Page 4 of Oak & Ember

Pandora stiffened, snapping out of her reverie and fixing a glare on Sol. “What?”

“Did you hear me?” His voice was slow, as if she were dim-witted.

What an ass.

“Of course I heard you,” she snapped. “And no, it didn’t escape my notice. My realm was destroyed by this magic, so I’m well aware of what has transpired.”

Sol’s mouth fell open. “The Underworld is…”

“Gone, yes. The magic swallowed it up.”

He shook his head. “No. It can’t be. We would have felt it. An entire realm destroyed? That would have impacted our realm, too.”

Pandora rolled her eyes. “You lot are so consumed by your revelry and festivities that I doubt you would even notice if all the realms were ripped apart.”

“Our gods’ blood is linked to that realm,” Sol said, his tone taking on a harsh edge. “Whatever you may think of us, you cannot deny that connection.”

“Me, deny that connection? Well, that’s rich, since you glorious Elysium gods never deigned to grace us with your distinguished presence. Not once.”

Sol groaned. “Don’t start with this, Trivia. You know full well that we cannot safely dwell among your kind for too long.”

Your kind. Like she was some demonic species. She opened her mouth to argue, rage mounting within her, when he raised a hand to silence her, as if she were a servant he could command.

“I need to see Apollo,” Sol said, all business now. “He must know about this development.”

“It’s not a development,” Pandora snapped. “It’s a realm full of people and creatures that don’t exist anymore.”

She didn’t have to force emotion into her voice; it was already there. Inside, her heart twisted at the thought of the innocent lives that had been taken because of what she’d unleashed in the Underworld. She’d grown up there; she’d known firsthand that it wasn’t all bad. There had been people there—human souls, even demons—who had been kind to her.

Including her own sisters.

But the Underworld also represented the cage she’d been forced into. The prison where her mother had abandoned her. The loneliness and solitude of growing up as an unwanted, unloved, and insignificant goddess.

Not to mention it was Aidoneus’s home. And the former god of the Underworld had played a key role in the suffering that plagued her memories—the trauma of another life.

She owed it to those memories to seek retribution. If destroying Aidoneus’s home resulted in the loss of other lives, then so be it. There were always casualties in war.

But Sol and Apollo and every other damned god in Elysium didn’t give a shit about any other realm or person or god besides themselves. And it infuriated her when they pretended otherwise.

That was exactly why this place had to burn, too.

Sol waved a hand as if this didn’t matter. The motion only stoked Pandora’s ire.

“I’ll send a servant to prepare a room for you,” Sol said, venturing back the way he’d come. “Someone will fetch you shortly.”

“Don’t you dare walk away from me, you pretentious bastard,” Pandora hissed, stomping after him, her shoes echoing against the marble floors. “I have come here with no allies, no home to return to, and no patience for your pompous bullshit. I know I’m not a god who is worthy of your attention, but dammit, I’ve come a long way and spent a lot of magic to get here. You will not leave me to sit on this damn balcony for hours. I’m done waiting. So, either take me with you to Apollo, or take me to my room this instant.”

Sol turned to face her fully. His eyebrows lifted, and a quirk turned the corners of his lips. His expression almost seemed… amused.

He was amused by her insults?

When he merely watched her for another moment, Pandora felt her resolve falter. She lifted her chin and added, “And if you decide to walk away from me, I will simply follow you.”

Sol huffed a laugh. “I have no doubt. Gods, you certainly are formidable when provoked.”

“You haven’t seen even half of my wrath. Trust me.” Her mind turned to Evander, the poor death god she had left stranded in Elysium. He was likely dead now. He hadn’t stood a chance against the power of her earth magic, and with his demonic nature, the atmosphere in Elysium would devour him completely.

Guilt nibbled in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it away. Her plan would never work if she let feelings like this get in the way.

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