PROLOGUE

Yaung Chi, the God of Courage, sat among the trees, staring at the stars and brooding in frustration. All his careful plans were on the verge of collapse. He had risked the forbidden in a desperate bid to save Sapientia and himself, the only Gods still alive. What choice did he have? Time was running out, as most of the machines that had sustained them for millennia no longer worked. Once the few remaining ones failed, the age of the Gods would end, and everything they had stood for would be lost forever. This last gamble had to succeed. 

He couldn’t help replaying everything that had gone wrong, starting with Spero. That damn reptile is ignoring my commands, blocking me again, and leaving me blind. He’s developed a mind of his own. I should never have given him such powerful enhancements. I’m supposed to be a God, controlling everything, yet I can’t even control one of my creations. Without my link to him, I have no idea where Jayden is or what he’s doing. Sapientia always said I was far too rash for my own good. She’ll be furious when I tell her what I’ve done. Only a successful outcome will mollify her. 

Yaung Chi was determined to save his plan, whatever the cost. Protecting Jayden was the key, but it was easier said than done with so few tools left at his disposal. I don’t care if Jayden is captured, but I can’t let him die before he turns twenty-five, when his enhancement reaches full strength. Everything rests on his blood saving what’s left of us. If this blows up in my face, Sapientia will never forgive me! She may kill me herself!

*****

Jamarian Veturius grew increasingly nervous as day after day passed without word of success from Hirpa. Consus Dio’s timely switch of allegiances offered a golden opportunity to recapture the Regenerator much earlier than he’d imagined. An overwhelming force of Gray Hearts had been sent to the safe house near Hirpa. Taj was among them and would be able to sense the quetza carrying Jayden from a remarkable distance. How could so many Gray Hearts fail? The only wild card was that incredible nemisaur, which seemed able to reach even farther. So far, the boy, aided by the surprisingly resourceful Cambiati, had eluded his warriors more than once. He couldn’t afford to let it happen again, not with the patricians circling him like hungry velociraptors.

Nevertheless, Jamarian was confident the noose was tightening. Even if the boy slips away again, where can he go with Storm Season so close, without a quetza and without help from the local Cambiati? He’ll be back in my hands soon enough, and all my dreams will come true. With him by my side, I’ll take my rightful place among the greatest Imperators.

*****

Zafir Folsius was troubled as he strapped himself onto Atticus’s quetza. The Purple had arrived to pick him up without detecting any of the Gray Legion’s quetzas that should have been flooding Raetia in search of Jayden. That was unexpected. Zafir couldn’t help but fear the worst. Could they have been recalled already? If so, what could it mean? Has something gone wrong? Has Jamarian recaptured Jayden? If so, what has he done with my children?

His mind wouldn’t settle during the long flight to Lemonia. His first act upon arrival would be to send a messenger reptile to Consus Dio to confirm Jayden was safe at the hunting lodge. Only a positive response would ease his fears. He tried not to dwell on the worst-case scenario. If Jamarian had Jayden, the news would spread quickly across the empire, shattering his plans and changing everything. His anxiety mounted with each passing mile. The Regenerator was the key. Without Jayden, all his hopes would collapse.