let out a tired sigh. Your Arel blood seriously screws you at times. What is this innate need you have to protect?
“I don’t know, but you should be glad I have it. A sane dragon would have left you behind.”
As they rounded them up, Lycaon and his army rode in to finish their slaughter.
Until the king saw Savitar. “What is the meaning of this?”
Savitar faced the king without fear. “I’m here to take them to their own lands to live.”
“You can’t do that.”
Savitar arched a brow. “You want to cross me?”
“The gods have decreed —”
“And I, as a Chthonian sworn to protect mortal life from the gods, overturn that decree.”