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Back Seasons of Chaos Save as PDF
Chapters (70)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. Epilogue
  66. Acknowledgments
  67. About the Author
  68. Books by Elle Cosimano
  69. Back Ad
  70. About the Publisher

“So Inevitability held power over everything—Chaos, Earth, Time . . . all of them. Chronos killed Ananke because he was afraid of her. Her magic outweighs them all. And if Ananke’s magic can be stolen and put in a snake, then it can be stolen and put in something else.” If an animal can be Ananke’s host, then so can a man. All I have to do is get my hands on that snake and draw the magic out. “With that kind of power, I can do exactly what Lyon is afraid of. I can stop the Dismantling.”

“And then what?” she asks warily.

“I can give you what you truly want . . . your sister and your magic.”

6

Alone in the Winter Rain

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JACK

My lungs are still burning from the sprint home as I step out of the shower. No matter how many plates I tack onto the bar or how many miles I run, I can’t work off the frustration. It’s anchored deep. Not in my muscles or lungs. It’s a persistent ache behind my heart, and I’m certain it’s slowly killing me.

I leave the bathroom without waiting for the fog to clear from the mirror, unable to stand the sight of myself. A stubborn smear of blood stains the towel where it brushed my neck. I couldn’t defend myself against two human assholes trying to steal my watch. That wrist monitor is my only means of keeping Fleur safe outside the villa, and if she hadn’t shown up when she did, they would have slit my throat and taken it.

I haul open a drawer and drag a fresh T-shirt over my head. My cell phone vibrates on the dresser. I scrape it toward me, scanning the notifications on the screen. An email from Lyon.

Jack,

Your visas are in the post. I’ve attached a report you should see. In light of recent events, both here and abroad, Gaia and I feel it’s best if you and Fleur reconsider your vacation plans.

I’m sorry, Jack. I’m here if you need to talk. And my offer stands. I’ve included updated passports with your visas as well as two travel vouchers, enough to cover flights from Mexico City to London, in case you change your mind about coming home.

Until our call next week,

Daniel

Professor Daniel Lyon

The Observatory, Department of Humanities