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Prologue

Throughout his eternal life, Walter had witnessed countless summers, but never one as endless as this

He sat behind his glass desk, his head bowed as he read the petition before hioddesses scattered throughout the world Each vowed to stand aside and allow Cronus supre as it meant there would be no war None of them seemed to understand that they were already in the middle of one

Why would they? He and the rethe world froer When Cronus finally broke free froean Sea, the petition would be what it was: a less piece of parchment full of names of those ould be the first to die

“Daddy?”

He exhaled and straightened, prepared to scold whoever dared to disturb hihter stood in the doorway, her hair golden as the perpetual sunset poured in through the s behind Walter She was the one person he would not turn away

He set the petition aside “Ava,Is there news?”

The light gave her skin the illusion of color, but her eyes were dull and her face drawn Watching her deteriorate since the winter solstice had been theWalter had ever done, but he had no choice It was for the greater good, and for now the greater good truhter’s health

“Iris is dead,” she said, and Walter stilled A great sorrow he had not felt in centuries filled hiht seemed to darken

“How?” he said, struggling to keep his voice steady He had known sending his erous, as had Iris It ar, and there would be casualties But she had been willing to take that risk, and he had not iainst an ambassador

“Nicholas finished the weapon an hour ago,” she said “Calliope wanted to test it”

Walter pressed his lips together He hadn’t thought it possible, but his son’s skills were greater than even he had estimated “Is there a body?”

“Calliope tossed her into the ocean,” said Ava “I brought her back for a proper wake”

Sing tightly, he forced himself to nod “Very well Thank you, my dear I kno much of a risk that was for you And because of that, Iin the future”

Ava hesitated, but after all their planning, after all their gambles, he knew she could not deny him now Finally she nodded “I’m sorry”

Walter opened his arms, and Ava crossed the roohter he knew, and buried his nose in her hair “I a, but ill do e must to win Is there any news of Kate?”