Read Online Chosen by Sable Grace - Free Book Online Page B

alive and growing stronger, it’s never been more important that you focus. You said in there that it was time you started acting like a goddess. I think you’ve done well so far, but I do agree it’s time for you to step up and learn all you can.”
    That didn’t help her figure out what the hell to do with her wayward pups, but Kyana was too tired to argue.
    Artemis, it seemed, was not at all too tired for lecturing, however. “I’ve let you slide on overseeing matters of fertility. I still have enough power within me to see to that task while you train in the proper ways to hunt. But eventually, even that will become too difficult for me. Learn all you can to defeat Cronos so I can finally retire, mm?”
    â€œWell, certainly. No problemo. Easy breezy.” Kyana worried at her lip, trying to figure out a way to broach the subject of her own fertility with Artemis, but Ryker’s sudden appearance at the gates diverted her attention. He looked upset, all but sprinting in their direction, followed by the sentinels who’d come for him.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked when he was within hearing distance.
    He stopped, barely out of breath. “War. The Castillo’s under attack.”

Chapter Nine
    T here was no denying Cronos’s return any longer, but having the very headquarters of the Order of Ancients attacked after so many weeks of peace was like reopening a wound that had finally started to heal.
    And there was only one question playing over and over in Ryker’s mind now. What good was being a god if he couldn’t stop things like this from happening?
    It had never been more vital that they all learn what they were meant to know about their new positions—most especially Ryker. The others were going to look to him and Zeus for guidance and answers, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to let them down.
    For a moment, he thought about calling for Geoff and Silas to join them outside Artemis’s temple. Perhaps their small group could come up with a plan of action without him having to alert the others to what had happened. But as quickly as the idea had come, he decided against it. They needed all hands on deck right away. Keeping any of the deities in the dark would serve no one but Cronos.
    He rubbed at the knot burning his shoulder, listening to Artemis and Kyana talking over each other to question him. He had no idea what to tell them. He only knew that the Order of Ancients’ headquarters in the human world had been attacked. That people had died.
    He said as much.
    â€œHow many?” Artemis asked.
    â€œSeveral of theirs. A few of ours. Some of the fort’s structure was weakened. The uninjured are working to reinforce it again.”
    As he spoke, his anger slipped out of his grasp, threatening to unearth the columns supporting Kyana’s temple.
    â€œThey had to have been newly born Dark Breeds,” Kyana said. “Novi. No one who’s been around more than a decade would be stupid enough to strike at the heart of the fort unless they had a full army at their backs. They tried when Hell first opened and were slaughtered.”
    â€œDefinitely wasn’t a full army,” he muttered. “Ares’s new general is on his way. He’ll have more information.”
    As though on cue, a tall, dark-haired man appeared at Kyana’s gates and they swung open for his entrance. At least it wasn’t a stranger. The man who’d taken Ryker’s place as Ares’s general was someone he had served with years ago. Zach Merchant had fought by Ryker’s side in more than one rogue uprising. Since Hell’s reopening, he’d proven himself worthy of the promotion, desperate to keep his new, pregnant wife safe by ensuring the world Above remained intact.
    â€œZach.” Ryker motioned him forward. “Please tell me you know more than those asses you sent in your place.”
    Zach gave Ryker a slight bow