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pissing her off. How could these gods and goddesses, who hated being thought of as fictional myths, ever allow themselves to disbelieve anything ? Especially when it might involve unleashing Hell on Earth? If they’d taken any of the legends about the key seriously, the world wouldn’t be in such a chaotic state right now.
    “We see now how foolish we were not to have assumed Cronos would have made a similar key for the Underworld,” Artemis said. “Even Hades was never told. The lock wasn’t found until after the key had been turned. Our only blessing is that Cronos didn’t have time to snatch this one as well when he was exiled.”
    Which brought up a damned fine point. Unless Cronos had known his exile was coming, how had he known to grab the key in the first place? Kyana glanced at the Sisters, then back to Artemis, going out of her way to completely ignore Ryker looming beside her.
    Artemis raised an eyebrow. “You have questions you’re afraid to ask in front of them?”
    This time she looked at Ryker before focusing on Artemis again. “Perhaps we should have this meeting in private.”
    “What is said between us will not leave this cave.”
    “All right, then. Are you sure Cronos took the key with him?”
    “What are you suggesting?”
    She didn’t know which sister had asked the question, and didn’t take her gaze off Artemis to find out.
    Artemis raised her hand for silence. “Let her talk. At this point, it’s safe to say we can’t rule out anything.”
    “Or anyone,” Kyana mumbled.
    How the hell did she find a key no one knew existed, who took it, or who might have it now? She hunted people , or at least beings with scents. She was not a freaking metal detector. She paced the cave, allowing her mind to run through several possible scenarios. First option, Cronos took the key, he died, someone found it and used it. Didn’t really make sense to her since no one knew of the bloody thing.
    Second option, Cronos made a friend, told him about the key before he died, and the new friend used it. Didn’t fit either. Even the need for revenge wasn’t enough to make a lunatic think opening Tartarus was a good idea. Kyana rolled her neck, letting the bones crack and ease the tension. Third option made her skin itch.
    “Where was Cronos sent? Was anyone ever seen with him? Inhabitants of the island maybe?”
    Artemis shook her head. “Informants were sent to check on him at intervals until his death was reported. They never spoke of seeing anyone else.”
    “What are you thinking?” Ryker’s voice flitted over Kyana’s ear and made her head pound. Why the hell was he here anyway? She shot him a glare and rolled the possible scenarios over and over in her mind.
    The itch beneath her skin intensified. Someone had warned Cronos of his pending exile, allowing him time to seize the key to Tartarus. That meant Cronos had loyal followers at the time. Followers who could have passed down the truth about that key to later generations.
    But why open Tartarus? What did anyone hope to gain by unleashing a mass of Dark Breeds on the humans? The conversation between the Fates rang in Kyana’s mind. The Chosen were being assassinated.
    She looked to Clotho. “Three states in America were untouched by the demons that broke out,” she continued. “Nebraska, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. Why?”
    Clotho’s wide eyes looked ready to pop from her head. “Because—”
    “Because there were no Chosen on your list in those areas.” Satisfied that her accusation was finally being taken seriously, Kyana smiled. “Someone is trying to stop us from replacing all of you. Opening Tartarus was just a distraction. People are dying, yes, but your Chosen are being picked off with precision that can’t be coincidental. The breakout and the murders are tied together. I’m positive.”
    Ryker cleared his throat. “The only way that’s possible is if the person who opened Hell also came here and saw the names of the