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Wraith and Thanatos bantered all the way to the entrance, followed by Ares, and Limos and Arik brought up the rear. Just before they entered through the massive steel doors, Arik stopped her.

“Hey.” He tucked his mask under one arm and cupped her cheek with his hand. “I don’t know what we’ll find in there, but I want you to know I have your back.”

Dipping his head, he kissed her. His warm lips were so velvety, and it never failed to surprise her that a male as powerful and hard-bodied as he was possessed such softness and was capable of such tenderness. She loved the contradiction, loved how it made her feel even more.

“Ahem.”

The sound of a throat clearing broke off the kiss, and Limos turned to see Ares holding the door open and giving Arik the evil eye. Fortunately, Than and Wraith had already entered. Wraith would probably have gotten off on making fun of them, and Than might have tried to drown Arik again. Never mind that there was no water around. She’d seen Than drown a man in his own blood before.

Cheeks stinging with heat, she gave Arik a shy smile and entered the facility, where it became clear that Wraith had definitely taken care of the humans who were supposed to be monitoring the scientific equipment. They all lay unconscious in the white, tunnel-like antechamber. The heat was already oppressive, and as Ares swung open the heavy door that led to the crystal cave, the temperature went from dry desert to sauna.

Arik donned the suit’s protective face mask, while the rest of them put on the helmets with attached lights hanging on the antechamber wall. Anticipation tripped through Limos as they armored up and entered the cave that resembled a big, hollowed out snowball.

The giant crystals formed vertical and horizontal towers hundreds of feet in length and some as wide as a two-lane city street. At the very bottom, razor-sharp crystals rose up like a bed of nails. One slip, and it would be pincushion-city.

She stayed close to Arik as he eased along the crystal that formed a bridge between several points of crystal clusters. Stretching, he ran his gloved fingers over a rough crystal. “I’ll be damned. Symbols.”

Ares was behind them, his eyes searching every nook and cranny. “What do they say?”

“They’re more like directions.” Arik pointed down. “That way.”

Thanatos leaped off the crystal to another that jutted out of the side of the cave, and Wraith joined him, coming down much more lightly. But then, the demon wasn’t wearing clunky earber bone armor.

“Heights.” Arik peered over the edge. “Figures.”

“What’s the matter, human?” Than looked up, a taunting smirk on his face. Her brother really had the oddest sense of humor sometimes. “Too mortal to jump down here?”

“Nah,” Arik called out. “It’s just that your fat asses are taking up the whole ledge.”

Thanatos laughed and jumped to the next lower crystal, and before Limos could stop him, Arik launched himself, coming down next to Wraith and nearly knocking the demon off. Wraith cuffed him in the head and jumped to a ledge near Than.

Limos just tried to not have a heart attack. Arik was fearless. Or maybe insane.

She kind of liked it. “Well? Do you see another symbol?”

“Not yet.” Arik ran his hands over the crystals, and the rest of them joined him in the search.

She was beginning to lose hope when Wraith called out. “Yo, Horsepeople. I found a symbol.” He was crouching next to two huge crystals that formed an X, peering into the inch of space between them.

“How the hell did you find that?” Arik said, as he eased up to the demon. “It’s hidden.”

Wraith shrugged. “I’m good at finding shit.”

“Damn,” Arik breathed. “Glad Ky sent you. We’d never have found that.”

Wraith shoved lightly to his feet. “What? You aren’t glad I’m here for my sparkling company?”

That was something Reseph would have said, and Limos found herself smiling in remembrance. Man, she missed her brother.

Arik lowered himself to his hands and knees to peer between the crystals.