Free The Beginning of the End (Universe in Flames Book 4) by Christian Kallias Page B

amulet.”
    “And you also saw the future?”
    “I saw something. It did feel like the future. Furies came to Earth.”
    “That’s almost certainly happening at one point or another. Do you still have the amulet?”
    “Nope. I had to break it in order save Argos’ life when we fought the Titan.”
    “And save Sarah’s in the process.”
    “Yes, otherwise I would have gladly let Argos be crushed.”
    “The things we do for love.”
    “You can say that again.”
    “Rest, Chase, we’ll talk more in the coming days.”
    “Ares?”
    “Yes.”
    “See if you can arrange a meeting with Zeus, will you?”
    “I’ll see what I can do. You should try to train more when you get back to Earth.”
    “I intend to train relentlessly, in fact. Something tells me that Argos is no longer the strongest enemy I will have to face.”
    “What makes you think that?”
    “I don’t know, and that worries me, but I can feel it in my bones.”
     
    *   *   *
     
    Miseo walked into Argos’ ready room without so much as an announcement.
    “We need to talk.”
    “Evidently. What happened to my ship?”
    “It’s being digested by a black hole your brother created on the battlefield.”
    “How did that happen?”
    “Somehow he mustered enough strength to not only block a full powered plasma shot from your destroyer but to send it back towards it. In doing so a black hole appeared in space.”
    Laiyos really is a formidable warrior. I don’t think I could have done that.
    “That’s impressive.”
    “Too much for a low-class Fury. What are you two hiding?”
    “I can’t speak for my brother, but I’m not hiding anything.”
    “Aren’t you two twins? Shouldn’t you have the same powers; or at very least similar strength?”
    “We definitely don’t share similar powers, and as difficult as it is for me to admit it, he’s stronger than me. On two occasions he defeated me and had me at death’s door.”
    “And yet you’re still alive.”
    “That’s only because I had the right bargaining chip.”
    “Which is?”
    “Was. I had his lover hostage.”
    “And you let her go? You fool!”
    “My letting her go is the reason you’re breathing air in this universe now, no offense.”
    “In that case I might have spoken hastily.”
    “You must take that from your father.”
    “I suggest you watch your tone, Argos. While I’m more inclined to listen to what you have to offer than my father is, do not make the fatal mistake of disrespecting him in front of me a second time.”
    Showing your true colors.
    “Duly noted. I’m sorry if I let my anger get the better of me.”
    “Why would you be angry?”
    “You have to be joking, right? I’ve devoted most of my life to freeing my people from their prison and as a thank you I almost got killed for it today.”
    “My father had no intention of killing you. He doesn’t respond well to insubordination, however, as you have witnessed. And neither do I.”
    “What insubordination?”
    “Don’t play coy with me, Argos. We asked you to destroy the Iron Fire and you put up a show, but we both know you could have eradicated that ship. Instead you let it escape. I would like to know why?”
    “I don’t think you’d understand.”
    “Try me.”
    “I gave my word to Laiyos I’d let him go in exchange for his help acquiring both the Pandora stone as well as providing an Olympian sacrifice to break the dimensional hold on Erevos.”
    Miseo looked at the machine on the corner of the room where Aphroditis stood.
    “That’s the one?”
    “Yes. In exchange for his actions, and after carefully orchestrating a scenario where he could not refuse my help, I let his precious Sarah go and gave my word I would not destroy his ship.”
    “I understand.”
    What? Argos’ expression changed.
    “You seemed surprised, Argos.”
    “I am.”
    “You value your word. It’s an honorable quality and I respect that. But never forget the chain of command. Even if it clashes with your