Nevah leaned back on the tower as he watched the ship sail into the harbor.

  After a millennium, it was child's play for him to walk into another God’s city without them knowing he was there. Especially one that belonged to one of his descendants, not that there were many of them around.

  Very few of his children left the safety of his city and even fewer tried to start their own. Vowler had been an anomaly and her choosing this city had been in direct defiance of his advice. To make matters worse, she’d openly challenged the Primus, which had ultimately left him unable to save her.

  Shadows parted as his great-granddaughter stepped onto the roof and looked down at him. The pale woman glared at him as she fixed the strands of brown hair that clung to the residual static form the portal.

  “I have my own city to run.” Chouz, the Goddess of Midnight huffed. “Iver has made it very clear that he doesn’t want to work for you, so why did you summon us?”

  “Shh.” The pale woman to his left held a finger up to her lips. “G-Pa is watching the sunrise.”

  “He’s not even looking in the right direction!” Chouz fumed at her cousin. “And stop being a suck-up, Corac. We both know that you’re not that innocent.”

  The white-haired woman frowned as she looked up at the woman standing over them. “But I’m the Goddess of Innocence.”

  “Just because that’s your domain doesn’t make it true.” Chouz pointed at her ancestor. “You’ve got his bloodline just like the rest of us.”

  “Girls, please.” Nevah motioned at the ship limping towards the harbor. “I asked you both to come here so I could show you the newest member of our family.”

  “Trent’s kid?” The dark-haired woman grumbled. “I got the memo. What’s so special about him?”

  “He killed a Sea Dragon.” Nevah grinned.

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  “So?” Chouz shook her head. “You and I have both killed more than one of those God eaters.”

  “And we had an army.” Nevah turned his head so he could look up at her. “He did it with just a team of first years.”

  “Their skills are stronger when they fight against us.” Corac mused. “It’s an easier fight for the young.”

  “You’re not wrong.” Nevah laughed. “But would either of you survive against one of those when you were a first year?”

  “I could have done it.” Chouz folded her arms across her chest.

  Nevah chuckled and looked over at the pale woman lounging next to him.

  “No.” Corac shook her head. “I was too inexperienced.” She took a deep breath, But I’m not a fighter.”

  “True.” Nevah patted her head. Her calm demeanor was one of the things that he loved about her the most.

  “So why go to this length to protect him?” Chouz grumbled. “We’ve both got kids who you could have chosen to promote that would gladly join your cause.”

  “He’ll join.” Nevah looked back at his ferocious descendant. “Eventually, he’s going to realize that being a part of our alliance is the best way for him to protect those he cares about, but I don’t think he’s got enough to lose just yet.”

  “So what? You want her to seduce some innocent little Goddesses for him?” Chouz spat.

  “I don’t seduce girls for men.” Corac huffed. “And my girls are off limits anyway.”

  “Ladies.” Nevah shook his head. “I wanted you here because a war is coming.” He pointed at the palace in the center of the city. “Iver is making moves that will put him in the path of the Primus and once they learn of what he’s doing, the Primus will use that as an excuse to cull back the Gods who would stand against them.”

  “Idiot.” Chouz spat. “We’re not getting dragged into this because of him, are we?” She glared at the palace for a moment before looking back down at Nevah. “Because I’ll drag him out of his city and desolate him myself before I let him pull me into one of his temper tantrums.”

  “I’m handling that part of it.” Nevah sighed. “Things would be so much easier if we could all get along, but in all my years, I’ve never seen that happen, but…” He motioned down at the ship. “I think Atlas is the first person who could bring everyone together… once the dust settles.”

  “You want the war.” Corac whimpered.

  “No, but it’s inevitable.” Nevah sighed as she stroked her long, white hair. Despite her age, he still saw her as the little girl that needed to be comforted at night after she’d had a bad dream. “But that’s why I want the two of you to get ready. Fortify your cities and stay out of the conflict as much as you can and when the time is right…” He pointed at the ship. “We put all our hope on Atlas’s shoulders.”

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