The basement air felt electric, charged with the weight of truths just revealed. Ares’ knuckles whitened around his fists, Atlas’ jaw was tight, and Helena’s graceful posture was strained, her fingers curling nervously. Alina’s hand still held Maria’s, though now it trembled less — steadied by the mother she thought she had lost forever.

Lucian, chained and cornered, tried to gather some semblance of his usual arrogance, but the weight of the revelations had stripped him. No ...