As soon as Hephaestus heard the words, his easygoing expression shattered. The warmth that once burned in his molten eyes dimmed, replaced by a dreadful storm that churned beneath his immortal gaze.
For a fleeting instant, the forge-god looked less like a divine smith and more like a grieving father who had just received the worst news imaginable.
Dread filled his eyes, heavy and raw, before his massive figure suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving Alex stunned.
Alex blinked, trying to process what just happened. His mind raced—one second the god was there, steady as a mountain, and the next he had disappeared as though swallowed by the void itself. Alex turned sharply toward Lina.
Her face was pale, her body trembling as she rose unsteadily to her feet. Her golden eyes, normally sharp and unwavering, flickered with raw panic.
Alex stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. His grip was firm, but his voice came out rough. "What the hell is going on?"
